Renting an Apartment in Egypt's New Cities: Lease Clauses and Your Rights

Masari Team

If you are renting an apartment in New Damietta or any of Egypt's new cities, your lease almost certainly falls under the so-called "new rent" regime: Law 4 of 1996 and the Civil Code, not the old rent laws. In practice that means the contract you sign is what governs the relationship. Term, rent, increases, deposit and eviction terms all come from what you write down. This guide covers the legal basics and the clauses every lease should include.

This is general information, not legal advice. Have a lawyer review any lease before you sign.

Which law applies?

Law 4 of 1996 says the old rent laws do not apply to premises never leased before, or to premises whose earlier lease ended with no one entitled to stay. Those leases are governed by the Civil Code, furnished or not. The law took effect on 31 January 1996.

The 2025 old-rent law (Law 164 of 2025) targets contracts made under Laws 49/1977 and 136/1981. Egypt's Minister of Parliamentary Affairs said contracts made from 31 January 1996 onward are outside its scope.

Civil Code rules worth knowing

Always state a fixed term

Under Article 563, if no term is agreed or it cannot be proven, the lease is treated as running for the rent payment period and can be ended with statutory notice. Vague wording like "open-ended" or "renews automatically" can backfire. A lease ends at the end of its agreed term without notice (Article 598), but if the tenant stays on with the landlord's knowledge and no objection, it renews on the same terms for an indefinite period (Article 599).

Landlord duties

  • Hand over the unit fit for its agreed use (Article 564).
  • If it is unfit, the tenant can ask to cancel or cut the rent, plus compensation (Article 565).
  • Carry out necessary repairs, but not the minor ones customarily borne by tenants (Article 567).

Tenant duties

  • Use the unit as agreed and make no alterations without permission (Article 580).
  • Return it in the condition received (Articles 590 and 591). If no written condition report was made at move-in, the tenant is presumed to have received it in good condition.

Subletting and sale of the property

A tenant may sublet or assign unless the contract forbids it (Article 593). If the apartment is sold, the lease binds the new owner only if it has a fixed date earlier than the sale (Article 604). That is the main reason to get your lease date certified.

Date certification vs notarization

  • Date certification (ithbat tarikh): done at a real estate registry office and gives the lease an official fixed date. Since an October 2023 circular, this can be done at any office on the unified network.
  • Notarization: done with both parties present. A notarized lease is an enforceable instrument, so eviction at the end of the term does not require an ordinary lawsuit first. Check current fees at the office.

Neither step is mandatory for a new-rent lease, but both reduce disputes.

Clauses your lease should include

  1. Full party details as on national IDs, and the landlord's capacity (owner or agent with a copy of the power of attorney).
  2. Exact unit description, and an inventory if furnished.
  3. Start and end dates, plus how renewal works.
  4. Rent amount, due date, payment method and any annual increase.
  5. Security deposit amount, when it is returned and what can be deducted. The law does not regulate deposits, so the contract must.
  6. Who pays for which repairs, utilities and building service charges.
  7. Whether subletting is allowed.
  8. Termination triggers, such as late payment.
  9. A signed move-in condition report with meter readings.

Watch out for social housing units

Social housing units, common in cities like New Damietta, cannot be sold, rented or assigned for seven years after handover, and after that still need written approval from the Social Housing Fund. Violations can lead to the unit being withdrawn. Ask what kind of unit you are renting.

Pre-signing checklist

  • Verify the landlord's ID and ownership document or power of attorney.
  • Confirm the unit is not a restricted social housing unit.
  • Inspect, photograph and record meter readings.
  • Write a fixed term and clear rent terms.
  • Put deposit terms in writing.
  • Consider date certification or notarization.
  • Keep every rent receipt.

FAQ

Does the 2025 old-rent law affect my New Damietta lease?

Not if your contract was made after 31 January 1996. It is governed by the Civil Code and your contract terms.

What if the lease has no term?

It is treated as running for the rent payment period and can be ended with statutory notice, which offers the tenant little stability.

Do I have to register my lease?

No, but certifying the date protects a tenant if the unit is sold, and notarization helps a landlord enforce the end of the term.

Sources

On Masari you can compare unit prices, floor plans and payment plans before contacting any seller or landlord.