A New Authority to Resolve the Old Rent Crisis: Parliamentary Proposal Revives Hope for Landlords and Tenants
A new legal proposal to establish an authority for resolving old rent disputes through arbitration and mediation outside the courts.
Lawyer Hoda El-Haddad has proposed a new legal vision to address the crisis of old rental contracts, one of the most complex and controversial issues in Egypt, both legally and socially. She emphasized that this longstanding crisis has persisted due to the lack of effective mechanisms to resolve the recurring disputes between landlords and tenants, which has led to a backlog of cases in the courts for many years without reaching fair and comprehensive solutions that satisfy all parties.
El-Haddad pointed out that the current law does not achieve the required balance of rights, but rather fuels disputes and creates instability in the rental market. In response, she presented a proposal to establish an independent authority with both judicial and executive powers to ensure swift and fair resolution of all disputes related to old rental contracts—away from the traditional and often cumbersome legal procedures that frequently hinder access to justice.
She affirmed that the proposed authority would bring a transformative shift in addressing the old rent issue through a set of practical objectives and mechanisms, including:
Activating a specialized system of arbitration and mediation that combines legal rigor with flexibility.
Reducing litigation times and issuing binding decisions that bring disputes to a definitive close.
Promoting social harmony by finding solutions that consider the human and economic aspects of both landlords and tenants.
Strengthening the culture of amicable settlement instead of relying solely on the courts.
Regarding its organizational structure, El-Haddad explained that the authority would include a specialized board of directors appointed by the House of Representatives. This board would consist of former judges, legal experts, and civil society representatives to ensure transparency and neutrality. Arbitration and mediation committees would be formed at the governorate level, supported by regional offices equipped to receive complaints, along with a modern digital platform that allows citizens to submit requests and follow up on procedures electronically—aligning with the state’s broader digital transformation goals.
She added that the authority would be empowered to issue legally binding decisions, encourage compromise solutions, and submit detailed performance reports and legislative recommendations to Parliament on a regular basis.
El-Haddad concluded by emphasizing that this proposal aims to restore legal balance to the old rent file, ease the burden on the judiciary, and create a fairer and more stable environment for all stakeholders. Ultimately, this would enhance public trust in the legal system and improve the management of housing disputes in a civilized and modern manner.
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