Although three years have passed since it embarked on the mission — during which it supposedly carried out elaborate and extensive studies to contain this phenomenon — the committee has been unable to present a convincing comprehensive report comprising specific regulations and recommendations to tackle the issue.

The committee could not even clear five recommendations during the last voting at the Shoura session on May 29. The Shoura returned the report to the committee for the third time for lack of clarity after detecting some anomalies, Al-Riyadh daily reported.

The Shoura had turned down the committee’s report for the first time when it was found contradicting with the recommendations of an expert panel at the Council of Ministers. The panel called for issuing specific regulations to address the problem and set up a permanent committee at all governorates in 13 provinces and some other major regions, in accordance with an order issued by the governors. “This committee must be comprised of a judge representing the Ministry of Justice as well as representatives of the governorate, police and public treasury. Its mission is to open those shops and houses, a month after the expiry of the rent contract period in case the tenants are reported absent or absconding,” the panel suggested.

The committee disagreed with the panel’s report on the ground that it contradicted Article 37 of the Basic Governing Law that protects the immunity of a place of residence. The committee also observed that it was not permissible to enter a place of residence without the permission of its tenant, unless a court order has been obtained. The returning of the report by Shoura with a note recommending more studies over the issue gives the committee an opportunity to examine the recommendations put forward by some Shoura members. This included the demand made by Hassan Al-Shahri to enact a law specifying the relationship between the landlord and the tenant.

He stressed that such a law would be supportive to the judicial and executive bodies concerned, in addition to creating a fully-fledged legal environment for the existing laws as well as providing the opportunity to respect the rights of others. Amir Al-Luwaiheq, another member, backed the recommendation for the formation of a permanent committee at each governorate with a mission to find quick solutions to the disputes that break out between landlords and tenants.

Abdul Malik Al-Khayal, another member, has recommended halting all types of transactions with the defaulting tenants. “These transactions must include those concerning with banks, travel, suspension of salary, renewal of driving license and the like,” he added.