Dhiraj Uparkoti, Nepal : This is the real experience and struggle of a Nepali warrior who once fought as a member of the People’s Liberation Army. Presented here is his story.

Kathmandu — the capital of Nepal. A city of dreams for all: for education, employment, business, or healthcare. But even today, finding an affordable room in this dream city feels like “chewing iron.”

Most landlords in Kathmandu charge between five to ten thousand rupees for even a basic room. However, in the name of facilities, many places lack proper drinking water, bathrooms, parking, or a safe environment — a common grievance and shared pain of tenants.

Families who need two rooms are often forced to cram five to six members into a single room. The complaints about landlords’ nagging, unnecessary rules, and discrimination against families with small children, unmarried couples, or working-class tenants are still prevalent.

There are many reported cases where landlords have pressured tenants to vacate a room just days after the birth of a child, or forced them to move out in the middle of the night just because a few guests visited.

Weak State Monitoring and Flawed Tax System

This issue is not limited to Kathmandu. In cities across the country, landlords collect millions of rupees in rent every month. Yet most of them pay very little tax to the government. Many avoid formal rental agreements altogether. Even when contracts are made, they are often undervalued by ten times to evade taxes.

What is the role of the state? It should be to establish minimum standards for renting homes and shops, make the tax system transparent, and educate both landlords and tenants about their rights and responsibilities. But this sector continues to be neglected.

The Hope and Reality of ‘Balen City’

Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah is praised for his efforts in street management and sanitation campaigns. But when it comes to protecting students, laborers, small entrepreneurs, and low-income families — especially those who have migrated to Kathmandu — from landlord exploitation, there seems to be no concrete plan. This issue remains in the shadows.

Can Kathmandu truly be Kathmandu without the contribution of people migrating from other districts for study or business?

Are All Landlords Bad?
Certainly not. Many landlords treat their tenants like family, supporting them in times of need. But such landlords are rare.

If the government can regulate the rental system, it will benefit not only the state but also both landlords and tenants. A transparent tax system would free landlords from the fear of tax evasion and allow tenants to live without constant insecurity.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people arrive in the capital with new dreams. Yet, the struggle to find a simple room to rent remains unchanged — just as hard as chewing iron.

This is not a new problem.
It’s been ongoing for years.

Despite major national transformations — from monarchy to republic, from centralized to federal governance — the problems between landlords and tenants in Kathmandu and other cities have only grown. There has been no improvement to this day.

Major political parties are aware of this issue. National media have reported on it. But neither the state nor its monitoring bodies have paid real attention.