Renting a home in Lebanon

Leases signed since July 1992

• Law 159 of July 1992 freed leases signed from then on from rent control. A policy centre describes them as liberalised, with rent adjustments every three years.

  Source · LCPS, 23 Sept 2025

• A UN-Habitat legal review says the tenant of a built property has three years' security of tenure.

  Source · UN-Habitat (GLTN), 28 May 2024

• Our advice

  Write the term, the rent, any yearly increase and the currency into the lease, and keep a signed copy each.

Old rents: leases from before July 1992

• Residential leases signed before 23 July 1992 fall under Law 2/2017.

  Sources · UN-Habitat (GLTN), 28 May 2024; Public Works Studio, 23 Jun 2025

• That law extended these leases for nine years, to 28 February 2026, or for twelve years, to 28 February 2029, for tenants helped by its support fund.

  Source · Annahar, 26 Jan 2026

• The support fund and the committees the law relies on were never set up, and courts have ruled differently on how to count the periods.

  Sources · Annahar, 26 Jan 2026; Public Works Studio, 23 Jun 2025

• We found no source on what has applied since 28 February 2026. Tenants and owners in an old lease should take legal advice.

  Source · Ahla Beit research, 16 Oct 2026

Rent, currency and deposits

• In 2020 the property owners' syndicate said rent agreed in dollars is payable in dollars, and that a tenant may pay the lira equivalent at the market rate. That is the syndicate's position, not a law or a court ruling.

  Source · Annahar, 30 May 2020

• We found no legal rule on deposits or rent paid in advance. Agree the amount, what it covers and when it is returned, in writing.

  Source · Ahla Beit research, 16 Oct 2026

• We found no rule specific to furnished lets. Attach a list of the furniture and appliances and their condition to the lease.

  Source · Ahla Beit research, 16 Oct 2026

Avoiding rental scams

• The Internal Security Forces warn against transferring money to unknown persons before inspecting the property in person. Report a scam through the ISF's “Baligh” service, the ISF app or the nearest police station.

  Source · ISF, 8 Mar 2026

• Our advice

  See the flat, meet the owner or their broker, and check the owner's papers before you pay anything.

Before you sign

Our advice

• The full names and ID numbers of the owner and the tenant.
• Proof that the person renting to you owns the flat or is authorised by the owner.
• The rent, the currency, the due date and how it is paid.
• The start date, the term and how either side can end or renew the lease.
• The deposit: how much, what it covers and when it comes back.
• Who pays the generator subscription, water, electricity and building charges.
• For a furnished flat, a signed list of the contents and their condition.

Questions people ask