Old Rent.. Between Justice and Humanity

The Old Rent Law, an exceptional law issued during World War II, allowed the state to intervene in the relationship between landlord and tenant. Since its issuance, it has been a matter of debate. It was issued under exceptional circumstances resembling martial law, specifically with the implementation of the Exceptional Rent Law in 1944. It was subsequently amended by Law No. 121 of 1947, and interference in the rental relationship continued to a greater extent after the July 1952 Revolution.

Amendment No. 21 of 1992 further distorted the relationship between landlord and tenant.

Years ago, I Launched a campaign in Al-Akhbar newspaper against old rents. During the campaign, I met with a number of buildings' owners in areas such as Zamalek and Garden City. These were luxury buildings overlooking the Nile, but their revenues were insufficient even for their maintenance. Most of the tenants were retired, and their pensions were only enough to pay the rent, which did not exceed a few pounds.

This skewed reality has always been a subject of debate, especially after the Supreme Constitutional Court's 2002 ruling, which declared certain provisions of non-residential rental laws unconstitutional. This ruling was considered the beginning of a reconsideration of the entire system. The exceptional law issued in 1961 had established lifetime rental relationships and even passed them on to the second and third generations, creating a state of stagnation that lasted for decades.

Well, we need to protect the landlord's rights and grant him the right to benefit from his property, but at the same time, we cannot ignore the reality of the tenant who has lived in this apartment for decades, settled there, and has no alternative.

Law No. 4 of 1996 was issued, opening the door to fixed-term rental contracts with new terms. This meant we now had two laws, which is unconstitutional, as all Egyptians are equal before the law.

The issue is not just legal, but also social and humanitarian, and requires realistic solutions. Many of these property owners have become millionaires on paper, while tenants in very upscale neighborhoods pay symbolic rents that are disproportionate to the reality.

Today, the old rent law is before the Parliament once again to discuss this thorny humanitarian issue.

I hope we can reach a just and humane law, which is a difficult equation.