Rent Reform amid Collapse and War

On Wednesday, 25 February 2026, MP Halima El Kaakour, along with several MPs, submitted two draft laws to the Speaker of Parliament. The first, an amendment to the old residential lease law, and the second, to regulate lease contracts, were submitted in an emergency step in collaboration with Public Works Studio and The Legal Agenda. The aim is to reduce the worsening housing crisis and ensure a minimum level of stability for tenants, in light of the ongoing economic and social collapse, the internal displacement of tens of thousands of citizens due to the Israeli aggression, and the failure of current lease laws to secure a balance between the landlord and the tenant.

This initiative stems from the absence of any equitable housing policy in Lebanon since the 1990s. Housing loans were treated as a solution to the housing crisis, yet they provided only about 130,000 housing units over the twenty years leading up to 2019. Meanwhile, the rental system, which was and remains the primary means of accessing housing in cities, was dismantled.

Moreover, ongoing Israeli attacks as of early 2026 continue to displace thousands, with over 64,000 still displaced as of February 2026, in addition to rising numbers of displaced people, reaching up to 40,000, due to the recent escalation, exacerbating the need for urgent housing protection.

As a result of this chronic neglect, most residents today face the constant threat of eviction and housing insecurity. They spend most of their income on rent and related services, while some rely on aid to cover their rental costs.

This initiative is a first step in a broader process toward a comprehensive law guaranteeing the right to housing in Lebanon.

Read the Housing Justice Network Statement in support of the laws, here.

Photo: For-rent sign. Source: rim222.com.