In a statement issued following the Constitutional Council's decision on May 20, 2025, the Syndicate of Property Owners of Leased Buildings responded to the ruling concerning the new law on commercial leases.
The syndicate clarified that the Constitutional Council did not rule on the content of the law, which aimed to liberalize long-standing non-residential rental contracts. Rather, the Council focused exclusively on the procedural aspects of how the law was adopted and published, following an appeal brought forward by President Joseph Aoun.
As such, the syndicate emphasized that the Council did not cancel the law outright but deemed it inapplicable due to procedural flaws, urging that the legislative process be corrected in line with the Constitution. The group warned against a return to a legal vacuum, emphasizing that the aim of the law was to end the decades-old transitional rental regime, which they say has created lasting imbalances that hurt landlords.
The syndicate called for the swift reenactment and proper publication of the law in the Official Gazette to ensure its legal enforceability.
It sharply criticized what it described as the chaotic handling of the legislative process. It pointed the finger at former Prime Minister Najib Mikati, accusing him of violating constitutional procedures by initially approving the law in Cabinet, then reversing course and blocking its publication in the Official Gazette.
The group stressed the importance of republishing the law as a vital step toward its implementation and urged an end to the ongoing institutional disorder among various state authorities. In the meantime, it encouraged landlords to pursue legal action based on the Code of Obligations and Contracts, taking advantage of the current legal vacuum strengthened by the Council’s latest ruling.
Finally, the syndicate expressed confidence in the judiciary’s ability to issue rulings aligned with existing legal and constitutional standards, while reminding all parties involved to bear their responsibilities.
Background
On Tuesday, the Constitutional Council ruled that two recently passed laws – one concerning old non-residential rents and the other relating to retired teachers in private schools – cannot take effect due to procedural violations deemed unconstitutional. The ruling followed two separate appeals submitted on April 17: one by President Joseph Aoun and another by a group of 11 MPs from various political affiliations.
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