Rising rents and construction hurdles challenge Kabul residents

Alongside rising house rents, construction in private homes has also become a major challenge for residents of Kabul, one that many families face daily.

Some Kabul residents who attempt to build additional rooms or renovate their homes say they are required to obtain separate approvals from the district office, local police, neighborhood representative, and Kabul Municipality.

Saleem, a Kabul resident, said: “When someone wants to carry out construction at home, they are first told to go to the district office, but then are redirected to the municipality and vice versa. This back-and-forth results in extra costs both at home and in the offices.”

Another resident, Mohammad Ashraf, said: “Despite weak economic conditions, people want to build a home for themselves. But when they start construction, they are forced to go through the district office, and due to financial difficulties, it is hard to obtain the necessary permits.”

According to residents, the complex and time-consuming permit process has led some to pay additional costs to speed up their work.

Ashiqullah, another resident, told : “Many homes here have been destroyed by natural disasters, but the district authorities do not allow them to rebuild.”

Sher Mohammad said: “Anyone who wants to build a house must get approval from the district and other authorities, but the process involves extra costs both at the district and the municipality.”

Meanwhile, Kabul Municipality says efforts are underway to simplify the process.

Nematullah Barakzai, a representative of Kabul Municipality, said: “The municipality grants permission for construction. As a first step, those who already own a house and live there, and need additional rooms, can obtain permission through their district.”

This comes as Kabul Municipality had earlier announced the creation of a special center for issuing construction permits, aimed at simplifying procedures and reducing challenges for residents.