Article 625 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 625 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الأول: أحكام عامة لحق الملكية أولًا: نطاق الحق
The expenses of managing and preserving jointly owned property and the other expenses of co-ownership are borne by all the co-owners, each in proportion to his share, unless otherwise agreed.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يتحمل نفقات إدارة المال الشائع وحفظه وسائر النفقات الناتجة عن الشيوع أو المقررة على المال؛ جميع الشركاء كل بقدر حصته، وذلك كله ما لم يتفق على خلافه.
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 625 explained in plain English
This article specifies who bears the expenses of jointly owned property, which include, according to the text:
- The expenses of managing the jointly owned property.
- The expenses of preserving it.
- All other expenses arising from co-ownership.
- Expenses imposed on the property.
The rule is that these expenses are borne by all the co-owners, each in proportion to his share. The holder of a half bears half the expenses, the holder of a quarter bears a quarter, and so on.
An exception applies: if the co-owners agree otherwise, such as one of them bearing the expenses in return for his use of the property, their agreement is given effect.
The practical result is that where a co-owner spends on preserving the jointly owned property, as Article 624 allows him to, or on managing it, the starting point is that this expense is distributed among the co-owners according to their shares. The article does not set out procedures for claiming each co-owner's portion.
The article is linked to Article 624, which allows every co-owner to preserve the jointly owned property, and to Article 626 on partition by agreement. In disputes over sharing expenses, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in real estate cases.
Practical example
Three brothers inherited a building in Riyadh, one holding a half and each of the others a quarter. One of them spent SAR 20,000 on its maintenance. The starting point is that this expense is distributed according to the shares: SAR 10,000 on the holder of the half and SAR 5,000 on each of the holders of a quarter, unless they agree otherwise.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 625 of Civil Transactions Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Active contributor
Unwan Law Firm
Frequently asked questions about Article 625 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
How are the expenses of jointly owned real estate divided among the co-owners?
All the co-owners bear them, each in proportion to his share, unless they agree otherwise.
Which expenses does this rule cover?
The expenses of managing and preserving the jointly owned property and all other expenses arising from co-ownership or imposed on the property.
More articles on Ownership, Co-Ownership and Partition
- Article 22
The article defines an immovable as a thing fixed in its place that cannot be moved without damage or change in its form, everything else being movable, and treats a movable that its owner assigns to the service or exploitation of his immovable as an immovable by destination.
1- العقار كلُّ شيءٍ ثابتٍ في حيزه لا يمكن نقله منه دون تلفٍ أو تغيُّرٍ في هيئته، وما عدا ذلك فهو منقول. 2- يعدُّ عقارًا بالتخصيص المنقولُ الذي يضعه مالكه في عقا
- Article 26
The article divides the real right into principal rights, such as ownership, usufruct, use, habitation, easement and waqf, and accessory rights, such as mortgage and privilege, together with what the legal provisions so consider.
1- يكون الحقُّ العينيُّ أصليًّا أو تبعيًّا. 2- الحقوق العينية الأصلية هي حق الملكية، وحق الانتفاع، وحق الاستعمال، وحق السكنى، وحق الارتفاق، وحق الوقف، وما يعد ك
- Article 112
The article provides that termination of a contract cannot be asserted against the contracting party's specific successor if he acquired a real right in good faith.
لا يحتج بفسخ العقد تجاه الخلف الخاص للمتعاقد إذا كسب حقًّا عينيًّا بحسن نية.
- Article 131
A building's keeper is liable to compensate for damage caused by the collapse of all or part of the building, unless he proves that it was not due to neglect of maintenance, age of the building or a defect in it.
يكون حارس البناء مسؤولًا عن تعويض الضرر الذي يحدثه تهدّم البناء كله أو بعضه؛ ما لم يثبت أن الضرر لا يرجع سببه إلى إهمال في الصيانة أو قدم في البناء أو عيب فيه.
- Article 133
Anyone threatened with damage from a particular thing may demand that its keeper take measures to avert the danger; if he does not, the threatened person may carry them out with court permission at the owner's expense, or without it in urgency.
لكل من كان مهدَّدًا بضررٍ من شيءٍ معيَّنٍ أن يطالب حارسه باتخاذ ما يلزم من التدابير لدرء خطره، فإذا لم يقم باتخاذ هذه التدابير في وقت مناسب فلمن يهدده الخطر أن
- Article 371
The article allows a partner to give his share in jointly owned property to his partner or to someone else, whether the property is real estate or movable, even if it is divisible.
تصح هبة الشريك حصته في المال الشائع لشريكه أو لغيره عقارًا كان أو منقولًا، ولو كان الموهوب قابلًا للقسمة.
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.