Abou El-Enein:
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Old rent contracts have greatly decreased… and this helps solve the problem.
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The old rent issue has a humanitarian side… and this is the first message about the state’s commitment.
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The state is the main axis in solving the old rent problem.
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The draft law should be based on the date of the building’s construction, not only on the rental value.
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I salute the government for addressing this project, as the solution is a message of honesty.
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We must have a draft law that achieves social balance — this is the role of the state.
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The entire file must be studied, especially buildings at risk of collapse.
MP Mohamed Abou El-Enein, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, said that the draft law on old rent puts us before a major challenge before all the people, and places upon us great responsibilities between the two disputing parties — the landlord and the tenant — and between achieving citizens’ security and stability.
This came during the House of Representatives’ general session to discuss the draft law submitted by the government regarding some provisions related to rental laws and the reorganization of the relationship between lessors and tenants.
Abou El-Enein said:
“About fifteen years ago, when I was the chairman of the Housing Committee, we held an expanded meeting attended by the Minister of Housing, the Governor of Cairo, and the Governor of Giza.
We discussed this issue and reached some solutions, but there is a huge difference between the problem fifteen years ago and today.
Back then, the number of contracts between landlords and tenants was enormous, so decisions were easier to make.
But in 2017, they began talking about the number of existing contracts — they had decreased by more than 30%. From 2017 until today, they have decreased even further, and we need updated statistics.”
He continued: “But today, the problem has become a humanitarian issue with a weak party that we must stand by.
I have listened to many interventions in the discussions about those who have served Egypt — university professors, doctors — people who are used to living in certain areas.
It’s not acceptable at all to tell them, ‘Come, I’ll give you another apartment but far away,’ or ‘We’ll raise your rent.’
This is truly a humanitarian issue, and this is my first message about the state’s commitment.”
The Deputy Speaker confirmed: “The state is the main pillar in solving this problem.
The executive regulations must clearly specify all the law’s details, including compensation and other matters.”
He continued: “I’ve seen experiences in other countries — they spoke to property owners and said: ‘We’ll set the rental value and multiply it by a certain number, representing the property’s current value.
We’ll give an incentive to the tenant: if you vacate the apartment immediately, you receive a certain amount.
If the tenant says, ‘Give me five years,’ then the amount decreases by 10% each year.’”
Abou El-Enein added:
“The current draft law is better than the previous one, but we need to look at the rental side — the draft law was based on the rental value, not on the date of the building’s construction.”
He stated:
“I salute the government for taking on this project because the solution is an honest message, and we don’t want to create social injustice for either party.”
He concluded:
“We must have a draft law that achieves social balance, and this is the role of the state.
The entire file must be studied, especially buildings at risk of collapse.”
