Q: Dear Lawyers, I have served an eviction notice to my tenant, and he vacated the property 2 months before the eviction's maturity date, as the lease had expired. I now wish to return his security deposit following his eviction, with the request that the tenant confirms that the lease agreement is canceled. However, he is unwilling to confirm this via e-mail. Can I withhold the security deposit until he confirms via e-mail that he has officially vacated the apartment and that the lease is canceled with no future obligations between the landlord and tenant? Can I ask him to return?

Q: Please see the information given below and let me know who should pay this security deposit to the tenant and what will be the new landlord role here. 1. In August, 2016, I purchased a property in Gate Tower, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, where the tenant stayed. 2. His contract was until Feb 2017, so instead of returning the balance amount of rental charge, I requested the previous owner to deduct that amount. 3. After signing the contract, I received the contract between the previous owner and tenant and realized that there was a deposit AED 4,750. 4. I did not know about this deposit and transferring deposit was not even mentioned in the contract. Furthermore, the deposit agreement was between previous owner and tenant. 5. Now, the tenant wants to receive the deposit. Please let me know whether I as a new landlord have to return this deposit or the tenant has to collect the deposit from the previous owner since they made an agreement of deposit.

س: لقد استأجرت شقة في الشارقة وأعدتها إلى المالك قبل انتهاء العقد بعد الحصول على المخالصة اللازمة من السلطات. تم دفع جميع الإيجارات المستحقة. لا يرد المالك وديعة التأمين بقيمة 1500 درهم منذ 90 يومًا. توقف الآن عن الرد على المكالمات أو الرسائل. يرجى تقديم النصيحة.

Q: Hello, I need advice on claiming damages from a tenant who left my commercial premises in poor condition (e.g., damaged flooring, broken fixtures, broken partitions, and holes in the wall). What steps should I take to document the damage? How can I recover the costs, and do I need to file an RDC case? Can I withhold the security deposit, as the damages exceed the deposit amount?

Q: Hello, A tenant damaged the property I recently purchased upon their eviction, and the security deposit does not cover all of the damages. I would like to know how I can take action against the tenant. Does any proof need to be submitted? If yes, what proofs are required since I bought an already tenanted property? What is the timeframe and process to seek compensation for the damages?

مقال في صورة مقابلة يتناول موضوع العقارات السكنية المُباعة بالتجزئة فيما يتعلق بالمسؤولية عن صيانة الممتلكات العقارية وتداعيات التخلُّف عن سداد الإيجار في الإمارات العربية المتحدة. مقتبس من المدونة الصوتية القانونية للمحامية لودميلا يامالوفا، مؤسسة مشروع لوجيكال مع لايلو.

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.

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. 

This Decree determines the maximum percentage of rent increase for real property in the Emirate of Dubai when renewing lease contracts.

The provisions of this law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.