--- title: "Unpaid Rent in Tunisia: Payment Demand, Lease Termination and Eviction" description: "Complete guide for landlords in Tunisia facing unpaid rent: bailiff payment formal notice, lease termination, and legal eviction procedures." url: https://www.huissierdejustice.tn/en/guides/locataire-loyer-impaye source: https://www.huissierdejustice.tn/en/guides/locataire-loyer-impaye generated_by: aeo.js --- # Unpaid Rent in Tunisia: Payment Demand, Lease Termination and Eviction Complete guide for landlords in Tunisia facing unpaid rent: bailiff payment formal notice, lease termination, and legal eviction procedures. [All Legal Guides](/en/guides)[Français](/guides/locataire-loyer-impaye)[العربية](/ar/guides/locataire-loyer-impaye)[English](/en/guides/locataire-loyer-impaye) Residential Lease & RecoverySeptember 11, 2026Drafted under the supervision of the Bailiff's Office ## Unpaid Rent in Tunisia: Payment Demand, Lease Termination and Eviction Complete guide for landlords in Tunisia facing unpaid rent: bailiff payment formal notice, lease termination, and legal eviction procedures. [Maître Nabil Baffoun](/en/a-propos) · Judicial officer (huissier de justice) in Tunis since 1998 - Tunis Court of Appeal jurisdiction - Former president of ISIE (elected 2019) - Internet evidence reports since 2010 Written and reviewed by the author — updated 11 September 2026[Full profile](/en/a-propos)[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/baffoun-nabil/)[Wikipedia](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%86%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%84_%D8%A8%D9%81%D9%88%D9%86)[Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q60438866) General legal information guide based on Tunisian law (Organic Law No. 2018-9, CPCC, COC). Specific legal outcomes depend on individual case facts and contract terms. ## Direct Answer: What should a landlord do if a tenant stops paying rent in Tunisia? In Tunisia, landlords faced with unpaid rent must **never resort to self-help measures**: cutting utilities or changing locks is strictly prohibited under penal law and exposes the landlord to prosecution for unlawful entry. The required legal process begins by instructing a licensed **judicial bailiff (huissier de justice)** to serve an official **formal notice to pay (sommation de payer)**; Organic Law No. 2018-9 of January 30, 2018 (Article 13) gives bailiffs exclusive authority for such notices and for enforcement. If the tenant fails to settle the arrears within the notice period set by the lease or the law (generally 15 to 30 days), the landlord can initiate expedited summary proceedings (référé) for lease termination and eviction, followed by bailiff enforcement with police assistance if required. Timely rent payment is the tenant's core obligation under Article 727 of the Code of Obligations and Contracts, and the whole process typically takes 2 to 4 months depending on the court. **The procedure at a glance** Step Who Indicative timeframe Legal basis 1. Amicable reminder Landlord Move to the formal stage if nothing is paid within 8 to 10 days — 2. Formal notice to pay Judicial bailiff Served within 24 to 48 working hours; payment period generally 15 to 30 days Organic Law No. 2018-9 (Art. 13); COC (Art. 727 et seq.) 3. Summary proceedings for termination and eviction President of the district court or court of first instance On average 3 to 8 weeks CPCC 4. Forced eviction Judicial bailiff, with police assistance if necessary — CPCC (Art. 273 et seq.) --- ## 1. Legal Framework in Tunisia - **Organic Law No. 2018-9 of January 30, 2018** (Article 13): Confers exclusive authority to judicial bailiffs for drafting and serving payment demands, court notices, and executing enforceable titles. - **Tunisian Code of Obligations and Contracts (COC)**: Article 727 establishes timely rent payment as a fundamental tenant obligation. - **Code of Civil and Commercial Procedure (CPCC)**: Governs summary eviction proceedings and forced execution. Practice area : Enforcement of Court Judgments & Exequatur in Tunis ## Need Official Bailiff Assistance in Tunis? Maître Nabil Baffoun and his office assist domestic and international clients with prompt, compliant enforcement. [Explore our dedicated service](/en/services/execution) Recommended Related Guide ### Tenant Eviction Procedure in Tunisia: From Injunction to Law Enforcement Assistance Complete legal guide on tenant eviction in Tunisia: bailiff command, eviction without title, and law enforcement assistance under CPCC Art. 285+. [Read this guide](/en/guides/expulsion-locataire-tunisie) ## Frequently Asked Legal Questions How long does it take to evict a defaulting tenant in Tunisia? The entire process, from initial bailiff payment demand through summary court order to physical enforcement, typically takes between 2 to 4 months depending on court caseload. Can a landlord change the apartment locks themselves? No, self-help lock changes are strictly prohibited in Tunisia and expose the landlord to criminal prosecution for unlawful trespass. What is the legal standing of a bailiff's payment demand notice? A demand served by a bailiff carries full official evidentiary weight, irrefutably establishing formal notice and triggering statutory deadlines required for judicial lease cancellation. What can be done if the tenant abandoned the property leaving unpaid debt? The bailiff must first draft an official site abandonment report to securely recover possession, followed by a judicial payment order and conservatory bank/wage seizure against the debtor. ### Questions regarding this procedure? Contact our Tunis Office Maître Nabil Baffoun's Office — 32 Avenue de la Liberté, Lafayette, 1002 Tunis [Call our office (+216 99 442 883)](tel:+21699442883)[WhatsApp direct](https://wa.me/21699442883)[Request consultation](/en/consultation)