Who pays the broker's commission on a rental in Lebanon, and is it refundable?
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Short answer
No law sets who pays or how much: agreement or custom decides[1]. Two commercial sources put it at about one month's rent but differ on who pays. JSK Real Estate says each side pays its own agent; ExpatLife.ai says the tenant pays or both split it[2,3]. Khatt30 reported in April 2026 that the commission is not refunded[4].
Also asked as: “Agent commission renting an apartment in Lebanon” · “How much commission does a broker take when renting in Lebanon?” · “Does the tenant or the landlord pay the rental agent?” · “Is the agency fee refundable if I leave early?”
Key facts
- The law
- Commercial Code Arts 292-293: the fee is set by agreement, an official tariff or custom[1]
- Official tariff for rentals
- None found[1]
- Who pays (practice)
- Disputed: each side pays its own agent (JSK Real Estate, 2018), or the fee is split or paid by the tenant (ExpatLife.ai, August 2026)[2,3]
- Too high?
- A judge may cut a disproportionate fee to a fair one[1]
- Refund
- Not refunded, according to Khatt30 (April 2026)[4]
- Deposit on top
- 2-3 months' rent[3], according to one commercial guide (August 2026)
What the law says about a broker's fee
Lebanon has no rule written for rental brokers. Under Articles 292 and 293 of the Commercial Code, a broker's fee is set by agreement, by an official tariff or by custom[1]. We found no official tariff for rental brokerage, and no brokers' syndicate tariff or rule for rentals either.
The broker earns the fee when his information or negotiation leads to the contract, here the signed lease[1]. If the agreed fee is out of proportion to the case and the work it needed, a judge may reduce it to a fair amount. Under Article 294, a broker who acts for the other side against his duties loses the fee. More on getting a broker's fee reduced and on one broker acting for both sides.
How much it is, and who pays
The only accounts we found come from businesses describing custom, and they disagree on who pays[2,3]:
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| JSK Real Estate, an agency (2018) | The landlord pays his agent one month's rent and the tenant pays his own agent one month's rent, for leases of up to three years[2,3] |
| ExpatLife.ai, a commercial guide (August 2026) | Typically one month's rent, split between tenant and landlord or paid by the tenant[2,3] |
Custom is unclear and the law puts agreement first[1], so settle the amount, who pays and when it is due before the broker shows you anything. Get it in writing. A message you can keep is worth more than a phone call.
Is the commission refundable?
According to Khatt30, writing in April 2026, each up-front payment is treated differently. The agency commission is not refunded, a deposit (ta'min) may be refunded, and advance months are deducted from rent, with no guarantee that prepaid rent comes back if you leave early[4]. That is a report of practice, not a rule of law. No source we found says what happens to a commission if the deal falls through or the tenant leaves early.
The Commercial Code ties the fee to the broker's work leading to a contract[1]. Whether that lets you reclaim money paid for a lease that was never signed is a question for a lawyer. Lebanon also has no deposit-protection law[5,6], so the refund terms for your deposit come down to what the lease says. See how much deposit and advance rent a landlord can ask for.
The total you pay up front can be large. One commercial guide advises budgeting 4-5 months' rent in cash: first month, last month, a 2-month deposit and a 1-month agent commission[3]. In April 2026, Khatt30 found displaced families asked for USD 2,500 to 9,000 up front[4], covering rent, deposit, broker fee and months in advance, though its sample was not representative. Large cash payments made before you have checked anything are also where rental scams happen.
How to agree and pay a rental commission safely
- Check who is letting the flat. Before you pay anyone, confirm the landlord is the real owner or is authorised to let. Here is how to check the landlord.
- Pay when the lease is signed, against a receipt. The fee is earned when the broker's work leads to the contract[1]. Ask for a receipt that names the broker, the flat, the amount and what it is for, and keep a copy.
- If you disagree later, get advice. A judge can reduce a disproportionate fee[1], and a lawyer can tell you whether a claim is worth bringing. See where to complain about a broker.
It depends on
- What you agreed. Under the Commercial Code, agreement comes before custom[1], so a written fee arrangement protects you best.
- Renting as a foreigner or from abroad. A foreign tenant may rent any kind of property[5,6] (see renting a room or flat as a student). No source says the commission differs for foreigners or for tenants abroad. Agree the fee before you send any money.
Common questions
Is the broker's commission on a rental one month's rent in Lebanon?
Do I get the agency commission back if I leave the flat early?
According to Khatt30 (April 2026), the agency commission is not refunded[4]. We found no rule on refunds after an early exit, so write any refund term into your agreement with the broker.
Can a court reduce a rental broker's fee?
Yes. Under Articles 292 and 293 of the Commercial Code, a judge may cut a fee that is out of proportion to the work to a fair amount[1]. A lawyer can tell you whether your case is worth bringing.
Sources
Checked against these sources. The numbers in the text point here.
- 1.Commercial Code (Legislative Decree 304/1942), Arts 291-297 on brokerage
Lebanese University Legal Informatics Centre (legallaw.ul.edu.lb) · 24 Dec 1942 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 2.What Are Buyer Vs. Seller Agent Roles & Responsibilities?
JSK Real Estate · 1 Oct 2018 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 3.ExpatLife.ai: Renting in Lebanon 2026 (Housing guide)
ExpatLife.ai · 13 Aug 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 4.Thousands of dollars before the welcome: housing as a commodity of war
Khatt30 (خطــ٣٠) · 27 Apr 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 5.Jaber Law Firm: Real Estate in Lebanon (FAQ)
Jaber Law Firm · undated · read 17 Oct 2026
- 6.Leasing Rights in Lebanon
Choueh Law Firm · undated · read 17 Oct 2026
Related questions
- 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.
- How do I avoid rental scams in Lebanon?Do not pay until you have seen the flat and checked its owner on a Land Registry extract. How the fake-ad scam works, the checks, and where to report.
- How do I check that a real-estate broker in Lebanon is legitimate and licensed?No law we found requires a broker licence in Lebanon, so check the owner and property instead: Land Registry extract, REAL, written fees, reporting fraud.
- Can I challenge or reduce a broker's commission in Lebanon if I think it is too high?Yes: under Art. 292 of the Commercial Code a judge may cut an agreed broker fee that is out of proportion to the work. Evidence, grounds and whom to ask.
- How do I check that my landlord in Lebanon is the real owner or authorised to rent?Get the flat's Land Registry certificate and check the person renting to you is a listed owner or has the owner's written authority. Steps, costs, red flags.
- 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.
- Where can I complain about a real estate broker in Lebanon, or sue over a commission?We found no official body for broker complaints in Lebanon. Report misconduct to REAL, fraud to the ISF, and take fee disputes to a lawyer. What the law says.
