أسئلة وأجوبة
Can I sue my landlord for cutting off utilities during the pandemic?
Hello,
During the pandemic, I was unemployed and living in a one-bedroom apartment with my wife, who was also unemployed, and my five-year-old daughter.
Since we were not working for roughly two years, from the beginning of 2020 until the start of 2022, I was unable to pay rent.
The landlord's office could not evict me as all such procedures were on hold by RDC, so they resorted to disconnecting electricity and water since the DEWA account was under their name.
This resulted in my family and me living in the house without electricity or water from March 2021 until February 2022, which was the eviction date. Due to these harsh living conditions, my young family and I suffered immense moral and financial losses.
During this period, I made several attempts in person and by email to restore the DEWA service upon payment of a partial amount, but to no avail.
I want to know if I have legal grounds to sue the landlord for this action and demand compensation.
Dear Questioner,
Thanks for your inquiry!
Regarding the above, we would like to inform you that, according to UAE law, landlords are not allowed to disconnect essential services such as electricity and water as a means of forcing tenants to vacate the property.
This is considered a violation of the tenant's rights and can result in legal action against the landlord.
In your case, it seems that the landlord disconnected the DEWA services in an attempt to force you to vacate the property, which is not allowed under UAE law.
You have the right to demand compensation for the moral and financial losses you and your family suffered as a result of this action.
You can file a complaint with the Rental Dispute Settlement Center (RDSC) and provide evidence of the disconnection of services and the impact it had on your family.
The RDSC will then mediate between you and the landlord to reach a resolution. If a resolution cannot be reached, you may have the option to file a case in court.
It is important to note that the landlord may also have a case against you for not paying rent, so it is best to try to reach a settlement through the RDSC or through negotiations with the landlord.
In any case, it is recommended to seek legal advice from us as a lawyer who specializes in rental disputes in the UAE to understand your rights and options in this situation.
Kindly do not hesitate to contact us via phone or email for further guidance.
Greetings,
Dear Questioner,
Based on the information provided and considering tenant rights during the pandemic, you may have valid grounds to sue your landlord for disconnecting essential utilities while failing to provide a habitable living environment.
The combination of breach of contract and potential negligence could form a basis for seeking compensation for both financial losses and emotional distress suffered during this difficult time.
Thank you for reaching out and sharing the difficulties you and your family have faced during these challenging times.
The situation you've described raises several important legal issues, particularly regarding the actions taken by your landlord during the pandemic.
Based on your account, disconnecting essential utilities like electricity and water, especially when the DEWA account was under the landlord's name, can potentially be seen as an unlawful act, especially if it was done to indirectly force eviction.
The Dubai Rental Dispute Center (RDC) does provide mechanisms to address such disputes, and tenants can seek relief and compensation for undue hardships caused by landlords.
Given the complexity of your situation and the severe impact it has had on your family, it is crucial to approach this matter with a detailed and strategic legal plan.
I recommend we discuss this in more detail to fully understand all aspects of your situation and to tailor the best approach for seeking compensation.
Please contact me directly at [-------] or via email at [-------] to schedule a consultation. You can also reach out via WhatsApp to discuss your case further.
Looking forward to helping you resolve this matter and seeking justice for your family.
