The draft of the Old Rent Law is currently undergoing community discussions in an effort to reach a consensus before it is presented to the House of Representatives. The main points of contention between landlords and tenants revolve around the proposed rent increase—no less than EGP 1,000 per month—and the period for phasing out rental contracts, which ranges from 3 to 10 years.
Lawyer Sherif Abdel-Salam El-Ga’ar has submitted a new draft law aimed at resolving the longstanding dispute between the two parties. The proposal includes increasing the current rental value for residential units by approximately six times. It also sets a ceiling for monthly rent: EGP 300 in upscale neighborhoods, EGP 200 in middle-income areas, and EGP 100 in lower-income districts.
The draft stipulates the termination of old rental contracts upon the expiration of the first-generation heir’s occupancy, thereby ending the repeated inheritance of lease contracts and gradually restoring contractual freedom.
It also includes a clause that grants tenants priority in accessing available government housing units once the rental relationship ends by mutual agreement. This aims to ease social pressures. El-Ga’ar emphasized that this proposal addresses the concerns of affected tenants while also safeguarding landlords’ rights, calling for the law to be discussed in a calm and consensual atmosphere to serve the public interest.
The Housing Committee in the House of Representatives, chaired by MP Mohamed El-Fayoumi, is scheduled to continue its discussions next week on the draft law to amend certain provisions of the Old Rent Law, with the goal of settling the matter before the parliamentary session concludes in July.
Meanwhile, the Bar Association is preparing a comprehensive study that considers constitutional, legal, and social dimensions to ensure a fair balance between all stakeholders.
In parallel, Dr. Osama Abdel-Hay, President of the Doctors’ Syndicate, pointed out that the draft law also addresses properties rented for non-residential purposes, such as medical clinics. He noted that some of its provisions are being contested by the syndicate due to the potential burdens it may impose on doctors and citizens alike.