Riyadh has announced strict penalties for violations of the city’s rent ban law, which prohibits rent increases until 2030. Under the new rules, the first violation will incur a fine equivalent to two months’ rent, regardless of when the increase occurs within the five-year period. Repeated offenses will see fines escalate to six months’ rent for the second violation and a full year’s rent for a third. Additionally, if tenants are evicted to raise rent, such actions will be nullified.
The Municipal Ministry also emphasized that illegally partitioning a building for rental purposes without approval will result in fines ranging from 5,000 to 250,000 riyals. A permit is required to partition a property, and approval will only be granted after ensuring adequate parking, fire and rescue facilities, and overall building safety. Violations will first attract a warning notice, with fines imposed for repeated offenses.
The measures are expected to benefit residents, including expatriates, as housing demand has surged in the past two years, with some areas seeing up to a 200-fold increase in occupancy. The fines aim to enforce compliance and maintain fair rental practices across the city.
