Article 26 of the Saudi Real Estate Unit Ownership, Division and Management Law
المادة 26 من نظام ملكية الوحدات العقارية وفرزها وإدارتها · الفصل الخامس: الإدارة والصيانة
The article divides the costs of maintaining and managing the common parts among owners in proportion to the area of their units, allows this to vary by use, and lets an owner improve the common parts at his own expense with the association's approval.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يشترك كل مالك في تكاليف صيانة الأجزاء المشتركة وإدارتها؛ كلٌّ بقدر نسبة مساحة الجزء المفرز الذي يملكه إلى إجمالي مساحة الأجزاء المفرزة في العقار المشترك. ويجوز أن تختلف قيمة مساهمة المالك في تلك التكاليف باختلاف نوع استعمال الوحدة العقارية المفرزة إذا كانت ضمن عقار مشترك متعدد الاستعمالات.
2- لأي مالك - بعد موافقة جمعية الملاك - أن يحسّن على نفقته الانتفاع بالأجزاء المشتركة أو جزء منها دون أن يغير من نوع استعمالها أو يلحق الضرر بالآخرين.
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 26 explained in plain English
This article answers the question of how maintenance and management costs are distributed among the owners, and contains two rulings:
First: the distribution rule. Each owner shares in the costs of maintaining and managing the common parts in proportion to the area of the separate part he owns to the total area of the separate parts in the shared property. The owner of a larger apartment pays more, and costs are not necessarily equal among units.
The exception: the amount of the contribution may differ according to the type of use of the unit, where the unit is within a mixed-use shared property, such as a building that combines shops and residential apartments.
Second: improving the common parts. Any owner may improve the use of the common parts or part of them, on three conditions:
- The prior approval of the owners association.
- That it is done at his own expense.
- That it does not change their type of use and does not harm others.
This article falls within the chapter on management and maintenance. It connects to Article 27, which requires every owner to maintain his unit even if he does not use it, to prevent harm to the shared property: the costs of maintaining the common parts are spread over everyone, while maintaining the unit itself falls on its owner.
If there is a dispute over calculating the share of a particular unit, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in real estate disputes.
Practical example
In a building in Riyadh whose separate units total 1,200 square meters, Reem owns an apartment of 120 square meters, so her share is 10% of the costs of maintaining and managing the common parts. If she wants to improve the entrance lighting at her own expense, she must first obtain the owners association's approval, without changing the entrance's use or harming others.
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 26 of the Saudi Real Estate Unit Ownership, Division and Management Law
How are a building's maintenance fees calculated for each apartment?
Each owner shares in proportion to the area of the separate part he owns to the total area of the separate parts in the shared property.
Does a shop pay different maintenance fees from an apartment?
The amount of the contribution may differ according to the type of use of the unit where it is within a mixed-use shared property.
Can I improve the entrance or the garden at my own expense?
Yes, after the owners association approves, at your own expense, and without changing their type of use or harming others.
More articles on Maintaining Jointly Owned Property
- Article 24
The article sets the owners association's resources and how its money is spent, requires every owner to pay his contribution to management and maintenance costs, and bars him from giving up his share to avoid them.
1- تتكون موارد جمعية الملاك مما يأتي:أ- اشتراكات الملاك.ب- التبرعات والهبات والوصايا والأوقاف.ج- عوائد استثمار أموال جمعية الملاك والأجزاء المشتركة القابلة للاس
- Article 27
The article requires the owner to maintain his unit even if he does not use it, to prevent harm to the property, and bars him from objecting to necessary work inside it for the property's safety, with the unit restored and no costs charged to him.
1- على المالك القيام بالصيانة اللازمة لوحدته العقارية المفرزة ولو لم يكن ينتفع بها، لمنع إلحاق ضرر بالعقار المشترك، ويلتزم بألاَّ يحدث في وحدته العقارية المفرزة
- Article 28
The article requires the owners association to manage the shared property according to standards set by the Implementing Regulations.
تلتزم جمعية الملاك بإدارة العقار المشترك، وفق معايير تحددها اللائحة.
- Article 29
The article requires owners to repair a partly damaged shared property as the general assembly decides unless otherwise agreed, and lets the general assembly decide what to do if it collapses, with recourse to the court in case of disagreement.
1- إذا تضرر العقار المشترك تضرراً جزئيًّا، فعلى الملاك إصلاحه بحسب ما تقرره الجمعية العامة، ما لم يتفق على غير ذلك. 2- إذا انهدم العقار المشترك تقرر الجمعية الع
- Article 30
The article bars any change to the shared property's external appearance without the general assembly's approval, and requires its approval before any work that increases its value, at the requester's expense and on the assembly's conditions and compensation.
1- لا يجوز إجراء أي تعديل في الشكل الخارجي للعقار المشترك إلا بعد موافقة الجمعية العامة. 2- يشترط موافقة الجمعية العامة قبل إجراء أي عمل يترتب عليه زيادة في قيم
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.