Article 342 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 342 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الثاني: آثار عقد البيع أولًا: التزامات البائع
If several things are sold in one transaction and some are defective, with no harm in separating them, the buyer may rescind as to the defective part or keep it and claim its price difference.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا بيعت أشياء متعددةٌ صفقةً واحدةً، وظهر في بعضها عيب، وليس في تجزئتها ضررٌ؛ فللمشتري طلب فسخ البيع في الجزء المعيب أو إمساكه مع الرجوع بفرق ثمنه، وليس له طلب الفسخ في جميع المبيع، ما لم يتبين أنه ما كان ليرضى بالعقد دون الجزء المعيب.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 342 explained in plain English
This article deals with a common case: buying several things in one transaction, and then a defect appearing in some of them only. It sets a ruling where the condition is met that separating them causes no harm, that is, the defective part can be separated from the rest without anyone being harmed.
In this case the buyer may:
- request rescission of the sale as to the defective part alone;
- or keep the defective part and claim its price difference.
But he may not request rescission as to the whole item sold, since the rule is that the sound parts remain sold. An exception is where it appears that the buyer would not have agreed to the contract without the defective part; he may then request rescission of the whole sale.
The article thus balances the buyer's interest in not being bound to what is defective against the seller's interest in not having a whole transaction cancelled because of a defect in a part that can be separated. Where separating the items would cause harm, the article does not address that case with its ruling.
The article is linked to Article 341, which provides that the buyer's acceptance of a defect forfeits his right to rescind and to the price difference, and to Article 343, which permits agreeing to exempt the seller from the warranty against defects, or to limit or increase it, unless he deliberately concealed the defect.
To assess whether separation causes harm, or whether the buyer would not have agreed to the contract without the defective part, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in civil or commercial cases.
Practical example
The owner of a restaurant in Khobar bought 20 chairs and 5 tables in one transaction, and it then turned out that 3 chairs were broken. He may request rescission as to the three chairs, or keep them and claim their price difference, but he may not rescind the entire transaction, unless it appears that he would not have agreed to the contract without those chairs.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 342 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
May I return all the goods if some are defective?
As a rule no. You may rescind as to the defective part only or keep it and claim its price difference, unless it appears that you would not have agreed to the contract without the defective part.
What is the condition for applying this article?
That the things were sold in one transaction, the defect appeared in some of them, and separating them causes no harm.
More articles on Sale Contract
- Article 23
The article defines consumable things as those whose use, according to what they are prepared for, is limited to consuming or spending them, and treats everything prepared in stores for sale as consumable.
الأشياء القابلة للاستهلاك هي التي ينحصر استعمالها -بحسب ما أُعدّت له- في استهلاكها أو إنفاقها، ويعد قابلًا للاستهلاك كل ما أعد في المتاجر للبيع.
- Article 44
Paying earnest money gives only the payer the right to withdraw from the contract without recovering it, unless otherwise agreed; the court sets the withdrawal period if the parties have not.
1- دفع العربون عند إبرام العقد يفيد أن لدافع العربون وحده الحق في العدول عن العقد، وليس له إذا عدل أن يسترد مبلغ العربون، وذلك كله ما لم يتفق على خلافه. 2- إذا
- Article 109
The article provides that exchange contracts are concluded on the basis that the subject matter is free of defects except what custom tolerates, and that an intolerable defect is a breach of the obligation.
تُعدُّ عقود المعاوضات منعقدةً على أساس سلامة محل العقد من العيوب إلا ما جرى العرف على التسامح فيه، فإذا تبيَّن في المحل عيبٌ لم يجر العرف على التسامح فيه؛ عُدَّ
- Article 165
The article provides that a right to a thing specified by kind attaches to a particular item only once it is set apart, and lets the creditor, on non-performance, obtain a like item at the debtor's expense.
1- إذا تعلق الحق بشيء معين بالنوع لا بالذات، فإنه لا يختص بشيء بذاته من ذلك النوع إلا بإفرازه. 2- إذا لم يقم المدين بتنفيذ التزامه جاز للدائن أن يحصل على شيء من
- Article 166
The article places the risk of destruction or damage on the debtor who failed to deliver, in two cases: transfer of a real right and an obligation to perform work involving delivery, each on different conditions.
1- الالتزام بنقل حق عيني يتضمن الالتزام بتسليم الشيء والمحافظة عليه حتى تسليمه، فإذا لم يقم المدين بتسليمه حتى هلك أو تلف كانت تبعة ذلك عليه. 2- إذا كان محل الا
- Article 307
Article 307 defines sale as a contract under which the seller transfers ownership of the item sold to the buyer for a cash price.
البيع عقد يُمَلِّكُ بمقتضاه البائع المبيع للمشتري مقابل ثمنٍ نقدي.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.