The House Owners’ Share in Key Money

Question

After the transaction has been concluded in this way, the seller and the buyer both go to the owner of the house and give him a part of the agreed sum, for example a quarter; after that he transfers the rent bill (receipt) of the house to the new tenant’s name, so that the new tenant obtains the right of residence both from him and from the law. The owner of the house collects the rent anyway, and in addition to that, in this case he collects an extra sum.

Answer

This owner of the house has the right to rent out the house at whatever rent he wishes; and if he wishes to give it to another tenant, he may settle with him whatever arrangement he wishes; he also has the right to stipulate as large an advance as he wishes. But one tenant has no right to collect from another tenant more than the rent that he himself pays.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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