Does Property Ownership Expire After 15 Years?

Egypt's Court of Cassation has addressed the legal debate over whether property ownership expires after 15 years of non-use, confirming that ownership does not disappear simply because the owner has not used the property.

The court clarified that a property owner can file a claim to recover their property from an unlawful occupier, and that the passage of 15 years or more does not automatically extinguish a claim based on ownership rights.

The court also explained that if returning the property itself becomes impossible, the owner may seek its monetary value as compensation.

Furthermore, the ruling stressed that unlawful occupation does not become legitimate merely because it continues for a long period.

The court reaffirmed the distinction between personal claims that may be subject to limitation periods and ownership claims based on the original right of ownership, subject to the legal rules governing the acquisition and transfer of property.