Civil Law
Transfer of Ownership of Leased Property under Jordanian Law
This summary examines rules on transfer of ownership of leased property in Jordanian law, focusing on causes of transfer, methods to prove a tenant’s rights, and practical legal effects between parties. It highlights the treatment in the Civil Code and related statutes such as the Owners and Tenants Law, evidence rules, and execution provisions.
Updated: 11 February 2025
Prepared and reviewed by: Ashraf Al-Khawaja
Definitions and Characteristics of the Lease Contract
Begin with key terms: a lease is the landlord’s commitment to allow a tenant to use a specified thing for a defined period in return for rent; the leased item may be movable or immovable; the owner is the person entitled to dispose of the property. Leases are typically consensual, create reciprocal obligations, are remunerative, and entail return of the thing at term; they may be civil or, depending on context, commercial. These characteristics affect how rights and duties operate when ownership shifts.
Causes of Transfer of the Leased Property: Voluntary and Compulsory
Ownership may transfer voluntarily—by sale, gift, or other dispositions—sometimes leading to identity of landlord and tenant (extinguishing the lease). Compulsory transfers include expropriation for public benefit and enforcement seizures, where ownership changes irrespective of the owner’s consent. The Jordanian Civil Code addresses transfers in a concise provision (commonly cited as Article 691), whereas other statutes distinguish voluntary and compulsory transfers and set specific procedural and compensatory rules.
Methods to Prove the Tenant’s Right and Practical Implications
Proof of a lease vis‑à‑vis a new owner is central to tenant protection. Documents with a fixed date carry weight under general evidence rules, yet the Owners and Tenants Law broadens admissible proof methods—permitting testimony, presumptions, admission, oath, inspection and expert evidence—to establish a prior tenancy in its domain. Practically, courts may accept non‑formal evidence to protect tenants under special tenancy regimes, whereas in ordinary cases a dated instrument is determinative against successors; therefore preserving and, where possible, formalizing tenancy records is advisable.
Legal Effects and Parties’ Rights and Obligations after Transfer
When ownership transfers, the new owner generally steps into the predecessor’s lease‑related rights and obligations if the lease effects run with the property or if the lease is enforceable against successors—this includes claiming rent, enjoying landlord’s privileges and bearing obligations like delivery and repairs. If the lease is not enforceable against the successor (for example due to evidentiary deficiencies), obligations may remain between tenant and former owner, while the successor is still bound to respect the tenant’s possession procedurally. The law also addresses payment of rent—payments made to a prior owner before notice can affect rights—and places on the acquirer the burden of proving the tenant’s knowledge of the transfer when asserting non‑liability.
Legal notice
Notice: This material is general educational content derived from a published source linked on the page and does not constitute legal advice. Verify applicable statutes, amendments and primary sources, and consult a licensed lawyer for advice tailored to specific circumstances.
Sources and references
Verify the official text and latest amendments before relying on this material professionally.