Increasing Security of Tenure through Relationship Building and Written Lease Agreements - An Assessment of NRC’s Housing, Land and Property Rights Pilot Project in Lebanon - August 2014

Sep 16, 2026

The assessment examines how refugee tenants in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley can increase tenure security through relationship building and the use of written lease agreements. It reviews the demographic and vulnerability profile of refugee households, their legal status, access to services, and the rights and responsibilities they perceive under shelter arrangements. The study analyzes agreements and the barriers to written contracts, landlord perspectives, existing disputes and remedies, and particular challenges women face, concluding with findings on the HLP pilot project and recommended next steps.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages66

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Key findings

Overview

Refugees in the Bekaa

Urban displacement

Coping mechanisms for accessing shelter

Pressure on Lebanese host communities

Disputes between refugee and host communities

Refugee housing in the Bekaa Valley

Methodology

Approach

Pilot project assessment

Legal framework for refugee housing rights in Lebanon

Logic of written lease agreements

Key Assessment Findings

Refugee tenants and tenure security: demographics and vulnerability

Rights and responsibilities: perspective of refugee tenants

Agreements between refugee tenants and host community landlords

Future access to housing

The host community: the perspective of the landlord

Existing disputes and remedies

Specific challenges women face to enjoying secure tenure

The impact of the HLP pilot project

Conclusion

Recommended Next Steps

Annexes

Annex A: Lease agreement factsheet

Annex B: Checklist for Lease Agreements

Annex C: Template lease agreement

Annex D: Eviction factsheet

Increasing Security of Tenure through Relationship Building and Written Lease Agreements An Assessment of NRC’s Housing, Land and Property Rights Pilot Project in Lebanon Researched and written by the Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance programme, NRC Lebanon, August 2014. This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid. The contents of the document are the sole responsibility of the Norwegian Refugee Council and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Commission’s Humanitarian Department. Acknowledgements NRC thanks each person who participated in the assessment and production of this report, especially all those in the refugee and host communities in Lebanon. NRC would like to extend special thanks to Alexandra Hartman who has participated in the pilot project and has prepared the assessment report; and Julia Herzog-Schmidt who has provided the NRC team withinvaluable support and input to the pilot project and assessment report. In addition many thanks to the ICLA Lebanon teams, especially the ICLA Bekaa team, who all continue to make great efforts to assist and support those affected by displacement. NRC is grateful for all the support from the humanitarian community who gave their time to contribute, provide valuable information and share their experiences. Cover photograph: NRC/Christian Jepsen. Picture of Aarsal in the northern Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. Photographs in report: NRC/Christian Jepsen INCREASING SECURITY OF TENURE THROUGH RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND WRITTEN LEASE AGREEMENTS: An Assessment of NRC’s Housing, Land and Property Rights Pilot Project in Lebanon NRC Lebanon August 2014 Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent, international, humanitarian non-governmental organisation that provides assistance, protection and contributes to durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced people worldwide. NRC Lebanon NRC has been working in Lebanon since 2006, and has grown significantly since the start of the Syrian crisis. Through its core activities of Shelter, ICLA, Education, Community Capacity Building and WASH, NRC provides humanitarian assistance and protection to refugees from Syria, host communities, as well as to the Palestinian and Iraqi refugees already living in the country. Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) programme, Lebanon In March 2012, NRC commenced its ICLA programme in Lebanon to provide information, counselling and legal assistance to refugees and displaced persons in Lebanon. Currently, ICLA has two main areas of work: (1) the Palestinian refugee response; and (2) the Syrian response. ICLA activities throughout Lebanon include awareness-raising, legal information, legal counselling, referrals to other service providers, training, legal research and strengthening the provision of legal aid by working with lawyers, jurists and law students. For more information, please contact: NRC Lebanon ICLA Programme Manager, Dalia Aranki Email: [dalia.aranki@nrc.no](dalia.aranki@nrc.no) TABLE OF CONTENTS | EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | 6 | | --- | --- | | Key findings | 8 | | OVERVIEW | 9 | | Refugees in the Bekaa | 10 | | Urban displacement | 10 | | Coping mechanisms for accessing shelter | 10 | | Pressure on Lebanese host communities | 11 | | Disputes between refugee and host communities | 11 | | Refugee housing in the Bekaa Valley | 11 | | METHODOLOGY | 13 | | Approach | 14 | | Pilot project assessment | 14 | | Legal framework for refugee housing rights in Lebanon | 15 | | Logic of written lease agreements | 15 | | KEY ASSESSMENT FINDINGS | 17 | | Refugee tenants and tenure security: demographics and vulnerability | 18 | | Household size and household-head vulnerability | 18 | | Legal status in Lebanon | 18 | | Previous residence in Lebanon | 19 | | Access to services | 19 | | Rights and r

FAQs

What is the purpose of the HLP pilot project assessment in Lebanon?

The assessment evaluates how relationship building and written lease agreements can strengthen housing, land and property rights and increase security of tenure for refugees in Lebanon, particularly in the Bekaa Valley.

What does the report say about why written lease agreements are not widely used?

It identifies reasons for the lack of written agreements and examines how refugees and landlords understand responsibilities, including factors that limit formal documentation.

What challenges are highlighted for women regarding secure tenure?

The report addresses specific challenges women face in enjoying secure tenure and links these to the broader dispute environment, rights perceptions, and access to housing arrangements.

Sep 16, 2026

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