After over a decade of debate — and severe hiccups in 2014 — a law annulling the “old rent” system, whereby tenants who signed leases before 1992 never faced rent increases, gained parliamentary approval and in June was published in the Official Gazette. The Constitutional Council, however, struck down two and a half articles in the law related to a committee to settle disputes between landlords and tenants over the value of an apartment. An apartment’s market value is used in the law as the basis for incremental rent increases for tenants with pre-1992 leases. The law is expected to go into effect in December. Executive speaks with parliamentarian Ghassan Moukheiber about the Constitutional Council’s decision and the impact of the law. Were the articles that the Constitutional Council rejected removed from the law? No. [pullquote]It is expected that dozens if not hundreds of landlords will be suing
Matt was Executive's Economics & Policy Editor and Real Estate Editor from May 2014 to November 2017. He began reporting in Lebanon in April 2007, and his coverage focused on oil and gas, public policy and human rights.
