Before applying for sorting, a preliminary assessment saves you time and money, because it reveals the gaps that would stop the request later. Many owners pay the office's fees and start the request, then discover the building needs separate meters, has an unlicensed annex, or still has a paper deed. This guide gives a practical assessment checklist you can review yourself, explains the possible outcomes and what they mean, the most common issues in old buildings, and how the engineering assessment is done.
Assessment Checklist
| Item | Question |
|---|---|
| Deed | Is it electronic and updated? Read: Updating a paper deed |
| Building permit | Does it exist and is it registered? |
| Conformity | Does the existing building match the permit, without extra unlicensed floors, annexes or divisions? |
| Meters | Does each unit have a separate electricity meter, and the common parts a meter? |
| Unit boundaries | Does each unit have clear boundaries and a separate entrance? |
| Common parts | Are the entrances, corridors, parking and roofs defined? Read: A unit's share of the common parts |
| Plan | Can an AutoCAD plan matching reality be prepared? |
Possible Outcomes
- Ready: start the request. Read: Sorting application steps.
- Needs simple fixes: meters or an updated plan.
- Needs regulatory fixes: a status correction or deed update first. Read: Correcting an existing building's status.
Old Buildings
The most common issues: no separate meters, unlicensed changes, and paper permits. Read: A building without a permit or with a paper permit and An old permit not showing on Balady.
How Is the Engineering Assessment Done?
- Reviewing the deed, permit and available drawings.
- A site visit listing the units, meters and common parts.
- Comparing the existing building with the permit.
- A report on the gaps, the route to fix each, and a time estimate.
Common Mistakes
- Starting the request before the assessment.
- Assuming a modern building is automatically ready.
- Fixing gaps one after another instead of with one plan.
Also read: Sorting documents and why requests stall and Does sorting increase property value?.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the preliminary assessment take?
Usually a visit and a document review, depending on the size of the building.
Can part of the building be sorted?
REGA states that the sorting service allows dividing the property or any part of it by subdivision, merging or addition for eligible owners.
Does a roof annex prevent sorting?
If it is unlicensed, it needs regulatory handling before sorting.
Can a building with merged apartments be sorted?
The plan must match reality and the permit; undocumented merging needs to be resolved. Read: Modifying building components.
Does the assessment commit me to applying?
No, it is a decision step to know the cost and time before starting.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office that assesses your building through a visit and document review, provides a report on the gaps and the route to fix them, then prepares the sorting plan and submits the request when ready. See our residential and commercial unit sorting drawings service, or contact us.
Regulatory information is based on the Balady platform and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and procedures may be updated by the competent authority. Last reviewed: October 2026.