For the last 15 years. I am staying in a flat in Abbassiya, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Block 4, Street 6.
We had earlier received a notice to vacate flats for demolishing in January 2012. But within 2 weeks they cancelled that notice and told us the building was not being demolished.
Now in September, the haris (care taker) is asking for a renewal of the contract with an increase of KD 25. The condition of the building is bad. At the entrance you can see the toilet water of a 1st floor flat dropping to the ground floor. If the Municipality gave an award for the worst building this building would get the award. The lift is always a problem. Most of the bathrooms are leaking. There are 2 bathrooms but leaking from the top. The steps are horrible with cats and dirt. There are no Municipal authorities to check the condition of the buildings or flats in Jleeb.
So how can this owner ask for a hike in rent in this condition? What can we do? Where can we go to complain? Is it legal to ask for a KD 20 or KD 25 hike in rent? We are paying KD 150. This haris is asking KD 5 for himself, where as most of the tenants give KD 2 or KD 3.
So far we haven’t seen or met the owner of this building. Only this Egyptian haris is in contact with us. He won’t give us the address or phone number of the Kuwaiti owner.

Name withheld
Answer: The problem here is not the haris but the tenants as they continue to live in horrible conditions without approaching the authorities to rectify the problems in the building. Why? ... because all of you are afraid that you won’t get a flat for such a low rent anywhere, even in the vicinity.
You are also afraid that if you complain to the Municipality it may ask for the building to be vacated anyway considering its condition.
All said and done, there are two things you  people can do.
1. Complain to the Municipality Dept in your area about the condition  of the building.
2. File a case with the Rents Court and deposit the rent there every month until the case is settled.
It is likely, from what you have described, the Municipality may order maintenance to be undertaken immediately or call for the building to be vacated.
Secondly, the court will send an inspector to check on the condition of the building and then decide what must be done based on his report.