Article 615 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 615 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الأول: أحكام عامة لحق الملكية أولًا: نطاق الحق
A partner may raise the shared wall at his own expense on conditions and must rebuild it if it is not fit for raising, and the cost of repairing it is shared among the partners in proportion to their shares.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- للشريك في الحائط المشترك أن يعليه على نفقته إذا كانت له مصلحة جديّة في ذلك، بشرط ألا يلحق بشريكه ضررًا جسيمًا.
2- إذا لم يكن الحائط المشترك صالحًا للتعلية فعلى من يرغب في تعليته من الشركاء أن يعيد بناء الحائط كله على نفقته.
3- إذا أصبح الحائط المشترك غير صالح للغرض الذي أقيم من أجله، فنفقة إصلاحه على جميع الشركاء بنسبة حصة كل منهم فيه.
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 615 explained in plain English
This article completes the provisions on the shared wall, and deals with three matters:
Paragraph (1) — raising: A partner may raise the shared wall at his own expense, on two conditions:
- That he has a serious interest in raising it.
- That he does not cause his partner serious harm.
Paragraph (2) — a wall not fit for raising: If the wall is not fit for raising, the partner wishing to raise it must rebuild the whole wall at his own expense.
Paragraph (3) — repair: If the wall becomes unfit for the purpose for which it was built, the cost of repairing it falls on all the partners, each in proportion to his share in it.
Note the difference between the two situations: raising is in the interest of whoever requests it, so he bears its cost alone, while repair to restore the original purpose is a shared interest, so its cost is divided.
The article is linked to Article 614, which bars changes inconsistent with the wall's purpose without the partner's permission, and to Article 616 on demolishing a wall that shields a neighbor. To resolve a dispute over raising or the cost of repair, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in real estate cases.
Practical example
Badr wanted to add a second floor to his house in Buraidah and needed to raise the wall he shares with his neighbor. He may do so at his own expense if he has a serious interest and does not cause his neighbor serious harm. If it turns out that the wall cannot bear being raised, he must rebuild all of it at his own expense.
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 615 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
Can I raise the wall I share with my neighbor?
Yes, at your own expense if you have a serious interest in doing so, provided you do not cause your partner serious harm.
Who bears the cost of repairing the shared wall?
If it becomes unfit for the purpose for which it was built, the cost of repairing it falls on all the partners in proportion to each one's share.
What if the shared wall cannot bear being raised?
Whoever wishes to raise it must rebuild the whole wall at his own expense.
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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.