Q: Hi, A Dubai Sports City apartment was rented out. The tenant was served a 12 months' notice (reason to sell). The tenant terminated the contract with 2 months' notice and 1-month penalty, 6 months early. The apartment cannot be sold now due to the market conditions, and thinking of renting the apartment out again for a lower rent than before. The apartment is mortgaged so need to rent out. Dubai rental law says that the apartment cannot be rented for 2 years if the tenant is evicted. But as the tenant terminated the contract 4 months early, does it nullify my eviction notice to him? 1. In this case, am I prohibited from renting out the apartment for 2 years? 2. Can my previous tenant take me to the Rental Dispute Center (RDC) though he ended the contract early? 3. If he is successful at the RDC what can the judge award him? He owns several apartments himself in Dubai and moved into one of them. What could the RDC award him in this case? 4. Any other implications for me renting the apartment out again bearing in mind all the above? Any advice appreciated. Thank you

Q: We rent an apartment in Abu Dhabi. This month we renewed our contract for the next year. We have signed the cheques to the real estate agency since they are the owners of this property. But a week after the other agents came to our apartment and said that the apartment is on sale and we have to let them in so that they could take pictures. Can the landlord sell this apartment without prior notice to the tenant and will this affects our tenancy contract?

Q: Hello, I have just renewed my lease in Dubai a few weeks ago with a property management company, and have been informed today that the property has been sold and I should start interacting with the new landlord. Should I sign my lease again with the new landlord? Can I refuse to sign a new lease and pay all fees again until the lease renewal expires?

Q: The tenant notified the owner to vacate the house, now the owner sold the house. The new owner wants to stay thinking the tenant is vacating, now the tenant changes his mind and wants to file the renewal in RDC.

Q: Hi Jennifer, I would like to ask you to give me your experience to understand my legal situation. Now, I received a call from the landlord assistant trying to ask me to pay the last quarter cheque in cash as the owner will close his bank accounts here. Also, he wants me to allow him to come with a buyer to visit the property. The problem is I just shifted since 7 months and because we were planning to stay for a long time, we bought new furniture that cost us. Now I need to understand my situation. If the landlord changes, does he has the right to increase the rent? And what is the exact time period he should notify me to leave the apartment? Thanks in advance!

س: السلام عليكم، أنا مستأجر في دبي. المالك القديم باع الوحدة لمالك جديد وكان هناك شيك مستحق قبل إتمام عملية البيع بخمسة عشر يومًا ولم يصرفه المالك القديم. تلقيت رسالة علي الواتساب من رقم غريب يقول أنا المالك الجديد للعقار ويُرجَى تبديل الشيكات. لم أجب حتى أتأكد من جدية الرسالة. بعد يومين وجدت إنذارًا عدليًا للإخلاء لعدم سداد الإيجار. تواصلت مع نفس الرقم ولكن لا توجد إجابة، وأرسلت رسائل لإعلامه باستعدادي لدفع المبلغ الأول نقدًا وإعطاء الشيك الآخر باسمه، ولكن لا يوجد رد. انتهت مدة الإنذار. ما موقفي القانوني الآن؟