Civil Law - Compensation and Civil Liability
Construction Defects in Jordan: Options for Claims Against Developers and Contractors
An original editorial overview of how property owners can document construction defects, obtain technical evidence, and consider repair or compensation claims under the applicable Jordanian rules.
Updated: 1 December 2025
Prepared and reviewed by: Ashraf Al-Khawaja
Scope of the issue
The source addresses defects discovered in an apartment or building after purchase or occupation, including dampness, leaks, cracking, and floor settlement. It presents the need to distinguish cosmetic problems from defects that may affect structural safety or intended use, while identifying potentially responsible parties by reference to their contractual and technical roles.
General legal framework
The article highlights the ten-year liability concept in the Jordanian Civil Code for building collapse or serious defects affecting durability and safety, and discusses the possible roles of engineers and contractors when its requirements are met. The label alone does not resolve a dispute: legal characterization, discovery date, scope of work, and available proof require case-specific assessment.
Building the evidence record
Its practical approach is to avoid repairs that could erase the condition, record the defect with dated photographs and video, and obtain an independent report from a qualified engineer or office describing the defect, probable cause, and estimated remediation cost. Contracts, correspondence, invoices, handover records, and maintenance documents should also be preserved.
Settlement and litigation pathways
A formal legal notice can describe the defect and give the developer or contractor a reasonable opportunity to remedy it, without making an uninformed waiver. If settlement fails, a claim may seek proven repair costs, diminution in value, or other recoverable loss; court-appointed expertise and urgent preservation of evidence may be relevant depending on the case.
Practical caution
Construction defects can worsen, and limitation periods, jurisdiction, and the value of the loss can affect procedure. A lawyer and an engineer should therefore review the facts before repairs or settlement, and the current official legal text should be checked rather than relying on any figure or example in the source article.
Legal notice
This is general educational content, not legal advice and not a guarantee of outcome. Verify the current law, facts, and deadlines with an official source, and obtain tailored legal and engineering advice before acting.
Sources and references
Verify the official text and latest amendments before relying on this material professionally.