uabb domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /var/www/sites/lawfirmbackup_200125/wordpress/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131\u00a0<\/strong>There are a number of reasons why it is important to create a lease that is fair to both the tenants and the landlords. Like the rest of the world, Israel is in the midst of a financial crisis whose full implications are still unclear. The crisis is affecting the rental market, making it more in landlords\u2019 interests to keep their tenants for the long term. In this article we explain what legal mechanisms should be included in a lease to make it fair and balanced.<\/p>\n Attorneys in our offices in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, specialize in contract and real estate law<\/a>. Attorneys in our office have extensive experience in providing legal assistance to tenants and landlords. Services offered by our office include writing apartment leases, legal counselling regarding rentals, representation in legal disputes related to rentals, mediation and conflict resolution<\/a>, and more.<\/p>\n In the current period, both apartment owners and tenants have a significant interest in maintaining long-term fair rentals. It is a known fact that the effects of the Corona crisis<\/a> are causing economic instability. Many people are losing their jobs and income levels are reduced, which is likely to cause property owners real difficulty in finding potential tenants.<\/p>\n At the same time, restrictions on tourists\u2019 and foreign workers\u2019 entrance to Israel has significantly reduced the use of short-term rentals (sublets, Airbnb, etc.). The changes taking place in the market and uncertainty about the future are causing more landlords to seek to create a balanced contract that will encourage tenants to stay in the apartment for the long term.<\/p>\n A fair rental contract must set conditions that take in account the interests of both sides. To accomplish this, one must act in accordance with the regulations on fair rental in the current Rental Law<\/a> (see this article<\/a> for an in-depth explanation of this law). In addition, mechanisms may be included in the contract which ensure maximum consideration of both the tenants\u2019 and landlords\u2019 interests. See below for some examples of such mechanisms, which we recommend that you consider including in your lease.<\/p>\n Regarding payment of the monthly rent, a fair and balanced lease includes a mechanism to take into account that technical difficulties may delay transfer of the payment. Such delays are not always dependent on the tenants and may not necessarily be their fault. Accordingly, the lease should state that the landlord is obliged to send a warning in the case of a late payment, so that the tenants will know that the delay will not immediately be used to claim that they violated the contract.<\/p>\n In addition, as appropriate, it is recommended to consider a clause stating that the amount of monthly rent will include utilities (gas, electricity, water, municipal property tax<\/a> (arnona<\/em>), etc.) This may make things easier for tenants, many of whom may be willing to pay a slightly higher price for the knowledge that they do not need to deal with any additional payments. To make sure that such a clause does not become an incentive for the tenants to use more electricity and water, the lease can stipulate that the tenants leave a deposit at the beginning. Any time the utility bills exceed the average, the lease can then authorize the landlord to deduct the difference from the deposit.<\/p>\n It is considered customary for rental contracts to require some kind of surety. There are various types of surety<\/a>, such as a personal guarantee, a security check, a bank guarantee, or a third-party guarantor<\/a>. Surety is a significant part of a rental contract, since it promotes trust between the two sides. However, for apartments regulated under the Fair Rental Act (that is, most rental apartments in Israel), a maximum amount of surety has been set: a third of the rental period or three months\u2019 rent, whichever is less. Therefore, if the parties decide to create a surety mechanism in the lease, it must meet these legal requirements.<\/p>\nWhy is it particularly important now to create a fair lease?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/p>\nFair rules regarding payment of rent and utilities<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Surety<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Mechanisms for breaking the lease and providing an option to renew<\/strong><\/h4>\n