The head of the “Baalbek-Hermel” bloc, MP Hussein Haj Hassan, confirmed that what is required in the rental file is to reach a law that achieves a balance between the rights of the landlord and the tenant, considering that some provisions of the current laws involve unfairness to the rights of tenants and need to be reconsidered.
Hajj Hassan’s position came during his reception, in the bloc’s office in Baalbek, a joint delegation from the Bekaa Merchants Syndicate, Baalbek-Hermel, and the Baalbek Merchants Association, headed by Muhammad Hassan Kanaan and Nasri Othman, where the effects of the recent rental law approved by the House of Representatives and its repercussions were discussed.
The delegation handed Hajj Hassan a draft law proposal prepared by a number of lawyers, which he said aims to do justice to the landlord and the tenant alike.
Hajj Hassan pointed out that the file of residential and non-residential rentals includes points that he considered unfair to tenants, pointing out that the problem is exacerbated with the expiration of the legal deadline for residential rentals, in light of the failure of successive governments to implement what the law stipulated in terms of establishing the fund and the relevant committees.
He warned that this reality might lead, as he put it, to “the displacement of rented tenants,” whether they are families who have resided in their homes for many years or merchants who have built their businesses and reputations in rented shops and buildings.
Hajj Hassan stressed that his position does not target the owners, stressing the need to find fair solutions for them as well, especially in light of the low value of some rental fees, to ensure that neither party is burdened with unfair burdens.
He concluded by calling for a review of the rental laws within the Administration and Justice Committee and the House of Representatives and updating them in a way that preserves social stability, while giving priority to protecting the weakest party, whether it is an owner or a tenant, and enabling both parties to continue a decent life.
