National Assembly Adopts New Rental Lease Law in DRC

Lawmakers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have adopted a new law designed to overhaul rental lease agreements, aiming to better regulate relationships between property owners and tenants. The National Assembly passed the proposal on June 4, introducing several key changes intended to modernize and secure the rental market.

Spearheaded by lawmaker Venance Eyanga Mboyo, the legislation mandates that rent payments be made in Congolese francs, a significant shift from previous practices. It also establishes a national registry for leases to improve oversight and traceability of rental contracts. The law modifies 20 articles of the existing 2015 legislation, seeking to address long-standing issues within the sector.

Further innovations include stricter controls on rent adjustments to prevent arbitrary increases and the introduction of a lease permit. Real estate agencies will now require official accreditation to operate. The bill also proposes the creation of a national commission for property valuation and clarifies definitions for terms like major repairs, which have often been sources of disputes. This revised law will now move to the Senate for a second reading.

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This text introduces several innovations intended to better regulate this sector, including the payment of rent in Congolese francs, the creation of a national register of leases, and better control of the rental market.