Article 16 of the Saudi Real Estate Unit Ownership, Division and Management Law
المادة 16 من نظام ملكية الوحدات العقارية وفرزها وإدارتها · الفصل الرابع: جمعية الملاك
The article bars the owners' association from limiting or restricting the owner's rights to dispose of his unit or use it or the common parts within their purposes and without harming the other owners.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
ليس لجمعية الملاك أن تحد أو أن تقيد من حقوق المالك في التصرف بوحدته العقارية المفرزة، أو في الانتفاع بها، أو بالأجزاء المشتركة في حدود الأغراض التي أعدت من أجلها، وبما لا يضر بباقي الملاك.
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 16 explained in plain English
This article sets a limit on the powers of the owners' association to protect the rights of every owner. The association may not limit or restrict the owner's rights in:
- Disposing of his divided unit, such as selling, mortgaging or leasing it.
- Using his unit.
- Using the common parts.
But this protection is subject to two conditions stated in the text:
- That the use be within the purposes for which the unit or the common parts were designated.
- That it be without harming the other owners.
If the owner complies with these two conditions, the association may not prevent or restrict him. If he goes beyond them, for example by using a common part for other than its purpose or in a way that harms others, he does not benefit from this protection.
This article balances what Article 15 provides, that owning a unit in a property with an owners' association is acceptance of the articles of association and a commitment to the general assembly's decisions; the owner is bound by the association's decisions, but the association in turn cannot take away his basic rights in his unit. It is also linked to Article 17, which requires partners in a single unit to choose who represents them in the general assembly.
A person who believes an association decision has restricted his right without justification would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in real estate matters.
Practical example
The owners' association of a building in Riyadh issued a decision banning owners from leasing their residential apartments to families. This decision restricts the owner's right to dispose of and use his unit, and the article bars the association from doing so as long as the leasing is within the purpose for which the apartment was designated and does not harm the other owners.
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 16 of the Saudi Real Estate Unit Ownership, Division and Management Law
Can the owners' association prevent me from disposing of my apartment?
The association may not limit or restrict the owner's rights to dispose of or use his unit, within the purposes for which it was designated and without harming the other owners.
Can the association restrict my use of the swimming pool or parking?
The association may not restrict the owner's use of the common parts as long as it is within the purposes for which they were designated and without harming the other owners.
When does this protection not apply?
If the owner's use goes beyond the purposes for which the unit or the common parts were designated, or harms the other owners.
More articles on Owners' Association
- Article 1
The article defines the Law's basic terms, such as division, the divided real estate unit, common parts, the shared property, the real estate complex, the owners' association, the manager and maintenance.
يقصد بالكلمات والعبارات الآتية - أينما وردت في هذا النظام - المعاني المبينة أمام كل منها، ما لم يقتض السياق غير ذلك: النظام: نظام ملكية الوحدات العقارية وفرزها
- Article 3
The article allows re-dividing the shared property or changing its use with the approval of the general assembly and any mortgagee, with the plan amended, and sets owners' shares in what results from the change.
1- يجوز إعادة فرز العقار المشترك أو جزء منه أو تغيير استعمالاته؛ بعد موافقة الجمعية العامة، وموافقة المرتهن إن وجد. ولا يخل ذلك بحق المتضرر في اللجوء إلى المحكم
- Article 12
The article requires owners of shared property, when there are 3 or more, to form an owners' association and register it with the Authority, gives it legal personality and a separate financial liability, and requires articles of association.
1- إذا بلغ عدد ملاك الوحدات العقارية المفرزة في عقار مشترك ثلاثة فأكثر؛ فعليهم أن يؤسسوا جمعية بينهم لإدارة شؤون ذلك العقار، وتسجيل تلك الجمعية لدى الهيئة، وإذا
- Article 13
The article allows owners of shared properties within a real estate complex to form a "complex association" with independent legal personality, made up of representatives of the owners' associations, to which the owners' association provisions apply as consistent with its nature.
1- للملاك في العقارات المشتركة التي تقع ضمن مجمع عقاري إنشاء جمعية ذات شخصية معنوية مستقلة تسمى (جمعية المجمع)، تضم ممثلاً أو أكثر عن جمعية الملاك في كل عقار مش
- Article 14
The article provides that the owners' association represents the owners in dispositions arising on the common parts.
تعد جمعية الملاك ممثلةً للملاك فيما يتعلق بالتصرفات التي تنشأ على الأجزاء المشتركة.
- Article 15
The article provides that owning a divided unit in a shared property that has an owners' association is acceptance of its articles of association and a commitment to the general assembly's decisions, without prejudice to Article 6.
دون إخلال بحكم المادة (السادسة) من النظام، يعد امتلاك وحدة عقارية مفرزة في عقار مشترك - مؤسس له جمعية ملاك - قبولاً من المالك بالنظام الأساسي، والتزاماً منه بال
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.