Sir/Madam,
I write to express growing concern about the state of the residential rental market in Antigua, which has become increasingly unmanageable for ordinary citizens.
What was once a reasonably balanced market has now spiraled into a situation where many locals can no longer afford a simple place to live. The rental prices being demanded today are, quite frankly, exorbitant and completely disconnected from the reality of local wages.
A major part of the problem is the absence of proper regulation. With no cap on rental increases, no standardized guidelines for pricing, and no effective oversight, landlords are free to set rates as high as they wish.
The result is a market driven not by fairness or community welfare, but by profit alone—often influenced by the short-term rental boom and the willingness of visitors and foreign workers to pay higher prices.
This unregulated environment has left many Antiguans scrambling. Young professionals are unable to move out and start independent lives. Families are forced to downsize into cramped or substandard housing.
Some residents are pushed into unsafe or unhealthy living conditions simply because they have no other options. It is heartbreaking that in our own country, many of us now feel like strangers with no affordable place to call home.
The government must step in. Clear policies—such as rent caps, incentives for affordable housing, and regulations that prevent speculative price gouging—are necessary to restore balance.
Other countries have implemented such measures successfully, proving that regulation can protect citizens without discouraging responsible landlords.
Housing is not a luxury; it is a fundamental necessity. If we are serious about improving the quality of life for Antiguans and safeguarding the dignity of our people, then addressing the housing crisis must be a national priority.
Regulating the residential rental market is not only justified—it is long overdue.
Respectfully, Concerned Citizen
