Housing Rental Crisis in Tehran; Hot Market for Single Rooms, 10 Square Meters for 3 Million Rent with Deposit

The rental market in Iran is in a critical condition, and contrary to officials' claims, there is no sign of price reduction, leading to a surge in the market for small single rooms at exorbitant prices. Reports indicate that currently in Tehran, a 10-square-meter single room in the 'Amin Hozoor' neighborhood is being rented out for 3 million tomans per month with a deposit of 10 million tomans. In another case, a 10-square-meter room in the Falah neighborhood is advertised for 1.5 million tomans per month with a deposit of 60 million tomans. According to real estate listings, a 10-square-meter room in the Hikmat area of Tehran is offered for 1 million tomans monthly with a 10 million tomans deposit. Media also reported in November of this year that rental prices have broken records in the last 30 years. The demand for 10-square-meter rooms comes as the newspaper 'Donya-e-Eqtesad' noted in its issue on November 7 that statistics show a record number of people living in apartments of up to 40 square meters in the capital this year. The current situation in the housing sector is just a small slice of the red status in Iran's economy. A report from the Iranian Statistical Center shows that the average price per square meter of apartments has risen from 6.2 million tomans in spring 2018 to over 80.8 million tomans now. The Research Center of the Parliament, as a research arm of the government, also pointed out in a report this August that the lowest income deciles are completely unable to secure housing. The housing crisis has led to the prevalence of small units, shared family living, basement sleeping, reverse urban migration, and other significant issues, while President Ebrahim Raisi had promised to build one million housing units annually at the beginning of his government. Today, nearly two and a half years into Raisi's administration, there is no news of housing construction, and the establishment of a 'Construction Headquarters for Workers' proposed by the Minister of Labor remains merely a news item. Over the past 15 years, wages have increased 20 times, but housing prices have risen 45 times. Economic difficulties or professional violations have led to the rise of hourly house rentals. The clampdown on real estate prices continues, with 1,200 real estate units closed in Mashhad. Real estate agents report they have had to become internet taxi drivers. The consequences of housing inflation include a decrease in marriage rates and a decline in birth rates.