Fatwa No : 85867
Ruling on Taking Rent from Those Living in an Inherited House

Ruling on Taking Rent from Those Living in an Inherited House

My mother passed away approximately one and a half years ago. After her death, one brother, one sister, and one son continued living in the same house in which our mother used to live. We are seven siblings in total. The distribution of inheritance took place almost two years later because one sister travelled to Saudi Arabia after our mother’s death.
The question is: For the period of one and a half years after our mother’s passing, during which that brother, sister, and son continued living in the house, are they required to pay rent for that duration? This is because the inheritance had not yet been distributed, and they were benefiting from the property in that time — such as for daily needs and residence. Are they liable to pay rent for that period or not?
Note: They were also living in that house during our mother's lifetime.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

In the case mentioned, if the questioner and the other heirs did not initially discuss or make any agreement regarding rent with the siblings who continued to reside in the inherited house, then in such a situation, those siblings who lived in the deceased’s property are not obligated to pay rent for the past one and a half years. Likewise, it is not permissible for the other heirs to demand rent from them, and such a demand must be avoided.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

وفی الدر: لو واحد من الشريكين سكن في الدار مدة مضت من الزمن فليس للشريك أن يطالبه بأجرة السكنى ولا المطالبه بأنه يسكن من الأول لكنه إن كان في المستقبل يطلب أن يهايئ الشريكا يجاب فافهم ودع التشكيكا الخ۔ ( فصل فی الشرکۃ الفاسدۃ، ج: 4، ص: 337، ط: سعید)۔
وفی الدر: لو واحد من الشريكين سكن في الدار مدة مضت من الزمن فليس للشريك أن يطالبه بأجرة السكنى ولا المطالبه بأنه يسكن من الأول لكنه إن كان في المستقبل يطلب أن يهايئ الشريكا يجاب فافهم ودع التشكيكا الخ۔ ( فصل فی الشرکۃ الفاسدۃ، ج: 4، ص: 337، ط: سعید)۔
وفی العقود الدریۃ: لو أحد من الشريكين ‌سكن ‌في ‌الدار مدة مضت من الزمن فليس للشريك أن يطالبه بأجرة السكنى ولا المطالبةبأنه يسكن مثل الأول لكنه إن كان في المستقبل يطلب أن يهايئ الشريكا يجاب فافهم ودع التشكيكا الخ۔(کتاب الشرکۃ، ج: 1، ص: 91، ط: مکتبہ حقانیۃ)۔