How dalals are driving down rent is something I couldn't understand.  When I rented it for 3 months last time, I ended up shelling out 35 thousand per month for an apartment in Lazimpat. It was a good, roomy apartment, but I realized I could have gotten it for 30K if I had talked to the owners directly. Also, if you wanted to lease directly, you could directly advertise in newspapers (costs a few hundred to advertise in kantipur).