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