Evicting Commercial Tenants in Bahrain

Commercial evictions have much higher stakes than residential ones. Business inventory, specialized fit-outs, and employee livelihoods are on the line. Governed by Law No. (27) of 2014 Promulgating the Property Rent Law (effective 7 February 2015), all "self-help" evictions remain entirely illegal in Bahrain, despite the corporate setting.

Executing a Commercial Eviction

The procedure mirrors the residential path through the specialized Rent Disputes Committee (RDC). Under Article 39, landlords are prohibited from requesting commercial, industrial, or professional tenants to vacate upon the expiry of the lease term for a period of 7 years from the date of handover (for contracts concluded after February 7, 2015), unless a breach occurs.

You are legally permitted to file an eviction against a business based on:

1. Consecutive Arrears: Failure to pay rent for two successive (consecutive) months (Article 38, Clause 1).
2. Unauthorized Sub-leasing: Assigning or sub-leasing the property (in whole or in part) without the landlord's written permission (Article 38, Clause 2).
3. Illegal Use: Using the property for purposes other than those agreed upon or in a manner that violates public order or morals (Article 38, Clause 4).

The Strict Warning Requirement

You are legally mandated to furnish a 7-Day Registered Notice (via registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt) for financial arrears before submitting your claim to the Rent Disputes Committee (RDC). The tenant has a grace period of one week (7 days) from the date of notification to settle the arrears.

If the tenant repeats the delay in payment more than twice during the lease term, the RDC may order eviction even if the arrears are subsequently paid. When confronting commercial defaults, time is critical. It is highly recommended to bring a finalized structural audit if executing an eviction based on demolition, or banking statements if pursuing an arrears-based cancellation.

How Landager Helps

Landager tracks lease terms, commercial eviction process deadlines, and mandatory inspection reports - making it easy to stay compliant with Bahrain regulations.

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