Rent Liberalization: A New Balance to Be Found in Lebanon

The recent publication of the law on the liberalization of non-residential rentals in the Official Gazette marks a crucial turning point in the evolution of Lebanon’s real estate sector. This change goes far beyond a technical adjustment — it sends a strong message in favor of redefining the relationship between landlords and tenants, based on fairness, economic vitality, and social stability. For decades, the “old rent” regime was based on a 1963 law that froze rents for contracts signed before July 23, 1992, effectively paralyzing the market and depriving many landlords of the full use and value of their properties. The financial crisis and the collapse of the Lebanese Lira only worsened this reality. The new law, passed by parliament in December 2023, aims to correct this imbalance. Although it took over a year for the law on commercial leases to come into effect, this rent liberalization now gives essential