Shura Council Rejects Proposed Amendments to Bahrain’s Rental Law

TDT | Manama

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The Shura Council, during its session on Sunday, voted to reject a parliamentary proposal seeking amendments to Bahrain’s existing Rental Law.

The proposed bill aimed to redefine the legal framework governing lease contract extensions after their expiry and to set clear procedures for tenants returning leased properties when landlords refuse to receive them. However, the Shura Council’s Public Utilities Committee concluded that the current law already covers all relevant procedures and provides adequate protections for both landlords and tenants, making further regulation unnecessary.

In its report, the committee emphasized that the current Real Estate Lease Law balances the rights of both parties without undermining their mutual agreement. It highlighted key protections such as prohibiting landlords from asking tenants to vacate residential properties within three years—or commercial, industrial, or professional premises within seven years—unless both parties agree otherwise in writing.

During the same session, the Council also approved the draft response to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s Royal Address, which was delivered at the opening of the fourth regular session of the sixth legislative term. The approved response will now be submitted to His Majesty.

Minister of Shura and Representatives Council Affairs, Ghanim Al Buainain, stated that the proposed amendments would not introduce any new legal effects, as current legislation—particularly the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law—already addresses the proposal’s objectives. He added that the proposed text largely replicates existing provisions, making the changes unnecessary.

Shura Council member Ali Al Aradi voiced his disagreement with the committee’s recommendation, noting that the amendment could have been considered in light of a Constitutional Court ruling during the fourth judicial year. Meanwhile, Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee Chairperson Dalal Al Zayed supported the rejection, stressing that lease contracts are consensual agreements made freely between parties without need for additional regulation.