Jordan’s Landlords and Tenants Law: a plain summary

Old and new leases

• Leases made before 31 August 2000: the law lets the tenant stay on after the term under its conditions (article 5(a))¹.
• Leases made on or after 31 August 2000: the rights of both sides follow the lease, and the tenancy ends when the agreed term ends (article 5(b))¹.
• A clause that renews the lease automatically renews it once for the same period unless the tenant gives notice before the end (article 5(b))¹.

Grounds for eviction (summary)

• Not paying the rent, or the tenant’s agreed share of common services, or breaching a term of the lease, and not putting it right within 15 days of a notarised notice (إنذار عدلي) (article 5(c)(1))¹.
• Repeating the failure to pay three or more times, in which case no new notice is needed (article 5(c)(2))¹.
• Subletting or giving up the property to others without the owner’s written consent (article 5(c)(3))¹.
• Other grounds listed in the same article; ask a lawyer about your case.

Rent during a court case

The tenant must keep paying the rent while an eviction case is heard (article 13(a))¹. Stopping payment because of a dispute can make things worse.

Repairs in brief

Under the Civil Code the landlord repairs defects that stop the home being used as intended; the tenant must look after it and is liable for damage caused by fault or misuse, not for normal wear (articles 681 and 692)². Our repairs page explains more.

How people usually think about it

• Many tenants believe the landlord cannot end any lease. That was true for older leases; for leases since 31 August 2000 the agreed term decides¹.
• Many landlords think they can change the locks or cut services if rent is late. Eviction goes through the legal route, starting with a notarised notice and the courts.
• People often focus on the rent and skip the renewal and notice clauses, which decide what happens at the end.

Common misunderstandings

• “The tenant can stay as long as they pay.” For leases since 31 August 2000, the tenancy ends at the agreed term unless renewed by the lease¹.
• “If the landlord does not repair, I can stop paying rent.” The law requires rent to keep being paid during a case¹; the Civil Code gives other routes for repairs².
• “A WhatsApp message is enough notice to evict.” The grounds in article 5(c)(1) rely on a notarised notice (إنذار عدلي)¹.