JUAN KERAMİ

Kermanshah- Single women face difficulties in finding a house to rent in Kermanshah. Some are not given a house on the pretext that “the neighbors do not want them” while some are subjected to sexual and verbal harassment by real estate agents and homeowners while looking for a house to rent.

NuJINHA spoke to a single woman namely H.G., who asked us not to use her real name due to security reasons. She faced difficulties in finding a house to rent in the city. “Single women are not given a house on the pretext that the neighbors do not want single women to be their neighbors.”

‘I was subjected to sexual and verbal harassment’

Speaking about what kinds of difficulties she faced while looking for a house to rent, she said, “I was subjected to sexual and verbal harassment many times. Sometimes, I asked my male relatives or my brother to go and see the rental houses. I was subjected to verbal harassment even when I called the real estate agents and homeowners. Some told me, ‘you can pay less rent if you want’ or they could reduce the rent. But their intention was clear. Some real estate agents and homeowners began to send me SMS after I called them to get information about the rental house.”

High Rents

One of the challenges faced by single women looking for a house to rent is high rents. “If you are a single woman, you are asked to pay higher rent as compared to other people. Unfortunately, single women suffer high rents in small cities,” said H.G.

‘I want to live alone’

H.G. found a house to rent; however, she has to pay a higher rent. “One of my friends had to send all her belongings to her parents' house because she couldn't find a house to rent. She had to stay with her parents until she found a house to rent. Single women face many challenges in finding a house to rent in the city. I want to live alone and this is my decision. Despite all the challenges, I will not allow anyone to prevent me from living alone.”