{"id":205,"date":"2015-01-28T19:28:29","date_gmt":"2015-01-28T17:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/syrianlawjournal.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=205"},"modified":"2020-01-14T16:06:44","modified_gmt":"2020-01-14T14:06:44","slug":"property-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.syria.law\/index.php\/legislation\/property-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Property Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
LAW<\/td>\n\n

Civil Code<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

REFERENCE<\/td>\nLegislative Decree 84\/1949<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DATE OF PROMULGATION<\/td>\nPromulgated by President Husni Zaim on May 18, 1949<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RELEVANT PROVISIONS<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • A significant portion of the Civil Code deals with property law matters including ownership, acquisition, conveyance, binding promises to sell property, possession, usufruct rights, collateral, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RELATED LEGISLATION<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Article 790 of the Civil Code was reactivated by Law 1\/2015, which tasks the Magistrate of the Peace and the Court of Appeal with considering requests from property owners to abandon their common ownership.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
HISTORICAL CONTEXT<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • During the short-lived 138-day rule of President Husni Zaim, essential pieces of legislation such as the Civil Code were produced and are still relevant to the present day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    LAW<\/td>\n\n

    Foreign Ownership Law<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    REFERENCE<\/td>\nLaw 11\/2011<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    DATE OF PROMULGATION<\/td>\nApproved by the People\u2019s Assembly on March 31, 2011
    \nPromulgated by President Bashar Al-Assad on April 10, 2011<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    RELEVANT PROVISIONS<\/td>\n\n
      \n
    • A family from abroad may purchase a residence measuring a minimum size of 140 square meters.<\/li>\n
    • There is a two-year waiting period before a foreign owner may sell their property.<\/li>\n
    • Lessens restrictions on inheritance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    RELATED LEGISLATION<\/td>\n\n
      \n
    • This Law reduced a number of restrictions contained in Law 11\/2008.<\/li>\n
    • Law 11\/2008 had allowed a certain degree of foreign ownership over property after it overturned Legislative Decree 189\/1952.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    HISTORICAL CONTEXT<\/td>\n\n
      \n
    • With the changes in economic policy towards a social market economy taking place, this Law sought to promote the Syrian market as a potential base for local and foreign investors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      LAW<\/td>\n\n

      Landlord and Tenant Law<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

      REFERENCE<\/td>\nLaw 20\/2015<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      DATE OF PROMULGATION<\/td>\nApproved by the People\u2019s Assembly on November 4, 2015
      \nPromulgated by President Bashar Al-Assad on November 11, 2015<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      RELEVANT PROVISIONS<\/td>\n\n
        \n
      • Law 20\/2015 seeks to put an end to manipulations of rents and other problems that have arisen between landlords and tenants.<\/li>\n
      • Maintains more or less the favourable provisions towards landlords as those provided for in the preceding Law 6\/2001.<\/li>\n
      • The parties may set rental prices as they see fit<\/li>\n
      • The parties are still permitted to conclude fixed-term leases.<\/li>\n
      • Landlords and tenants are free to determine the conditions for rescission of leases.<\/li>\n
      • Further restrictions have been inserted into this Law that seek to protect tenants from undue pressure to vacate leased properties.<\/li>\n
      • Reference to evicting tenants under the previous law provided for in Legislative Decree 111\/1952 by paying them 40% of the value of the leased property has been omitted.<\/li>\n
      • Readopts the rule that political parties and public entities can be evicted from private properties starting on January 1, 2018 as long as their landlords pay them 40% of the value of the leased premises.<\/li>\n
      • The registration of leases at the relevant municipal or administrative bodies can now be carried out by owners holding 75% of the shares in the leased property.<\/li>\n
      • In order to assign a commercial lease, the tenant must pay the landlord an amount equaling 10% of the property value in order to transfer the lease to a third party.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      RELATED LEGISLATION<\/td>\n\n
        \n
      • Law 20\/2015 replaces the previous Law 6\/2001.<\/li>\n
      • Leases subject to previous laws- Legislative Decree 111\/1952 and Law 6\/2001- remain governed by them.<\/li>\n
      • As far as new leases are concerned, Legislative Decree 111\/1952, which was considered more favourable towards tenants, is no longer applicable and neither is Law 6\/2001.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      HISTORICAL CONTEXT<\/td>\n\n
        \n
      • This Law was enacted against the backdrop of internal conflict in Syria, which was having wide repercussions on the property leasing sector.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        LAW<\/td>\n\n

        Property Investment Law<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

        REFERENCE<\/td>\nLaw 15\/2008<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        DATE OF PROMULGATION<\/td>\nApproved by the People\u2019s Assembly on June 29, 2008
        \nPromulgated by President Bashar Al-Assad on July 9, 2008<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        RELEVANT PROVISIONS<\/td>\n\n
          \n
        • Both Syrian and foreign investors have the right to invest in the real estate sector.<\/li>\n
        • Real estate development zones are to be set up for this purpose.<\/li>\n
        • Companies may be licensed accordingly to carry out real estate projects.<\/li>\n
        • Incentives include tax exemptions.<\/li>\n
        • Import restrictions are reduced.<\/li>\n
        • Capital and profits may be exchanged into a convertible currency and transferred abroad.<\/li>\n
        • Establishes the General Commission for Real Estate Development and Investment to oversee this sector.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        RELATED LEGISLATION<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        HISTORICAL CONTEXT<\/td>\n\n
          \n
        • With the changes in economic policy towards a social market economy taking place, this Law sought to promote the Syrian market as a potential base for local and foreign investors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
          \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
          LAW<\/td>\n\n

          Land-Use Planning Law<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

          REFERENCE<\/td>\nLegislative Decree 82\/2010<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          DATE OF PROMULGATION<\/td>\nPromulgated by President Bashar Al-Assad on September 30, 2010<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          RELEVANT PROVISIONS<\/td>\n\n
            \n
          • Applies to areas designated for land-use planning purposes by the various local administration authorities throughout Syria.<\/li>\n
          • Regulates the construction and sale of real estate units.<\/li>\n
          • Time limits are put in place for the licensing and construction of projects.<\/li>\n
          • Sanctions off-plan sales of property units.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          RELATED LEGISLATION<\/td>\n\n
            \n
          • Repeals Law 14\/1974.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          HISTORICAL CONTEXT<\/td>\n\n
            \n
          • With the changes in economic policy towards a social market economy taking place, this law sought to promote the Syrian market as a potential base for local and foreign investors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
            \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
            LAW<\/td>\n\n

            Land Reform Law<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

            REFERENCE<\/td>\nLaw 161\/1958<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            DATE OF PROMULGATION<\/td>\nPromulgated by President Gamal Abdel-Nasser on September 27, 1958<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            RELEVANT PROVISIONS<\/td>\n\n
              \n
            • Places limitations on the ownership of land so that any excess land owned by an individual is expropriated by the state.<\/li>\n
            • Land is redistributed accordingly to the peasantry.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            RELATED LEGISLATION<\/td>\n\n
              \n
            • Law 161\/1958 has been subject to numerous amendments, particularly by Legislative Decrees 88\/1963 and 31\/1980.<\/li>\n
            • Legislative Decree 31\/1980 contains the latest revisions to Law 161\/1958.<\/li>\n
            • The Baath Party issued Decision 83\/2000, which was implemented through the government, and calls for the redistribution of state farms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
            HISTORICAL CONTEXT<\/td>\n\n
              \n
            • The land reform process was one of the most significant policies carried out by President Gamal Abdel-Nasser who advocated socialist measures in Syria in order to win support among the peasantry and undermine the landed aristocracy at the time who challenged his rule.<\/li>\n
            • With socialism taking a grip over Syria in the 1960s, the ruling Baath Party also pushed forward with land reform.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
              \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
              LAW<\/td>\n\n

              Agricultural Relations Law<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

              REFERENCE<\/td>\nLaw 56\/2004<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
              DATE OF PROMULGATION<\/td>\nApproved by the People\u2019s Assembly on December 22, 2004
              \nPromulgated by President Bashar Al-Assad on December 29, 2004<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
              RELEVANT PROVISIONS<\/td>\n\n
                \n
              • Regulates investments in farmland by both landowners and farmers.<\/li>\n
              • Reduces the level of protection that the peasantry had hitherto enjoyed in order to encourage private investments.<\/li>\n
              • Lays down rules governing the contractual process.<\/li>\n
              • Outlines contractual structures for share-cropping.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
              RELATED LEGISLATION<\/td>\n\n
                \n
              • Repeals Law 134\/1958, which was passed as part of President Gamal Abdel-Nasser\u2019s land reform package.<\/li>\n
              • Law 134\/1958 sought to reduce the power wielded by wealthy landowners in favour of the peasantry.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
              HISTORICAL CONTEXT<\/td>\n\n
                \n
              • This Law was enacted during the time Syria began to gradually liberalize its economy but not before plans for a social market economy were officially announced.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                LAW Civil Code REFERENCE Legislative Decree 84\/1949 DATE OF PROMULGATION Promulgated by President Husni Zaim on May 18, 1949 RELEVANT PROVISIONS A significant portion of the Civil Code deals with property law matters including...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":107,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/child-menu.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-205","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\r\nProperty Law | SYRIA.LAW<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.syria.law\/index.php\/legislation\/property-law\/\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" 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