Can I cancel a signed apartment lease in Riyadh if the landlord won’t fix major plumbing issues?

A landlord has a legal duty to keep the rental unit habitable. Repeated plumbing leaks that the landlord refuses to fix after you’ve given written notice usually constitute a breach of the lease and can give you the right to terminate the tenancy without penalty (often called “constructive eviction”). First, send a formal demand letter (certified mail or email with read-receipt) that describes the leak, references the specific lease clause (or local habitability law) requiring repairs, and sets a reasonable cure period (typically 7–14 days); attach copies of any prior requests. If the landlord still does nothing, you can either (a) give a written notice of termination (again citing the breach and the cure-period deadline) and vacate the premises, keeping evidence (photos, plumber’s estimate) to support your claim, or (b) in many jurisdictions you may withhold rent or use “repair-and-deduct” for the cost of fixing the leak, then offset that amount against rent. Either way, when you move out you should document the unit’s condition, provide the landlord with a forwarding address, and demand the return of your security deposit (minus any legitimate damages); if the landlord tries to keep it, you can file a small-claims action for the deposit plus any actual moving-costs or inconvenience damages. Be sure to review the specific terms of your lease and the local residential-tenancy statutes (e.g., the Residential Tenancies Act in many common-law provinces or the equivalent state law) because the exact notice periods and remedies can vary, and if you’re unsure, a brief consultation with us can confirm the proper notice wording and help you avoid any unintended breach that might jeopardize your deposit. Sincerely, A-i-c

In Saudi Arabia, a tenant may be able to terminate a lease early without penalties or losing the security deposit if the property has a serious defect that affects its usability — such as ongoing plumbing leaks — and the landlord fails to fix it after being properly notified. Under Saudi tenancy rules (including practices applied through the Ejar system), the landlord is obligated to maintain the property and address essential issues within a reasonable time once notified in writing. If the landlord ignores documented requests, the tenant can escalate the matter by filing a complaint through Ejar or the local court, supported by evidence such as written notices, photos, videos, and repair reports. If it is proven that the defect makes the unit partially or fully uninhabitable and the landlord was negligent, a judge may allow contract termination without penalty and order the return of the deposit. However, if you leave without following this formal process or without proof, the landlord may still legally claim penalties, so it’s important to document everything and pursue the official channels before vacating. Bin Hammad.