Do I need a rental contract for a privately owned apartment in Egypt, and who can sign it for an absent owner?

When renting directly from a private owner, it is advisable to have a written agreement. It should clearly cover the tenant’s liability for damage, such as a water leak affecting the property.

If the stay is arranged as a hotel-apartment rental and a receipt is issued, it differs from a standard private apartment rental. Keep the receipt together with the accommodation terms.

Before moving in, confirm how the compound records you: as a tenant or only as a person authorized to enter the property. This can matter for access and proof of occupancy.

When the owner is outside Egypt, an authorized representative may sign the rental agreement on the owner’s behalf. The representative should have documented authority to enter into leases for the owner, such as under a property-management agreement.