Annulment of Real Estate Contracts

11-Dec-2024
هومز الاردن -  بطلان العقود العقارية

Annulment of Real Estate Contracts

The term "annulment of real estate contracts" is related to property ownership. There are many stories that circulate about the annulment of real estate contracts, especially in regard to contracts of sale and purchase of property and inheritance partition cases. For example, in 1971, sale contracts were made, and a final enforceable decision was issued later to annul all these contracts and restore the situation to its original state! This was due to the heirs creating an inheritance partition document without including one of the heirs, who was a minor at that time, and selling the property and executing sale contracts. As a result, all contracts were annulled.

Thus, the Real Estate Ownership Law came into effect to prevent such issues and address all challenges related to real estate transactions, while protecting rights.


What does the annulment of real estate contracts mean?

A real estate contract, by definition, is a legal procedure between two parties requiring witnesses and registration with the land and survey department. A real estate contract is considered null and void if it violates one or more of the essential conditions of a real estate contract, making the contract legally invalid from its inception and unenforceable in court. In this case, the contract falls under the category of annulled real estate contracts.


Main Reasons for the Annulment of Real Estate Contracts

  • Failure to meet one or more of the essential conditions in the real estate contract.
  • Lack of proper consent from the concerned parties (offer and acceptance), such as fraud or coercion.
  • The contract includes an illegal purpose for purchasing the property.
  • One of the individuals involved lacks the legal capacity to conclude the real estate contract, such as being a minor or legally incompetent.


What is the legal impact of the annulment of real estate contracts?

This is where the court's role comes into play in taking the appropriate action to issue a ruling on the annulment of real estate contracts. The court considers the principle of good faith in real estate transactions, while also being obliged to protect property ownership rights acquired by individuals under previous sale contracts. Since property ownership is a real right, the court faces the following two options:

Option 1: Annul and cancel the registration transaction, as well as any actions and transactions resulting from the real estate contract, either entirely or in part, and subsequently re-register the property right in the name of the individual who was awarded the ruling.

Option 2: Oblige the party responsible for the damage to compensate the affected party, taking into account the true value of the property at the time the lawsuit is filed.


It is very important to realize...

That the decision to restore the situation to its original state is not something easily achievable, especially after a long period has passed since the acquisition of property ownership. This is particularly true for properties with significant financial value or large real estate investments, where the owner may not be able to recover the price or return the property to the original owner. This is done to prevent substantial losses and protect real estate.


The Legal Relationship between the Annulment of Real Estate Contracts and Property Ownership

  • The statute of limitations does not apply to registered properties in the real estate registry.
  • If the court proves that a transaction or registration act regarding a registered property is void, the first step is to consider good faith, and then choose either to annul the contract and return the property right to its rightful owner or to obligate the party at fault to compensate the harmed party.
  • Upon request, the court may decide to prevent any transactions on the disputed property until a final judgment is made.
  • The ruling of nullifying a transaction and preventing the transfer of the property applies to any case that has not received a final court ruling at the time this law comes into effect.


Frequently Asked Questions about the Annulment of Real Estate Contracts

Can a request to stop the transaction of a property be made by someone seeking to annul a real estate contract?

Yes, this is possible. The court can issue a decision to halt the transaction of the property until a final ruling is made regarding the dispute.

Does the statute of limitations apply to registered properties in the real estate registry?

No. This provision allows the rightful owner to file a claim regarding property ownership and to request the annulment of the contract, no matter how much time has passed.

Is it possible for anyone to file a lawsuit to annul a real estate contract?

Yes, any person who is harmed by the contract and has a direct connection to the property can file the lawsuit. Typically, this includes heirs, minors, or individuals who are legally incompetent.

Does the property return to its rightful owner after the contract is annulled?

The court considers the matter with good faith and returns the rights to the rightful owners, while taking into account the preservation of the property's value and compensating the harmed party.

What is the benefit of having a law on the annulment of real estate contracts?

Many people lost their rights due to fraudulent practices regarding property ownership, particularly during inheritance partition procedures. This issue was common before the establishment of the Real Estate Ownership Law. Today, restoring rights is easier through filing an annulment lawsuit and re-establishing property ownership.

Has the Real Estate Ownership Law protected people's rights?

Yes, along with the law on the annulment of real estate contracts. Today, no property ownership contract is documented or registered unless it meets specific requirements that must be achieved in the real estate registry.


Legally: Homes Jordan has a complete team of legal consultants who tirelessly provide the necessary consultations and handle property ownership procedures with the relevant authorities. Therefore, feel free to contact our team at any time to obtain what you need.

All rights to this article are reserved to Homes Jordan website, 2024.

This article has been edited with reference to multiple sources.