Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
5 available 5 • View allEarly termination of a lease without a proper tenancy agreement
3
Q: Hi,
A security deposit of AED 3,500 was paid to the landlord when I moved in and rental payment for each month was monthly. I moved out for personal reasons 4.5 months later and all rental payments were made for my time there.
At the time of viewing the room, it is being claimed that the landlord stated the minimum term was 6 months, which was never put in writing or was it ever confirmed I would lose my deposit even when I gave my 30 days notice. There is no contract or correspondence to confirm any of this.
The landlord lives in the property and is refusing to return any of my deposit. She is ignoring me now by blocking my number. I even offered her just over AED1,000 as a pro rata settlement as a goodwill gesture, but that is when she blocked me after she read it. I refused her 50/50 offer.
If filing a complaint can cost AED 2.5k-3k where do I stand it seems like a pointless exercise, I don't think RERA will look at it? Do I go to the police? I'd prefer to avoid this option.
Thanks

Nov 9, 2017
3732
Notice for non-renewal of the lease contract by the tenant
10
Q: Dear lawyer,
I have a tenancy contract for one year in Dubai, ending on 25 November 2018.
On the 8th of October, the landlord sent me a lease renewal, with some parts of the contract modified and contains different terms from the previous one.
I decided I don't want to renew the contract; neither with the new nor old conditions. On the 1st of November, I notified the landlord that I will vacate on the current contract end date 25 Nov.
He replied that I needed to notify him 90 days prior to the expiry date and I didn't, and now he is entitled to reimbursement and asks for 2 months' rent as a compensation.
Our contract says only "Tenant agrees to notify the Landlord in writing 3 months (90 days) prior to the expiry of this Agreement of his intention to renew or not renew the Agreement".
However, no financial penalties for breaking the clause of 90 days' notice of non-renewal are mentioned there.
Please tell, can he claim from me this 2 months' amount?
I will highly appreciate your opinion.
Best regards

Nov 4, 2018
20368
Terminating a tenancy contract by a tenant because of job loss



1
Q: Hi,
I have lost my job and my next cheque is due next month, April. My tenancy ends on June 9.
Can I terminate my contract now? And if so, how can I proceed?




Mar 24, 2020
3563
Renewing a rental agreement while it is agreed not to get renewed
3
Q: Hi,
I have a question regarding a rental agreement.
We are the landlord and one of our properties is rented. So before the contract was signed, we agreed with the tenant and put it in writing that this would be the last year of rent, and there would be no renewal once rent expires.
This condition is in the contract. The tenant agreed and signed. Now the tenant doesn't want to follow the agreement and is forcing us to renew for another year.
What can we do about it?

May 9, 2022
671
What to do if my tenancy contract cannot be renewed as the property is blocked?

2
Q: Hello.
I am a tenant in an apartment in Dubai (freehold), with the contract expiring in less than 90 days.
The landlord says he is unable to renew the contract without specifying a reason. He has also not informed me through any official channel.
I did some checks through DLD/RDC and found out that there is an active case on RDC and the property is listed as "property is blocked".
The case status mentions that the sell transaction is blocked, and Ejari is also blocked (the landlord had been trying to sell for some time) when the case was opened.
What are my options given that as a tenant I have no official knowledge of any of these and have every intention to renew my contract?


Jan 28, 2023
1479
Legal blog
4 available 4 • View allProcedures of the Rental Dispute Settlement Center in Dubai 21
The relationship between tenants and landlords is regulated in Dubai by Law No. 33 of 2008 Concerning the Relationship Between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai. The arising rental disputes are referred to Rental Disputes Settlement Centre (“RDSC”) created by Decree No. 26 of 2013 to reconcile between the parties and reach an amicable settlement or seek a final judgment issued and enforced by the RDSC.
Oct 20, 2018
21360
Exemption of Early Exit Penalty in Tenancy Contracts due to Coronavirus 0
This article tries to explain the concept of Force Majeure and its application in residential tenancy contracts in the light of a recent RDC judgement.
Nov 10, 2020
1326
Rental Disputes Amidst COVID-19 in the UAE 2
An interview-format article covering the topic of rental disputes amidst COVID-19 in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.
Feb 1, 2021
644
What is Force Majeure & How Does it Apply During COVID-19 in the UAE 0
An interview-format article covering the topic of force majeure in the UAE, in light of COVID-19. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.
Feb 11, 2021
531
Laws & Regulations
3 available 3 • View allLaw No. (26) of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai 12
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.
Nov 26, 2007
24285
Decree No. (26) of 2013 Concerning the Rent Disputes Settlement Centre in the Emirate of Dubai 0
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.
Sep 18, 2013
7290
Law No. (33) of 2008 Amending Law No. (26) of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai 8
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.
Dec 1, 2008
24939

Other answers by
109 109 answers •
View allCancellation of SPA for delay in delivery and defaulting on payments 0
Hi
I bought an off-plan property from a developer in downtown during the peak time. My payment plan was based on construction with completion being Dec 2019. I have paid more than 50%.
I requested the developer to readjust my payment plan as the project is delayed. They moved on payment forward and sneakingly changed completion date to Aug 2021 in the document. The SPA still says Dec 2019.
Now I'm struggling to pay the next payment due to COVID-19 and project is completed 56% as par Dubai land department and 60% as per the developer. The developer is asking for payment and calling me every day.
My question is can I still use the delay in the project as a clause to cancel my unit?
Can I cancel my apartment and how much can the developer deduct?
After selling me, the developer started offering customers post-handover payment plans for 4 years, which is very unfair as even if I complete my payment, no one will buy from me as the developer is selling something with 4 years post-handover.
Can legal help be provided in this regard?
Jun 7, 2020
883
Easy way to know whether a job offer is real or scam 0
I am a health professional in Canada.
Years back, I posted my CV to work in the middle east on a job site in the gulf. Last week, I got 3 emails claiming from a general hospital in Abu Dhabi, a hospital Dubai and another medicare hospital in Dubai for online recruitment.
they showed interest in my CV. All emails were from free accounts (gmail.com address). I chose then to forward an email to the concerned HR department of the concerned hospitals.
I forwarded one email to the official email of one of the hospitals (as given on the hospital site). They replied and said, yes, the email is legitimate and you can apply with confidence.
Now I got an offer letter from Dubai hospital with handsome salary offer but from a Gmail address. They're asking me to start position in one month only and asking to contact a travel agency based in Dubai.
Is it a scam or true? I have forwarded the email to the HR department of the hospital to determine authenticity.
Jun 7, 2020
14628
Employee rights in case of changing an unlimited contract to a limited contract 0
Hi,
What is the law if an employer wants to change a contract from an unlimited to a limited contract?
Is the employer liable to pay the 3 months arbitrary dismissal (if valid) + other monies owed prior to changing the current unlimited contract to a limited contract?
Jun 7, 2020
4878
Terminating the SPA and claiming refund for changing specifications 0
Can a developer change the layout of the building as shown at the launch event and part of all brochures/online advertisements/model under the pretext that the same is not included in the SPA?
For the launch, we got convinced with the building design and layout but at delivery, it’s changed without prior intimation.
Can I make a legal case or can they take the guise that it’s not part of the SPA?
Can I get a refund for the 30% advance payment and refuse possession of the unit?
Jun 8, 2020
698
Inability to continue paying the installments of a property because of COVID-19 0
Hi sir,
I live in the UK. I am an investor and a broker for a property development company. One of my customers bought an off-plan property from it i.e just Cavalli Villa 2 years ago. 33% was completed and handover is due in 2021.
My client paid part of the deposit around AED 390000 (£80000) and she has been paying to the project for the last two years until early this year when COVID- 19 hit the UK. Since then, she has been ill and lost her job and, therefore, she is unable to pay.
My customer received a letter from the company saying that if the outstanding amount is not paid within 30 days, then they will take her to court. They say that they would cancel her plot and she will lose all MONEY paid so far.
My client needs payment delay until her situation improves but this request has been declined. The money secured under the ESCROW account. Can the developer have the power to take money from the escrow account?
What is her right under Dubai law? Can she do anything to avoid court order? The UK is in lockdown at the moment with no proper or normal banking functions.
Thank you!
Jun 9, 2020
1511
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