Latest Qatar News
Qatar implements new rental regulation
Qatar has passed a new rent regulation, retaining most of the provisions of 2008 legislation. The only notable change in the new regulation is the right granted to landlords to increase rents of residential properties as desired by them.
On the other hand, tenants can now haggle and insist that landlords reduce the rent, depending on the demand-supply situation in the market.
However, with the new regulation in place, the rentals of shops and other commercial premises have been put on hold until 14th February 2011.
The new regulation also specifies certain conditions, under which, the owner of a shop can move the concerned authorities to evict a tenant from the premises, even when the tenancy agreement is valid.
The Law No.2 of 2010 has been approved by H.H. the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, amending Article 27 of the previous law (Law No.4 of 2008) regarding shops and commercial establishments.
The Article 27 states that all rental contracts, irrespective of whether they are residential or commercial, will remain valid until 14the February 2010.
The amendment of this clause pertaining to commercial properties states that although residential rents can now be altered by landlords as per their desire, the commercial rents will be in freeze for another year, i.e., until 14th February 2011.
The Law No.2 of 2010 states that the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning issued a clarification giving details of conditions under which, the owner of a shop or commercial establishment can move to evict a tenant.
When a tenant is not regular in his rent payments without any valid reason and without permission from landlords or authorities that has sublet part of a property, the tenant can be evicted.
A tenant can also be evicted if the property is being for any purpose other than the purpose stipulated in the agreement for which it was rented out, or if the building housing the rented property is unsafe, or if the property is more than 15 years old and is earmarked for demolition.
A tenant can also be removed if the shop is located within a residential building and the landlord needs the property back as he plans to use it for his family.
The landlord will then have to serve a notice of eviction on the tenant of the shop or other commercial property atleast six months in advance, the new law stipulates.
Posted on 21/2/2010
Social Bookmarking
