Displaced families push Suwayda rental market as rents soar

Suwayda housing crisis deepens

Displacement from al-Mazraa and other western and northern countryside areas since the July 2025 events has sharply increased demand for rental homes in Suwayda city, while the number of units on the market has fallen. Real estate agents told Enab Baladi that rents have risen roughly 25%; average monthly prices now range from 500,000 to 1.5 million Syrian pounds (with furnished units often 2 million), up from minimums near 400,000. Tenants report brokers and landlords demanding multi-month advance payments, security deposits often in dollars, commissions and strict conditions that push many low-income and displaced families into shelters or long searches mediated via WhatsApp and Facebook.

Some owners are choosing to sell rather than rent, further tightening supply, while buyers remain scarce due to weak purchasing power and instability. The government is carrying out repairs in damaged villages to enable returns, but many displaced families fear persistent security risks and lack of trust, keeping pressure on the city market. Amid complaints of exploitation, local solidarity efforts — including reduced rents and free housing offers — have emerged, but without regulatory intervention the imbalance and hardship for many households are likely to persist, as reported by Enab Baladi