Housing Ministry Tightens Oversight on Division of Residential Units... Legal Expert to Okaz: Responsibility Extends to Tenant

5 July 2026 - 18:15 | Last updated 5 July 2026 - 18:15

Abeer Daghriri.

Residential units.

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Badriyah Al Omar (Riyadh) @bdoo_202

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has adopted a guide for monitoring illegal divisions of residential units to unify oversight procedures and curb irregular divisions that affect building safety and the quality of the living environment. The guide specifies roles and responsibilities, as well as mechanisms for detecting, verifying, and addressing violations, through matching data and rental contracts with licenses, leveraging community reports, and conducting field visits.

The guide includes all residential and commercial residential units that have been divided in violation, with tasks distributed among the ministry, municipalities, and partner entities, in addition to property owners and tenants, enhancing the efficiency of oversight and compliance with municipal regulations.

Lawyer Abeer Daghriri explained to 'Okaz' that the guide represents an important organizational step to regulate violations of property divisions without licenses or in violation of building requirements, emphasizing that legal responsibility lies with the property owner, and may extend to the tenant if their involvement in the violation is proven. She noted that penalties start with financial fines and may escalate to the removal of violations or demolition of the non-compliant parts, suspension of certain services, and referral of serious cases to the public prosecution.

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has adopted a guide for monitoring violations related to the division of residential units, aiming to unify oversight procedures and reduce irregular divisions that affect the safety of buildings and the quality of the living environment. The guide specifies roles and responsibilities, as well as mechanisms for detecting, verifying, and addressing violations, through matching data and rental contracts with licenses, utilizing community reports, and conducting field visits.

The guide includes all residential and commercial residential units that have been divided in violation of regulations, with tasks distributed among the ministry, municipalities, and partner entities, in addition to property owners and tenants, enhancing the efficiency of oversight and compliance with municipal regulations.

Lawyer Abeer Daghriri explained to "Okaz" that the guide represents an important organizational step to regulate violations of property divisions without licenses or in violation of building requirements, emphasizing that the legal responsibility lies with the property owner, and may extend to the tenant if their involvement in the violation is proven. She noted that penalties start with financial fines and may escalate to the removal of violations or demolition of the non-compliant parts, suspension of certain services, and referral of serious cases to the public prosecution.