MP prepares bill to tighten control over furnished apartments

Bill not only intended as protection from terrorists but for other criminal, fraudulent acts

Member of Defense and Security committee, Yehia El-Kedwany, said in media statements on Monday that he is preparing a bill concerning rental of furnished apartments, to regulate their conditions.
The bill aims to require tenants to obtain a security clearance from the police department before residing in the apartment, and if violated, both the owner and the tenant will be punished.
The current rent law obliges the owner to notify the police department with the tenant's information before giving him a furnished apartment. However, many furnished apartments are rented without the knowledge of the police, which made apartments hiding places for terrorists or/ and their equipment, El-Kadwany explained.
He added that while rental of any furnished apartment in any area of the country is allowed, there should be an initial contract signed between the existing police station in the area, to avoid its exploitation in any criminal act.
Most of the terrorist operations carried out during the last five years were through these apartments, whether by hiding in them from security or to storing their weapons which they will use in criminal operations in the flats, the MP said.
The member noted that the committee is planning to submit the bill to parliament's administration early in December for review and discussion.
Several members of the parliament announced their support for the bill to help the state tighten its control over these apartments.
The bill was not only intended as a protection from terrorists but for other criminal and fraudulent acts that could be carried out through furnished apartments, due to them not being monitored and given insufficient information.