Landlords to rally to urge reform of old rent laws

Landlords of rented apartments under Lebanon’s old rent laws plan to hold weekly demonstrations and take escalatory steps unless Parliament considers a draft law that allows changes to be made to rent, their association announced Monday. “We are being completely marginalized as Parliament considers solutions for other groups, including electricity [part timers] and public sector employees,” it said. Cabinet approved in April a proposal to amend the controversial law to allow landlords to increase rent between 20 and 80 percent over four years. “We urge [Parliament] to put the draft law finalized by the Administration and Justice Committee on the agenda and open it to a vote,” it added. From DailyStar