The Mandalay City Development Committee (MCDC) said it would prosecute errant property owners once the three-month education program on the new ruling ends in June.

Those who fail to follow the ruling will be issued written warnings, charged in court and punished.

“The new ruling that requires property owners to obtain the license comes into effect at the end of this month. The annual license fee is set at 5 percent of the rent charged by building owners.

“But from April to June, we are conducting the education program so that people will be aware of this change in the rules. After the program period ends, MCDC will punish those who fail to obey.

“For those who already understand the new ruling and want to apply for the license now, they are welcome to do so,” MCDC Cleansing Department sectional head Daw Win Min Than said.

She said the MCDC would also be discussing with ward administrators on the matter during the education program period.

MCDC will put up advertisements on the new ruling in Mandalay Daily at least five times a month during the three-month education program.

The house rental license ruling was announced in the daily in October last year. A notice on the ruling was also printed recently in the daily on March 12.

The new ruling comes following the growth in the property rental market. It is learnt that property owners in good locations in the downtown areas of Mandalay are asking for an average K1.5 million for rental.

The rental business has affected other businesses like hotels, guest houses and boarding houses.

At the same time, many property owners earning rental collection have failed to pay taxes, MCDC Cleansing Department divisional head U Soe Tint Aung said when the ruling was first announced.

– Translation by Zaw Nyunt