Q: We were told that there was water leakage coming from our unit and the below unit has complained. There was no water leakage found in our unit during the inspection. The technician said his engineer will decide. A week later, the FM engineer from Al Shirawi called my husband and threatened us to quickly proceed with rectification works and our unit is fully responsible for paying all the costs. We have requested them in emails to justify that indicated in their 1-page report - hacking bedroom tiles, new bathroom floor and grouting work. They have not replied to justify why. OA Menu has a RULE 6 clause 6.5 on a shared cost factor. Up till now, the OA Manager from SAGA Intl. kept on insisting that our unit is to pay all costs including any third party testings. He also demanded me to furnish a copy of the POA to him as I am the one who replies to the emails. My husband is the owner and we are staying in the unit. Does the OA Manager have the right to ask for the POA and ignore the OA Menu on the shared cost clause? Many thanks.

س: مرحبًا رالوكا، إنني أواجه مشكلة مع مالك العقار وأتمنى أن تتمكني من مساعدتي. بينما كنت غائبًا من أجل العمل (لمدة 5 أيام)، انكسر خزان سخان المياه في شقتي (بدون خطأ مني) وتسبب في حدوث تسرب في شقتي وشقتين أسفل مني. يقول مالك العقار أنه يجب علي أن أتحمل تكلفة الضرر الناجم عن ما حدث (حوالي 15000 درهم) لأنني كنت غائبًا عن الشقة أثناء التسرب وبالتالي أنا المسؤول عن ذلك. كما تعلمين، إنني أعترض على ذلك. ينص عقد الإيجار على أن المالك مسؤول عن إصلاحات الصيانة التي تزيد قيمتها عن 500 درهم، باستثناء الحالات التي يتسبب فيها المستأجر. إذا كنتِ تستطيعين مساعدتي، سيكون ذلك محل تقدير كبير.

Q: What are my options to take legal action against my apartment building for not fixing the constant issues that I am facing in my bathroom? For over 2 months now, I have been fighting with them to get more hot water and to stop leaks in my bathroom that are caused by a bad water heater. The building management has not been able to fix these issues and is now telling me to find my own technician and pay for another water heater. I know this is illegal. Please help!

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, After purchasing the apartment from the previous landlord and residing there for several months, I encountered persistent issues with the inadequate functioning of the AC unit. Not only did it fail to cool effectively, but I also discovered mold growth, particularly in the closets and within the AC ducts. Subsequently, I realized that a neighboring resident faced identical problems, leading me to suspect that the building developers may have compromised on quality and cut costs during construction, likely opting for subpar materials. This situation has escalated into a significant health concern, as the release of mold particles into the air is adversely affecting my well-being, accompanied by a noxious odor. Despite employing the services of two different AC unit duct cleaners, the problem persists, highlighting the severity of the building's construction flaws and the urgency for a comprehensive resolution. What can I do in this case, and can I take legal action?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I rented a unit through an agency leasing on behalf of the landlord, and I don’t have the landlord’s contact details. Two months ago, I noticed a leak in the unit and reported it to the agency via their portal. Despite this, I received no response. I also sent emails, and the only reply I received was that they are waiting for the landlord’s approval to fix the leak. Since then, the leak has spread throughout the walls, causing insect infestations despite my efforts to hire pest control. Can I sue for compensation for the following: 1. Pest control costs 2. Increased DEWA (utility) bills 3. Inconvenience and discomfort 4. Loss of use

مع بدء تطبيق الإجراءات الجديدة ذات الصلة بإصدار التوكيل عن بُعد في دولة الإمارات، بعد أن كان من الضروري مثول الموكل بشخصه أمام كاتب العدل لإثبات هويته ورغبته في إصدار التوكيل، نقدم لكم هذا المقال المُوجز لبيان الخطوات التي يجب عليك اتباعها لإصدار التوكيل.

تخضع العلاقة بين المستأجرين ومالكي العقارات في دبي للقانون رقم 33 لعام 2008 بشأن العلاقة بين مالكي ومستأجري العقارات في إمارة دبي. تتم إحالة منازعات الإيجار الناتجة إلى مركز فض المنازعات الإيجارية ("RDSC") الذي تم إنشاؤه بموجب المرسوم رقم 26 لعام 2013 للتوفيق بين الأطراف والوصول إلى حل ودي أو طلب إصدار حكم نهائي وإنفاذه من خلال مركز فض المنازعات الإيجارية.

The provisions of this Law apply to real property leased out in the Emirate of Dubai, including vacant and agricultural lands, but excluding hotel establishments and real property provided by natural or legal persons as accommodation to their employees at no charge.

This Decree establishes a specialised judicial system to hear rent disputes and develops the procedure for determination of such disputes through an expeditious and simple process for the purpose of realising social and economic stability for all persons involved with the real property rental and other related sectors.

Provisions of this Law supersede articles (2), (3), (4), (9), (13), (14), (15), (25), (26), (29), and (36) of Law No. (26) of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai.