Short Definition
The party owning the property who leases it for agreed rent, known as the first party in the lease contract with specific rights and obligations.
Overview
Legal Basis
The lessor's obligations and rights are defined by the Civil Transactions Law issued by Royal Decree No. (M/191) of 1444 AH (articles on rental contracts). In all regions the lessor must apply to register unregistered leases on Ejar (Royal Decree M/73), since an unregistered lease has no administrative or judicial effect (Council of Ministers Decision 292). In disputes, the lessor files claims via the Najiz platform of the Ministry of Justice.
Practical Example
An owner of a villa in Dammam handles its rental himself. When delivering the villa to the tenant, he prepares a video handover record documenting the condition of each room and appliance. During the year, the water heater bursts due to a defect in the old installation — the lessor must carry out the necessary repairs that keep the property fit for use, including any defect affecting the intended use (Article 419 of the Civil Transactions Law), unless agreed otherwise. Later, the tenant defaults on two months of rent, so the lessor enters the Najiz platform, attaches the Ejar-documented contract, and files an execution request to collect the arrears. After the tenant is notified of the execution order and the statutory period passes without payment, the Execution Court orders attachment of his salary within the legal limits, without any civil lawsuit.
Common Mistakes
- ✗Renting an unregistered property in Ejar believing a paper contract suffices — exposes the lessor to fines from the General Authority for Real Estate and loss of direct enforcement rights.
- ✗Entering the property without prior tenant consent on the pretext of being the owner — considered a violation of quiet enjoyment and may require compensation.
- ✗Raising rent during the contract term without prior agreement — a clear contract breach that may be judicially canceled.
- ✗Delaying major repairs (leaks, electricity, broken AC) beyond reasonable time — the tenant has the right to repair at lessor's expense or request contract termination.
- ✗Withholding the full security deposit at contract end without justification documented by photos and invoices — considered a breach and recoverable judicially.
International Differences
In the UAE, the lessor is called 'Landlord' and has similar rights, but the enforcement process differs and goes through the 'Rental Disputes Center'. In Turkey, the lessor-tenant relationship is governed by the Code of Obligations and tends to protect the tenant more, especially in eviction durations. In Egypt, a distinction is made between the owner in 'Old Rent' (legally protected for the tenant) and 'New Rent' (balanced rights). The Saudi advantage: strong lessor position thanks to direct enforcement of the Ejar-documented lease at the Execution Court without a lawsuit.
