Property owners in Syria are demanding the repeal of the so-called "Law on the Extension of Lease Contracts," a legislation dating back to 1952. They believe it has created a "blatant imbalance" between landlords and tenants for decades, violating the principles of justice and equality.
The affected parties assert that this law has deprived thousands of owners of their property without fair compensation or the right to dispose of it, amid difficult economic conditions.
The negative effects of the law on landlords and the real estate market:
- Depriving landlords: The law prevents landlords from benefiting from their properties, even as they increasingly need them to cope with deteriorating living conditions.
- Unjustified protection for tenants: Landlords believe the law provides unjustified protection for tenants who have been using their properties for more than fifty years at unfair compensation and have inherited them "unlawfully" for successive generations.
- Damage to Property: Tenants' evasion of maintenance responsibility leads to the deterioration of the property's condition, while the owner is forced to bear the costs of restoration and taxes without any benefit. They are also required to pay compensation of up to 40% of the property's value to restore it.
- Disruption of the Real Estate Market: The law has negatively impacted the real estate market, hindering investment and modern urban planning, which, according to the claim, has enriched tenants at the expense of impoverishing and displacing owners.
Legal and Moral Basis for the Claim:
The owners' claim is based on several legal and moral foundations:
- The Syrian Constitution: Article (15) stipulates the preservation of private property and prohibits its expropriation except for the public good in exchange for fair compensation.
- Islamic Sharia: Sharia prohibits encroachment on the property of others and considers continued possession of property without the owner's consent "usurpation."
- Comparative Laws: The claim indicates that most modern laws and experiences in Arab countries have abolished this type of compulsory extension because it violates the principle of contractual balance.
A Call for Justice and Fulfillment of Promises:
The landlords appeal to the responsible authorities, placing their trust in their commitment to establishing a state of law and justice, and recalling the repeated promises to provide justice to the oppressed and restore their rights. They call for a "historic step" to abolish the extension law and restore rights to their owners after years of "injustice, deprivation, and oppression," which they see as an extension of the policies of the "previous regime."
The question remains: Will the authorities respond to these demands, put an end to a law that landlords see as unfair to their rights, and open a new page in regulating the relationship between landlords and tenants to achieve justice for all?
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