Contract Handover
Synonyms: Property Handover، Handover Inventory، Move-in Inspection
Last updated: 2026-05-06
Short Definition
Procedure of receiving property from landlord or returning it at contract end, including a report documenting property condition and meter readings.
Overview
Legal Basis
Property handover is based on the Civil Transactions Law issued by Royal Decree No. (M/191) of 1444 AH, requiring the lessor to hand over the property in fit condition. The Ejar Platform Regulation also enables electronic documentation of handover records as a contract annex. In dispute, documented handover records are relied upon as definitive evidence at Rental Dispute Committees.
Practical Example
A villa owner in Riyadh hands it over to a new tenant. Designated handover day: Sha'ban 1. At the time, both parties meet at the villa, begin a comprehensive tour. The tenant uses his phone to photograph: each room from 4 angles, bathrooms with floor and tile condition, kitchen and appliances, exterior facade and garden, electricity and water meters with current readings. They discover a scratch on the lounge door, note: 'scratch existed before receipt'. The owner hands the keys (3 copies), AC codes, gate lock code, emergency numbers. They draft a written record containing all this, sign it, upload PDF + photos to the contract annex in Ejar. Upon vacating after a year, any damage claim is compared with this record.
Common Mistakes
- ✗Handing over property without written record — biggest mistake, opens door to end-of-period disputes.
- ✗Settling for few photos — document everything, even what seems unimportant.
- ✗Neglecting meter readings — may bear an electricity/water bill prior to your receipt.
- ✗Not receiving all keys and remotes — may be accused later of losing them.
- ✗Handover with tenant present only without owner (or agent) — handover loses its legal value.
International Differences
In the UAE, 'Move-in Report' is a unified standard regulated by the Land Department. In the UK, known as 'Inventory Report', usually prepared by a neutral third party (Inventory Clerk). In Turkey, less formal, depends on parties' agreement. The Saudi advantage: flexibility in documentation with possibility of digitally uploading the record in Ejar, combining smoothness with legal documentation.