Article 19 of the Saudi State Leasing of Real Estate Law
المادة 19 من نظام استئجار الدولة للعقار
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 عشر) يوماً من تاريخ تقدير التعويض. فإذا قبل المؤجر التعويض فيعتمد رئيس الجهة الحكومية صرف التعويض خلال المدة التي تحددها اللائحة. وإذا لم يقبل المؤجر التعويض فله التظلم أمام الجهة الحكومية المستأجرة، وفقاً للإجراءات النظامية المتبعة.
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 19 explained in plain English
This article regulates what follows the assessment of compensation: notification, then acceptance or refusal.
Notification: the leasing government agency notifies the lessor of the amount of compensation:
- by a letter to his address registered in the unified lease contract, or by any other means set by the regulations.
- within a period not exceeding fifteen days from the date the compensation is assessed.
It is therefore important for the lessor that his address registered in the contract is correct, because that is the address to which the letter is sent.
If the lessor accepts the compensation: the head of the government agency approves payment of the compensation within the period set by the regulations.
If he does not accept it: he may file a grievance with the leasing government agency, under the legal procedures followed. The article does not detail these procedures.
Article 17 refers to the procedures set out in this article. The article is also linked to Article 18, which forfeits the lessor's right to compensation if he repairs the property before the damage is surveyed.
Someone who has rejected the compensation and wants to file a grievance or pursue his right is best advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.
Practical example
Hind receives a letter at her address registered in the contract notifying her that compensation for damage to her building in Jazan has been assessed at SAR 40,000. Hind believes the amount is less than the actual damage, so she does not accept it, and files a grievance with the leasing government agency under the legal procedures followed.
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 19 of the Saudi State Leasing of Real Estate Law
How does the lessor learn the amount of compensation?
The agency notifies him by a letter to his address registered in the unified lease contract, or by any means set by the regulations, within a period not exceeding fifteen days of assessing the compensation.
What should I do if I do not accept the compensation?
You may file a grievance with the leasing government agency under the legal procedures followed.
Who approves payment of the compensation?
If the lessor accepts it, the head of the government agency approves payment within the period set by the regulations.
More articles on Compensating the Lessor for Damage
- Article 14
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.
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 ا
- 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
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.