Article 445 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 445 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الخامس: إيجار الأرض للزراعة
A lease of land occupied by a crop is valid if it is made with effect deferred to a future time when the land will be empty.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يصح إيجار الأرض المشغولة بالزرع إيجارًا مضافًا إلى أجل تكون الأرض فيه خالية.
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 445 explained in plain English
This article offers a practical solution for land occupied by a crop whose owner wants to lease it.
The rule: a lease of land occupied by a crop is valid as a lease deferred to a later time when the land is empty. A "deferred lease" means the contract is made now, but its effect, that is, the start of the tenant's use of the land, is postponed to a specified later time.
The condition the text sets is that the later time is one when the land is empty of the crop, so the lease begins after the land is cleared.
The difference from Article 444: Article 444 does not allow a lease of land for farming taking immediate effect while the land is occupied by a crop belonging to someone other than the tenant that has not reached harvest and was planted with a right to do so. This article allows the lease if it is deferred to a time when the land is empty. The Law thus combines protection of the owner of the existing crop with letting the owner contract in advance for the land.
This article also connects to Article 446, which determines what a lease of land for farming includes by way of appurtenances and accessories.
Anyone who wants to make a contract of this type should state clearly in the contract when the lease begins, and consider consulting a lawyer specializing in real estate or civil matters if needed.
Practical example
Hamad's land in Hail is currently planted with clover by another tenant whose contract runs to the end of the season. Hamad agreed with a new farmer to lease him the land, with the lease starting from a date when the land is empty after the season ends. This deferred lease is valid.
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 445 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
Can land that is currently planted be leased with the lease starting later?
Yes. A lease of land occupied by a crop is valid if it is deferred to a time when the land is empty.
What is the difference between an immediate lease and a deferred lease?
An immediate lease takes effect at once, while a deferred lease takes effect at a later time. This article allows a lease deferred to a time when the land is empty.
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.