Economic Hardships or Professional Violations; Rise of Hourly House Rentals

The vice president of the Real Estate Consultants Union reported the rise of hourly and daily house rentals in various areas of Tehran, stating that this practice is a "violation." However, economic experts consider this phenomenon as one of the ways to earn income amid a livelihood crisis, believing that such violations have existed in the past but have intensified due to the economic crisis. According to ILNA news agency, Davood Beigi-Nejad stated, "This is a visible violation" and poses a "serious danger" to the neighbors of these units, facilitated by websites, which have serious consequences. He also claimed that websites providing such opportunities have disrupted the "housing market ecosystem." Reports indicate that covering living expenses in Iran has become a primary issue for the people, who are utilizing all available means to bridge the gap between costs and income. Renting out houses by the hour, rooftop and parking space rentals are among the practices that have become common in recent years. Alongside this trend, the activity of individuals in multiple jobs has also increased. In this context, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Labor Associations in Iran stated that "70% of workers have a second job to make ends meet." Hadi Aboui attributed the need for a second job to the decreased purchasing power of workers. This situation comes as experts predict inflation rates exceeding 50% for the next year, while the government plans to increase wages by less than 20%, an action observers believe will exacerbate livelihood issues and lead to a new phase of economic and social crisis. The government continues its crackdown on real estate prices, with 1,200 real estate units in Mashhad being shut down. The housing prices have increased by 54% since last year, with a 2% decrease from the previous month; experts say this is "temporary." There is a stagnation in housing transactions, with real estate consultants stating, "We have had to become internet taxi drivers."