Morocco Considers Rent Protection Bills Amid Pandemic Economic Strain

The difficulties generated by the pandemic and confinement affect all sectors and socio-professional categories. At this time, tenants, most of whom have been sent on technical unemployment, are struggling to honor their rents. These two bills on which the House of Representatives is focusing, therefore come at the right time to prevent some tenants from ending up on the street.

According to Medias24, the first text proposes to amend Law 49.16 relating to "leases of rented buildings or premises for commercial, industrial or craft use". The second intends to act on Law 67.12 governing "contractual relations between landlords and tenants of premises for residential or professional use".

The objective of these two bills is to prohibit the "eviction without compensation" procedure against tenants who are unable to "pay the rent due to the state of health emergency". The idea is also to ensure that the amount owed is considered an "ordinary debt", which can be recovered according to the procedures in force.