Egypt’s parliament has scrapped decades-old rent controls, a decision that could upend the housing market and displace thousands of families. The new law removes protections that have allowed tenants to remain in properties under fixed rates since before 1996, as outlined by Reuters.
Under the changes, commercial leases are affected immediately, while residential tenants have up to seven years before the rules apply. Rents could rise as much as 20-fold, with new minimums set at 1,000 EGP for prime areas, 400 EGP in mid-tier neighborhoods, and 250 EGP for lower-income zones. Lawmakers argued that these revisions would align rent with current market realities, Reuters highlighted.
The government has promised safety measures, including state housing support and rent-to-own options, but many residents remain uneasy. Local families and elderly tenants in particular worry that soaring rent demands will force them out of long-held homes, Reuters detailed in its reporting.
Economists warn that while the reforms could reinvigorate Egypt’s real estate sector, they may also fuel gentrification, widen inequality, and heighten affordability pressures for vulnerable groups already squeezed by inflation and subsidy cuts.
