A petition calling for rent control has been submitted to parliament.

The petition was an initiative launched by Male’ Tenants Union (MTU) and was presented to parliament by MP for Kendhoo constituency, Ali Hussain.

MTU - an organization founded to protect the rights of people living in rented accommodations - collected signatures from over 800 people by holding petition-signing events on weekends.

Highlighting that politicians and state institutions have consistently neglected to address the problem of exorbitant rent prices in the capital city, the petition calls for rent-control as an appropriate solution for the challenges faced by Male' City residents living in rented accommodations.

Further, the petition noted that the 'Tenancy Act' proposed by the state does not stipulate rent-control.

MTU was established to allow tenants to voice their frustrations and concerns in addition to providing official recognition to the issues faced by tenants living in Male’.

63% or the majority of Male’ residents live in rented accommodations as most residents are forced to migrate to the capital city for job opportunities, good quality education and adequate healthcare services.

While the incumbent administration has begun decentralisation policies to minimize the number of citizens forced to migrate, the government has yet to provide adequate solutions for Male' City residents forced to live pay-check to pay-check due to unreasonable rent prices.