Landlords discrimination against foreign students by collecting outrageous rents in pounds despite government measures

Despite a series of measures introduced by the TRNC government, landlords are still collecting rents from foreign students living in their apartment in foreign currencies and at current outrageous exchange rates.

The government of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus after a series of discussion last week and meeting regarding the economy of the country introduced a series of measures to help citizens and residents cope with the harsh economic situation in the country and one of these measures was fixing of foreign exchange rates for rents.

To this effect, rents were fixed as follows;

-Pounds sterling: 6.3 TL,
-Euro: 5.6 TL,
-Dollar 4.75 TL.

The government warned all landlords to comply with the new measure and warned that defaulters will be punished.But the government failed to explain if foreigners and students living in the country were exempted from the new measure.

But since this new rule was announced, landlords are still demanding rents from students in pounds and at current foreign exchange rate. 

Even when you try to tell them that you are aware that the government has reduced and fixed the foreign exchange rate, they will tell you it only applies to Turkish and Turkish Cypriot students. 

Some of them pretend as if they never knew the government has reviewed the exchange rate and when they are shown web links with the news, they change the narration.

When you try to argue with them, they will threaten to evict you from the apartment. 

Series of reports and complains have being reaching us on how landlords are still demanding outrageous rent rates.

We are calling on the government to please do something about this. As foreigners in the country, few that work are paid in Turkish Lira which can't even cover their living expenses. Many other students are from countries experiencing economic meltdown and under sanctions and are finding it difficult to cope with life here in Cyprus due to the increasing inflation.

If the new rules applies to both citizens and foreigners including students, the government should please call these landlords to order.

Students might be forced to stage a protest if nothing is done about this.

Please all students with similar issues should drop their experiences at the comment box below.

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