Lusaka City Council Gives Boarding Houses OneMonth Ultimatum to Formalise Operations

The Lusaka City Council has given owners of unregistered boarding houses a one-month ultimatum to formalise their businesses or risk closure and penalties.

The Council says several properties operating as boarding houses in Lusaka have not been legally formalised for that purpose, while others have been converted without notifying the local authority of the change of use.

Council Assistant Public Relations Manager, BULUMBA NYAMBE told ZNBC News that boarding house owners are required to register for the business levy, health permit and fire certificate.

Mr NYAMBE said failure to comply makes it difficult for authorities to enforce health and safety standards, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and exposing students to unregulated accommodation.