Univerisity of Qom Comparative Studies on Islamic and Western Law 2476-4213 Articles in Press 2025 08 12 Liability for Minor Repairs of Leased Property in Iranian Law: A Comparative Study with English Law Liability for Minor Repairs of Leased Property in Iranian Law: A Comparative Study with English Law 3682 10.22091/csiw.2025.12658.2646 FA Leila Javanmard Assistant Professor, Department of Law, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Lorestan, Iran. 0009-0009-8544-5570 Seyed Norola Sharokhey Assistant Professor, Department of Law, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Lorestan, Iran. 0000-0001-6914-7658 Ehsan Rahmati Head of the Third Legal Branch of the Khorramabad General Court 0009-0006-4789-1877 Journal Article 2025 03 29 Lease agreements constitute a cornerstone of contractual arrangements, frequently giving rise to disputes concerning the apportionment of costs for minor repairs to leased premises. Article 486 of the Iranian Civil Code unequivocally mandates the lessor to ensure the leased property remains in a state fit for its intended use. Conversely, Article 20 of the Law on the Regulation of the Relationship between Lessor and Lessee (1977) assigns responsibility for minor repair expenditures to the lessee. Despite judicial precedents occasionally allocating these costs to the lessee based on the aforementioned Article 20, a palpable legal contradiction emerges, prompting inquiry into the lessee's actual legal obligation to bear such expenses. This article aims to determine the party accountable for minor repairs in lease contracts by clarifying the legal positions of both parties under the Civil Code and the 1977 Law. Employing a descriptive and analytical methodology, this study distinguishes between short-term and long-term lease arrangements. Furthermore, it meticulously examines the concept of minor repairs to precisely delineate each party's responsibilities under both the Civil Code and the 1977 Act. Ultimately, the article posits that in short-term leases, the lessee is generally considered responsible for minor repairs, whereas in long-term leases, this responsibility typically devolves upon the lessor. Lease agreements constitute a cornerstone of contractual arrangements, frequently giving rise to disputes concerning the apportionment of costs for minor repairs to leased premises. Article 486 of the Iranian Civil Code unequivocally mandates the lessor to ensure the leased property remains in a state fit for its intended use. Conversely, Article 20 of the Law on the Regulation of the Relationship between Lessor and Lessee (1977) assigns responsibility for minor repair expenditures to the lessee. Despite judicial precedents occasionally allocating these costs to the lessee based on the aforementioned Article 20, a palpable legal contradiction emerges, prompting inquiry into the lessee's actual legal obligation to bear such expenses. This article aims to determine the party accountable for minor repairs in lease contracts by clarifying the legal positions of both parties under the Civil Code and the 1977 Law. Employing a descriptive and analytical methodology, this study distinguishes between short-term and long-term lease arrangements. Furthermore, it meticulously examines the concept of minor repairs to precisely delineate each party's responsibilities under both the Civil Code and the 1977 Act. Ultimately, the article posits that in short-term leases, the lessee is generally considered responsible for minor repairs, whereas in long-term leases, this responsibility typically devolves upon the lessor.