Page 18 - Issue 71

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VOL.1 , ISSUE 71OL.1 , ISSUE 71 ELITE

We now want to review the arguments supporting After reviewing the pros and cons of the
amendments to the old rent law and the arguments amendments, we will address some of the entities
supporting maintaining the old rent as it is. that played a role in this issue, such as the Supreme
First: The group supporting amendments to the Constitutional Court, which played a decisive role
old rent law. Proponents believe that the old law in opening the door to amendments. One of the
represents a grave injustice to landlords, as they most prominent rulings was the ruling issued in
own properties that generate nominal rental 2022 (which effectively came into effect in 2024),
returns that are completely disproportionate to which ruled the unconstitutionality of the first
their market value. They also emphasize the paragraph of Article 5 of Law No. 136 of 1981,
principle of the constitutional right to property, which relates to the extension of non-residential
and that the old law fundamentally undermines lease contracts (commercial and administrative) for
this right and prevents landlords from freely legal entities. This ruling was a clear indication that
utilizing or disposing of their property (which the state is moving towards ending the automatic
renders them landlords without rights). extension of contracts.
Furthermore, they believe that the old law was
merely a law introduced in exceptional
circumstances (such as the housing shortage after
World War II), but that now circumstances have
changed, and the primary governing factor is
freedom of contract between the two parties.
They believe that the new law allows for judicial
intervention to terminate the rental relationship
in certain cases (such as leaving the unit closed
for more than a year without justification or the From the Supreme Constitutional Court to the
availability of an alternative unit for the tenant). House of Representatives and what happened in
In general, landlords believe that amending the the recent sessions on this issue, Counselor Hanafi
old rent law has become necessary to achieve El-Gebali, Speaker of the House of
justice, stimulate the economy, and correct a Representatives, confirmed in several statements
decades-long situation that has harmed private that the House of Representatives aims to achieve a
property. delicate balance between the right to property and
Second: The viewpoint supporting maintaining the right to adequate housing, and that community
the old rent as it is. This group believes that this dialogue sessions are being held until a
amendment and change in the old rent contracts comprehensive legislative vision is reached that
will displace thousands of families, especially guarantees social peace, leading up to June 30,
those with limited incomes and the elderly who 2025, when the House began discussing the draft
have lived in these units for decades and find it old rent law in the plenary session held today. This
difficult to secure alternative housing at current session was attended by Counselor Mahmoud
market prices. In addition, they view the old rent Fawzy, Minister of Parliamentary and Legal
law as having provided a degree of social stability Affairs and Political Communication, Dr. Manal
for families across generations, allowing them to Awad, Minister of Local Development, and
remain in their homes at reasonable prices and Engineer Sherif El-Sherbiny, Minister of Housing,
thus plan their lives without worrying about Utilities and Urban Communities. The plenary
rising rents. session of the House of Representatives began with
a discussion in principle regarding the reports of
the joint committee of the Housing, Public Utilities
and Construction Committee and the offices of the
Local Administration and Constitutional and
Legislative Affairs Committees on:

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