“RED TV”
The head of the Landlords Syndicate, Patrick Rizkallah, confirmed that the old rental crisis is still one of the most complex files in Lebanon, noting that its continuation has caused great harm to a wide segment of owners.
He said that many of them are still receiving symbolic rental fees, which are almost free, and which are not commensurate with the real value of the properties or the current economic conditions.
Rizkallah considered that this reality deprived the owners, over many years, of their natural right to benefit from their properties, describing what they are exposed to as constituting a great injustice, or even a “crime against the owners.”
He explained that the demand to liberalize rents does not aim to harm tenants, but rather to correct a historical imbalance and restore balance to the relationship between the two parties, within a legal framework that takes into account justice and rights.
Rizkallah pointed out that this issue now needs a final solution, away from postponement and deportation, because the continuation of the crisis exacerbates the division and increases the volume of conflicts between owners and tenants. He believed that the recent developments and the positions and decisions that accompanied them represented a glimmer of hope that a fair treatment of this issue could be reached.
He added that what is required today is not only the application of laws, but also the development of a clear housing policy that ensures social protection for tenants, while at the same time preserving the rights of owners. He also renewed his call to study the lease-to-own option, as it is one of the solutions that may contribute to ensuring housing stability and open the door to ownership, while preserving the rights of the owner.
Rizkallah concluded by stressing that ending the rental crisis requires cooperation between the legislative and judicial authorities, and a serious political will that puts an end to the state of chaos and establishes a more fair and stable rental market for all Lebanese.
