Kathmandu, Nov. 23 -- Last week, Anil and his wife, Bishnu, decided to vacate their rented room at the end of this month.

The couple came to Kathmandu three years ago and have been renting a single-room at Chabahil.

"The monthly rent for the first two years was Rs 4,500.

Last year, the landlord increased the rent to Rs 6,000," said Anil, who works as a daily wage worker at construction sites. "Paying the rent on time wasn't a problem because I had regular work."

But then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and Anil was left without work for months.

"From April to June, I didn't work for a day, and from July, I did start getting work, but what I am earning now in a month is no way close to what I used to," said Anil. "To cut our expenses, we d...