How landlords are keeping rent prices high

Landlords are more likely to discriminate against tenants who are unable to pay high rents, as they have a smaller pool of potential tenants to choose from. [iStokphoto]

Landlords are using tenants' obliviousness to rental charges to practice price fixing as one of their swindling tactics, even as the latest report cites rent as a key driver of the escalating cost of living.

The report has described the landlords' actions as "cartel-like", noting that the informal nature of the business, which is largely conducted in hard cash, makes it difficult for the authorities to find paper trail in order to enforce or impose regulations.