The Law no. 13/2019, of 12th February, amends the Civil Code and the NRAU (New Urban Lease Regime), in order to remedy situations of imbalance between tenants and landlords, as well as to protect tenants in cases of fragility.
Some of the amendments to the Civil Code include: (i) a reduction of compensation from 50% to 20% of the outstanding rent; (ii) the absence of a written lease, when the tenant is not responsible for it, does not imply nullity; (iii) in lease contracts for housing purposes, the opposition to the first renewal of the lease by the landlord will produce effects in the 3 years upon execution of the lease agreement; (iv) in lease contracts for non-housing purposes, the landlord won’t have the right to oppose to said renewal in the first 5 years after the lease comes into force; and (v) new deadlines for the termination of the contract by the landlord.
Regarding the amendments to the NRAU, in case the lease agreement was concluded before the Urban Lease Regime came into force and the tenant proves that he has been living in the rented propriety for more than 15 years and that he was 65 years old or above in the transition period or that he has a verified disability equal or superior to 60%, the landlord may only oppose to the renewal in case of demolition or refurbishment works that imply leaving the leased propriety.
The present law is into force since the 13th of February