Leases, rent laws and deposits
Articles: 29
Old and new rent laws, what a lease should say, deposits, rent in dollars and ending a lease.
What happens to old-rent tenants in Lebanon after February 2026?
For most old-rent tenants the nine-year extension ended on 28 February 2026. What courts have ruled since, the 2029 date and what is still disputed.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 5 min read
Is Airbnb or short-term letting legal in Lebanon, and do I need a permit?
No specific Lebanese law on Airbnb-type lets was found. What hoteliers propose, lease and building limits, and whom to ask before you list.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
Is the old-rent Fund working, and can an old-rent tenant apply?
No. The Law 2/2017 old-rent Fund has never operated and had not been funded as of February 2026. Who it was for, what applying does in court, whom to ask.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
Can the landlord evict a tenant after the lease ends, or if there is no written contract?
It depends on the lease date. For post-1992 leases: the three-year minimum, notice, tacit renewal, oral leases and where eviction disputes go.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
Can my landlord raise the rent during the lease or every year?
Not during the term of a post-1992 lease, says Adala Law Firm. When a rise can happen, renewals, dollar rent, a new owner and the 2026 bill.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
Can the landlord evict an old-rent tenant now, and how fast?
Often yes, through the courts: 2026 rulings ordered old-rent evictions after the nine years ended. Who is at risk, tenant defences, and timing.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
Can a tenant break a lease early in Lebanon, and what notice is needed?
No published rule covers leaving a lease early, so your lease decides. The three-year minimum, notice to leave, and what happens to deposit and advance rent.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
Did the 2026 deadline-suspension law extend old-rent deadlines?
Not settled. Parliament paused deadlines from 1 March to 31 July 2026; whether that revives old-rent deadlines is disputed. All sides and what to do.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
How much compensation is an old-rent tenant owed if evicted?
Law firms put it at 25% to 50% or 30% to 50% of the property value under the 1992 regime. Whether any is owed after the extension ended is unsettled.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
Can my landlord force me to pay rent in US dollars?
No settled rule: the lira has full discharging power, but a lease may stipulate dollars. What the law says, which rate applies and what to do in a dispute.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
How does renting a furnished apartment work in Lebanon?
A furnished let is a freely agreed lease, as for any lease since July 1992. Costs, deposits, the three-year rule, lease clauses and registration.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
What does the 2025 non-residential rent law change for shop owners and landlords?
Law 11/2025 extends old shop and office leases by 5 to 8 years, raises rents in steps, then sets rent at 5% of value. What changed and what is unconfirmed.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
Is parliament about to change the old-rent law again?
No change yet: as of 13 October 2026 a parliamentary committee was still studying two old-rent drafts. What the bills propose and what applies now.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 5 min read
Where can I get a Lebanese lease contract template?
There is no official Lebanese lease template. What a lease must state, clauses to add on currency, charges and deposits, and how to register it.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
Is there a three-year minimum for a new lease in Lebanon?
Two law firms say yes: a home lease signed after July 1992 runs at least three years. The legal basis, exceptions, longer leases and the five-year bill.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
How must an old-rent tenant request the extra three-year lease?
In writing to the landlord, three months before the extension ends; one appeals court also requires a yearly Fund application. What is disputed.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
How do I register a lease at the municipality in Lebanon, and what does it cost?
Per the Dahye municipalities union, owners register leases by 31 December. Documents, the disputed stamp fee, and when EDL or the Land Registry need it.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
How much deposit and advance rent can a landlord ask for in Lebanon?
No law caps deposits or advance rent in Lebanon; they are agreed in the lease. Typical amounts, what is refunded and how to protect your money.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
Can landlords raise rent or demand large advances from families displaced by the 2026 war, and what protections exist?
Before signing, yes: we found no cap on rents or advances. After signing, one law firm says rent can't rise mid-term. Deposits, municipal rules.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
Can a tenant sublet the flat or let a family member take over the lease in Lebanon?
Post-1992 leases allow subletting for the same use unless the lease bans it; old leases need written consent. Family takeover rules and what is unclear.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
If I pay my rent in lira, which exchange rate applies?
No law or ruling settles which rate converts a dollar rent into lira. What the sources say, how close the rates are since 2024, and how to fix it in a lease.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
Who gets 9 years and who gets 12 years under the 2017 rent law?
Fund beneficiaries get 12 years to 28 Feb 2029, others 9 years to 28 Feb 2026. Why the Fund never worked, what courts ruled in 2026 and what tenants can do.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
Is my lease old (before 23 July 1992) or new, and why does it matter?
Signed before 23 July 1992, a home lease is an old rent under Law 2/2017; later leases are free contracts. How to tell, and what changes for you.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
Who pays the broker's commission on a rental in Lebanon, and is it refundable?
No law fixes it; commercial sources cite about one month's rent, split differently, and one report says it is not refunded. What the law says.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
How much rent does an old-rent tenant pay now, and what is bedel al-mithl?
No source we read gives the formula: Fund beneficiaries owe bedel al-mithl (equivalent rent), but the Fund never ran. What tenants pay and what may change.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
Can a foreigner or Lebanese abroad rent an apartment in Lebanon, and what documents are needed?
Yes. Lebanese and foreigners can rent any property if they are adults. We found no published document list. What to get in writing, deposits, registration.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
Is Lebanon introducing a tax on empty apartments?
Not yet: Lebanon has no vacancy tax, and Article 37 of the draft 2027 budget proposes one. What is proposed, what is unknown and how many flats are empty.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 4 min read
What can a tenant do if the landlord refuses to take the rent?
Make a formal offer and deposit of the rent with a notary. Old vs new leases, rent in lira or dollars, what to ask the notary, and what is not published.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
How can a student rent a room or flat near a university in Lebanon?
Students rent like any tenant: put it in writing, check the owner, budget for deposit and commission. The three-year rule and what is unknown.
Last reviewed 17 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
