Article 14 of the Saudi State Leasing of Real Estate Law
المادة 14 من نظام استئجار الدولة للعقار
The article relieves the government body from compensating the lessor for damage from construction defects, ordinary use and agreed modifications made before the contract, and makes it compensate damage from unordinary use.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا تكون الجهة الحكومية المستأجرة مسؤولة عن تعويض المؤجر عند إخلاء العقار عن الأضرار الناتجة عن عيب في الإنشاء أو عن الاستعمال العادي أو عن تكاليف التعديلات أو المباني الإضافية أو تكاليف إزالتها التي طلبتها من المؤجر ووافق عليها قبل إبرام العقد. وتكون الجهة الحكومية المستأجرة مسؤولة عن تعويض المؤجر عن الأضرار الناتجة عن الاستعمال غير العادي وفقاً للمادة (السابعة عشرة) من النظام.
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 14 explained in plain English
This article sets out when the government body compensates the lessor and when it does not on vacating the real estate.
The body is not responsible for compensation in the following cases:
- Damage resulting from a defect in construction.
- Damage resulting from ordinary use, that is, the natural wear of the real estate through usual use.
- The costs of modifications or additional buildings, or the costs of removing them, if the body requested them from the lessor and he agreed to them before concluding the contract.
The condition in the last case is important: the request and the agreement must be before concluding the contract. An owner who agreed in advance to modifications the body requested cannot later claim their cost or the cost of removing them.
The body is responsible for compensating the lessor for damage resulting from unordinary use, in accordance with Article 17 of the Law.
The article comes in the context of the vacating dealt with in Article 13, and is connected to Article 15, which makes handing over the real estate after vacating subject to a record establishing its condition and any damage caused by unordinary use, if any.
The distinction between ordinary and unordinary use is a matter of assessment, so anyone with a claim for compensation would be best advised to consult a lawyer specializing in real estate cases or administrative cases.
Practical example
A government body vacated a building in Taif after ten years. The owner found the paint faded and the floors worn from usual use, and also found a demolished wall that had not been agreed. The body does not compensate him for the usual wear because it is ordinary use, but the demolished wall may be treated as damage from unordinary use that the body compensates under Article 17.
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 14 of the Saudi State Leasing of Real Estate Law
Does the government body compensate the lessor for ordinary wear of the building?
No. It is not responsible for damage resulting from ordinary use or from a construction defect.
When is the government body bound to compensate the lessor?
For damage resulting from unordinary use, in accordance with Article 17 of the Law.
Can the lessor claim the cost of removing modifications the body requested?
No, if the body requested them and the lessor agreed to them before concluding the contract.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Compensating the Lessor for Damage
- Article 15
The property is handed over after vacating by a report recording its condition and any damage from abnormal use, signed by the agency's representative and the lessor; an objecting lessor may write a reservation in it.
يكون تسليم العقار -بعد إخلائه- بموجب محضر تثبت فيه حالته وما أصابه من أضرار نتيجة الاستعمال غير العادي -إن وجدت- ويوقع المحضر ممثل الجهة الحكومية المستأجرة والم
- Article 17
A committee of the leasing agency surveys abnormal-use damage and assesses compensation within 15 days, and a joint committee with the Authority acts if compensation exceeds the set limit.
1- تُكون الجهة الحكومية المستأجرة لجنة من (ثلاثة) من موظفيها؛ لحصر الأضرار الناتجة عن الاستعمال غير العادي، وتقدير مقدار التعويض، وتحرير محضر مفصل بذلك، خلال مد
- Article 18
The lessor loses the right to request compensation if he repairs, modifies or changes the property after vacating and before a committee under Article 17 surveys the damage and assesses its value.
إذا قام المؤجر بترميم أو تعديل أو تغيير في العقار بعد إخلائه وقبل قيام أي من اللجنتين المشار إليهما في المادة (السابعة عشرة) من النظام -بحسب الأحوال- بحصر الأضر
- Article 19
The agency must notify the lessor of the compensation amount within 15 days of its assessment; if he accepts, the agency head approves payment, and if he refuses, he may file a grievance with the agency.
تبلغ الجهة الحكومية المستأجرة المؤجر بمقدار التعويض -بخطاب على عنوانه المسجل في عقد الاستئجار الموحد أو بأي وسيلة أخرى تحددها اللائحة- خلال مدة لا تتجاوز (خمسة
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.