STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: As Guwahati continues its rapid urban expansion, a silent but growing crisis is taking root beneath its glittering skyline — one playing out in rented homes across the city, from Silpukhuri’s lanes to the high-rises of Six Mile. Tenants are raising the alarm over unchecked rent hikes, dwindling access to basic amenities, and a lack of any regulatory safeguards in the rental housing market.
In neighborhoods such as Silpukhuri, residents describe an atmosphere of uncertainty and anxiety. Rent increases, they say, are often abrupt and undocumented. “There is no system in place. The landlord simply increases the rent, and one is expected to comply,” said a tenant who has lived in the area for three years. Attempts to question or negotiate these changes are frequently met with hostility or indifference.
A more pressing concern is the degradation of essential services, most notably water. In Bhangagarh, several tenants reported an alarming decline in water availability despite unchanged rent. “Water was consistent during the first few months. Now, it’s irregular at best — and the rent remains unchanged,” said one tenant, frustrated by the absence of alternative arrangements.
The situation in Six Mile has escalated into what some call a humanitarian concern. Tenants there report that water supply is now restricted to just two brief windows per day. Landlords, citing rising costs, have refused to maintain previous levels of service. “The owners told us plainly — either manage within the timings, or move out,” said a student residing in the area. For many, this sudden rationing has upended daily life, with basic chores becoming a logistical challenge.
These conditions expose a broader problem: Guwahati’s tenancy market remains largely unregulated. In the absence of mandatory rental agreements or enforceable tenant protections, landlords are often free to impose terms without oversight. Many renters now feel vulnerable, trapped between rising living costs and a civic system ill-equipped to protect them.
There is growing demand among tenants for concrete reforms — including legal caps on rent increases, clear stipulations regarding utilities, and enforceable notice periods. Housing advocates warn that without swift intervention, the city risks deepening the divide between renters and property owners. As Guwahati aspires to be a model urban center in the Northeast, its rental housing sector remains a critical test — not just of infrastructure, but of equity and governance. For thousands of tenants, the question is no longer just where to live, but how to live with dignity.
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