Bahrain Property Law · Tenancy

Who pays the lease registration fee in Bahrain?

The landlord. Law No. 27 of 2014 places the registration fee on the lessor - and if he refuses to register at all, the tenant may register the lease and deduct the fee from the rent.

The fee itself is small - BD 1 to BD 5 for residential leases and BD 5 to BD 10 for other uses, set by ministerial order - so the rule is really about responsibility, not money.

Tenants should still confirm registration actually happened, because it is the tenant who loses most if it didn't: no registration means no access to the Rent Disputes Committee.

• Registration fee is borne by the landlord
• Residential: BD 1-5; other: BD 5-10
• Tenant can self-register and deduct the fee
• Always verify the lease was actually registered

Source: Law No. 27 of 2014 (the Property Rent Law), in force since February 2015 - official text at slrb.gov.bh. This page is general information, not legal advice - for a live dispute, use a licensed lawyer.