Increasing demand for residential accommodation, prices of rental housing in the twin cities are not according to the size or quality of house but according to the ‘will’ of the property dealers or landlord irrespective of the condition of the house. Since there is no rent control law there is no set price of rental accommodation and a house built on five marlas covered area having three bedrooms and a small lounge is being rented out at Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000 per month in ordinary localities in Rawalpindi.
Demand for accommodation increase with the onset of winter as people living in hilly areas like Murree, Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa seek residents in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. In sectors like F-10, F-7, F-8 and E-7 and other posh sectors, houses are rented out in dollars where only foreign missions can hire a house. A five-marla house in sector I-10 is offered at 23,000.
