Q: I was a resident of Sharjah and was staying in a 2 BHK apartment. As I was looking for a furnished apartment on rent for a short span of 6 months only, the landlord denied to make the agreement but verbally decided to accept the rent upfront each month and asked for 1-month rent as security. I objected to giving any security deposit but promised to pay rent at the beginning of each month and gave him a cheque with 1-month rent amount if I don’t make the payment at the beginning of the month but not a security deposit. Due to living with the family, I had to look for another option I moved to a new apartment before the new month started. Now, the landlord is asking for rent for the month in which I’m not going to stay and threatening me to deposit the cheque of AED 1,600/- and get the cheque bounced and take legal action to put me behind the bar. I have paid AED 1,000/- for utility in advance for which bill was generated as AED 640/- only. What are the legal ways to come out of this??

Q: Hi, I am a tenant and my agreement ends on 30/8/2019, but due to unavoidable circumstances, I need to terminate the contract early on 30/4/2019. The exit clause states: 1. The penalty for breaking the contract is 2 months' rent 2. The tenant should inform the owner 2 months before vacating the unit otherwise the tenant has to pay 2 months' rent as a penalty. Already given the owner the notice on 10/2/2019, but he is still claiming the 2 months' rent penalty. Please clarify how many penalties are in play here. Thanks Didi

Q: I'm a foreigner landlord and my tenant is paying rent. His cheque has bounced and he's not in Dubai, but his friend is living in the apartment.

Q: Hi, My mom was detained in Ajman because she was unable to pay her rent last year in a mall under a Freezone so she was arrested. We are not allowed to visit her or at least just see her. What will happen to her case? We tried to talk to the police but they did not tell us anything and asked us to go to CID but the CID asked us to go to the Freezone. We don't know what step should we do or how to get an update regarding her case. We also don't know her situation since we are not allowed to see her.

Q: I have a police case against me which was through Dubai Courts as I didn't pay the pending rent. I got a new job offer and I have resigned from my previous job. How can I cancel my visa and apply for a new visa while I have a travel ban imposed on me?

Q: Hello, I'm just looking for information related to rent disputes. A year ago, I had a real estate dispute in Sharjah and I agreed to make payments in installments with the landlord. Due to my financial situation, I still have not cleared the outstanding amount. I've ended up living in a small partition, luckily I have found people who can share the cost If I want to lease a new flat in Sharjah. But I'm not sure if I can still rent a flat under my name while the previous rental dispute is not closed. Am I able to rent a new flat under my name? Your righteous advice is highly appreciated. Thanks

Q: I live in a Sharjah flat. Two of my cheques bounced and the third cheque went smoothly. Now my building real estate lawyer doesn't want to take one payment at a time. He wants the full money of two bounced cheques plus the lawyer fees, which is huge too. Is this fair?

In the UAE, cheque bounce is a very frequent problem faced by people during their span in the country. It is covered under the purview of Commercial Transactions Law, and legal implications/penalties can be financially severe and daunting for more “serious” offenses. Bounced cheque issues may arise in a variety of commercial transactions, including but not limited to, companies’ exchanges, bank loans, property rents or purchases, and individual transactions.

An interview-format article covering the topic of residential retail properties pertaining to the liability for property maintenance and the repercussions of defaulting on rent payments in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

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.

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. 

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.

The provisions of this Decree by Law amend the Federal Law No. (18) of 1993 by replacing Clause (4) of Article (379) as well as Articles (600), (617), (641), (642), (643), (644), and adding new articles numbered (635) Bis, (641) Bis (1), (641) Bis (2), (641) Bis (3), (641) Bis (4), (643) Bis (1), (643) Bis (2), (644) Bis (1) and (644) Bis (2). The Decree-Law also repeals Articles (401), (402) and (403) of the Federal Law No. (3) of 1987.