The Faculty of Law at Assiut University participates in the community discussion on amendments to the Old Rent Law.
As part of its active contribution to the development of legislation and laws, a number of professors from the Faculty of Law at Assiut University participated in community and legal discussions on the draft amendment to the Old Rent Law, which has been the subject of widespread controversy in the political and judicial arenas.
Professor Dr. Mohamed Saad Khalifa, former dean of the Faculty of Law and a full-time professor of civil law at the Faculty, participated in the hearings held by the joint committee of the Housing, Local Administration, and Legislative Committees of the House of Representatives to discuss the two draft laws submitted by the government regarding old rents.
In his remarks, Dr. Mohamed Saad Khalifa thanked the House of Representatives and its Speaker for opening the door to listening to scholarly and legal opinions. He considered the Supreme Constitutional Court's ruling issued in 2024, which affirmed the validity and legal extension of old rental contracts, to pose a legislative challenge to any new amendments.
He emphasized that forcibly terminating rental contracts is unconstitutional, pointing out that Article (5) of the government's draft law—which stipulates the termination of old contracts—contradicts the principle of consent in contracts and the previous constitutional ruling. He also explained that tenants had previously benefited from legal privileges and should not be punished by canceling their contracts, especially since the rent was fair at the time and the state had previously granted concessions to landlords to encourage construction.
Dr. Khalifa also rejected any comparison between the liberalization of residential lease contracts and agricultural land contracts, emphasizing that "the right to housing is constitutionally guaranteed," while agriculture is an economic activity that can be replaced.
He pointed out that the situation is different in cases of "closed" (unused) apartments, as exceptional laws were enacted to protect vulnerable tenants. If they abandon use of the housing unit, the legislature may terminate the contract without violating their rights.
Separately, Professor Dr. Mohamed Saad Khalifa, former dean of the Faculty of Law at Assiut University, participated in a phone call on Sada El Balad channel with journalist Mustafa Bakri, during which he discussed the legal and social aspects of the proposed amendments. He emphasized that the participation of academics in these discussions enriches community dialogue and helps decision-makers formulate fair legislation, with a focus on achieving a balance between the rights of landlords and tenants in a way that serves the public interest.
It is worth noting that the Faculty of Law at Assiut University is always keen to activate its societal role through the contributions of its professors on pressing legal issues, based on its scientific, social, and developmental responsibilities. These contributions come within the framework of supporting legislation that achieves justice and social stability.
