Guides · Egypt · Cairo
What changed in Egypt's rental law in 2025?
By Ahmed Elrayes · Updated
Law 164/2025, in force since 5 August 2025, phases out Egypt's old-rent regime: residential old-rent contracts end seven years later (August 2032) and non-residential five years later (August 2030), with rent reset to 20× (premium areas, minimum EGP 1,000), 10× (middle, minimum EGP 400) or 10× (economic, minimum EGP 250) and a 15% rise every 1 September from 2026. Law 165/2025 keeps new leases as free contracts and adds a faster eviction route.
Old rent versus new rent
Contracts signed before 31 January 1996 fall under the old-rent laws (49/1977 and 136/1981), now wound down by Law 164/2025. Everything since is new rent: the Civil Code and Law 4/1996 as amended by Law 165/2025 — freedom of contract, no rent cap, no registry; optional date-certification at the Real Estate Publicity Office matters for the fast-track eviction.
What old-rent landlords get
An immediate reset by zone (governorate committees classify areas as premium, middle or economic; EGP 250 applies until a committee rules), arrears for the gap payable in instalments, +15% each 1 September from 2026, and a fixed end date after which the landlord may recover the unit. Eligible low-income tenants could apply for state alternative housing in a window that closed in January 2026.
What new-rent landlords should do
Write the term, rent, escalation and notice into the contract; serve a court-bailiff notice before expiry if you do not want automatic renewal on the same terms; certify the contract date to unlock the Judge of Interim Matters route under Law 165/2025; keep post-dated cheques in mind that bounced cheques remain criminal under Trade Law 17/1999.
Taxes that come with rent
Real Estate Tax at 10% of annual rental value after a 30% (residential) or 32% (non-residential) deduction, with the 2026 exemption threshold of EGP 100,000 net rental value under Law 3/2026, payable in two instalments; rental income declared in the owner's annual return with a 50% deemed-expense deduction; leases are VAT-exempt. Our Egypt rules file marks several items as needing counsel sign-off.
How Leasifys helps
Leasifys classifies a unit's regime from the contract date, applies the 164/2025 escalator and end date to old-rent units, computes the real-estate tax with the 2026 exemption, and reminds you of filing and escalation dates. Information, not legal advice; verify with Egyptian counsel.
Information from the laws and official portals as at the date shown, not legal advice. Check figures on the official channel before acting.