923. Renting a Non-Jewish Resident's Property

Eiruvin 2:11

Let’s say that there are two courtyards, one leading to the other. If a Jew and a non-Jew live in the inner courtyard and another Jew lives in the outer courtyard, or a Jew and a non-Jew live in the outer courtyard and another Jew lives in the inner courtyard, in either case the non-Jewish resident impedes carrying in the outer courtyard until one of the Jews rents his property. This is because the outer courtyard is used by two Jews and one non-Jew (similar to the case in halachos 2:9 and 2:10). The Jew who lives in the inner courtyard, however, may carry in that courtyard.

Eiruvin 2:12

The rental arrangement with a non-Jewish resident may be made even on Shabbos because it is tantamount to ceding one’s property rights in that is only done to make a distinction. Therefore, the non-Jew’s property may be rented even for less than the equivalent of a prutah (a small coin that is typically the minimum value of a transaction). A non-Jew’s wife, employees or servants may rent the property without his knowledge, even if these employees or servants are Jewish. If a Jew asked a non-Jew’s permission to store some of his possessions on the non-Jew’s property and the non-Jew agreed, then the Jew is considered a partner in the non-Jew’s domain. As such, he may also rent out the non-Jew’s property without his knowledge. If the non-Jew has many employees, servants or wives, it is sufficient to rent the property from just one of them.