Article 413 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 413 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الأول: إنشاء عقد الإيجار
The article provides that if the lease period is not specified and the rent is set for a particular unit of time, the contract extends to its end; otherwise the court sets the period according to custom and the circumstances of the contract.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا لم تعين مدة الإيجار وكانت الأجرة عن وحدة زمنية معينة عُدَّ عقد الإيجار منعقدًا إلى نهاية تلك الوحدة الزمنية، وإلا عينت المحكمة مدة الإيجار بحسب العرف وظروف العقد.
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 413 explained in plain English
This article deals with the case where the lease period is not specified in the contract, and distinguishes between two cases:
- The rent is set for a particular unit of time: for instance it is stated that the rent is so much "per month" or "per year" without stating the lease period. Here the contract is regarded as made until the end of that unit of time; if the rent is monthly, the contract is regarded as made until the end of the month, and if it is annual, until the end of the year.
- If this is not the case: that is, the period was not specified and the rent is not for a particular unit of time, then the court sets the lease period according to custom and the circumstances of the contract.
This article is consistent with the definition of a lease in Article 407, which makes the benefit "for a specified period"; if the contract is silent on the period, this article provides a way to determine it.
Connected to it is Article 412, which determines the start of the lease period: from the date specified in the contract, and otherwise from the date it is concluded.
The practical advice is to write the lease period expressly in the contract, to avoid leaving its determination to the unit-of-time rule or to the court's assessment.
To assess a particular situation, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in real estate or civil cases.
Practical example
Tariq rented a room in Al-Ahsa at a rent of 1,500 riyals a month, without the contract stating the lease period. The contract is regarded as made until the end of the month, because the rent is set for a unit of time, the month.
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 413 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
What is the lease period if it is not stated in the contract?
If the rent is set for a particular unit of time, the contract is regarded as made until the end of that unit; otherwise the court sets the period according to custom and the circumstances of the contract.
If the rent is monthly and no period was specified, when does the contract end?
The contract is regarded as made until the end of the unit of time for which the rent was set, that is, the month.
Who sets the lease period if the rent is not for a unit of time?
The court sets the lease period according to custom and the circumstances of the contract.
More articles on Lease Contract
- Article 287
The article prevents set-off between a depositary's debt against the depositor and the deposit, or between a borrower's debt against the lender and the loaned item, except by agreement of the parties.
إذا كان للمودع لديه دينٌ على المودع أو كان للمستعير دين على المعير، فلا تقع المقاصة بين الدين والوديعة أو بين الدين والشيء المعار ولو كان الدين من نوع أي منهما
- Article 296
The article sets a period of 5 years after which a claim is not heard against a party who denies it, for the rights of the liberal professions and recurring periodic rights, with an exception of 10 years for the proceeds owed by a bad-faith possessor and endowment proceeds.
دون إخلال بالنصوص النظامية، لا تُسمع الدعوى على المنكر بانقضاء (خمس) سنوات في الحقوق الآتية: أ- حقوق أصحاب المهن الحرة، كالأطباء والمحامين والمهندسين عما أدوه م
- Article 407
The article defines a lease as a contract by which the lessor enables the lessee to benefit from a non-consumable thing for a specified period in return for rent.
الإيجار عقد يُمَكِّنُ بمقتضاه المؤجر المستأجر من الانتفاع مدةً معينةً بشيءٍ غير قابل للاستهلاك مقابل أجرةٍ.
- Article 408
The article allows the leased item to be a thing, a usufruct or a right, specified individually or by type, and also allows it to be an undivided share.
1- يصح أن يكون المأجور عينًا أو منفعةً أو حقًّا؛ سواء كان معيَّنًا بالذات أو بالنوع. 2- يصح أن يكون المأجور حصَّةً شائعة.
- Article 409
The article allows it to suffice to state sound bases for determining the rent, and allows the rent to be a specified sum together with a known percentage of the output or profit.
يصح أن يقتصر تقدير الأجرة على بيان أسسٍ صالحةٍ تتحدد بمقتضاها، ويصح أن تكون بمبلغٍ معيَّنٍ مع نسبةٍ معلومةٍ من الناتج أو من الربح.
- Article 410
The article allows a lease contract to require that the rent be paid in advance, deferred or paid in installments.
يصح اشتراط تعجيل الأجرة أو تأجيلها أو تقسيطها.
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.