Landlord won’t sign the renewed contract after we issued cheques. What can we do?

Hello,

Your landlord cannot evict you immediately simply because they want to sell the property.

Under Dubai rental laws, specifically Article 25(2) of Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008, the landlord must provide a 12-month written notice via notary public or registered mail if they intend to evict the tenant due to selling the property.

The law states:

"Should the owner wish to evict the tenant from the real property upon expiry of the tenancy contract, he must notify the tenant of the eviction reasons at least twelve (12) months prior to the determined date of eviction, provided that such notice is sent through a notary public or by registered mail."

Since you have already issued cheques and signed the renewed contract, your tenancy remains valid. If the landlord refuses to sign the renewal, you have the right to deposit the rent at the Rental Disputes Center (RDC), as per Article 7 of Law No. 26 of 2007, which ensures the continuation of tenancy contracts unless terminated by mutual agreement or a legal reason.

If you need assistance in depositing the rent or filing a case, feel free to contact me via phone or email for further guidance.