OREANDA-NEWS. On December 19, 2008 President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed Ordinance No 24 “On Some Issues of Renting Permanent Structures (Buildings, Constructions), Isolated Premises”, reported the Official website http://president.gov.by.

One of the problems that virtually every business entity sooner or later confronts with in their practice is the need for renting premises for their production purposes or for making an office. In most cases potential tenants face reluctance on the part of the landlords to enter into long-term leases.

One of the reasons behind the landlords’ unwillingness to do so is the need for state registration of leases which duration is more than twelve months and the need for undergoing a quite over-bureaucratised registration procedure. Therefore it is only for eleven months that landlords usually grant leases (sub-leases) on premises.

On the one hand, this situation does not let tenants bring stability in their business; on the other, it creates an enabling environment for the various abuses of law.

To address this problem, the Head of State signed an Ordinance setting the minimum term of lease (sub-lease) of permanent structures (buildings, constructions), isolated premises held in public and private ownership, which is three years. A landlord is entitled to granting a shorter term lease but only with the tenant’s consent.

In addition, to eliminate excessive bureaucratic impediments and to encourage businesses to enter into long-term lease, the presidential Ordinance cancels the state registration of lease and sub-lease of real estate and charge-free use of it, amendments (additions) introduced to the respective agreements and abrogation of such agreements. Such agreements shall enter into force from the day when the parties sign them.