Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
11 available 11 • View allEarly termination of a tenancy contract when the landlord is not responsive



2
Q: I want to early terminate my tenancy contract of one of my nurseries in JLT (retail unit) as the business is completely shut since March. I am unable to contact my landlord who is a Chinese national; he does not reply to email or call and may not be in Dubai.
The final cheque is due 01 May 2020, what should I do?




Apr 9, 2020
1403
Struggling to pay the rent because of COVID-19 pandemic

3
Q: My company is suffering under the current challenging circumstances. It provides an important service in Dubai. However, due to a major decline in revenue, we are trying to negotiate with the landlord which is proving difficult and can lead to eviction.
What are the options available to us? Relocating is not an option as a lot of investment has been taken place at the current location.
Thanks!


Apr 6, 2020
2550
Early termination of tenancy without penalty due to COVID-19
1
Q: Hi,
I have a 1-year rental agreement with 4 payments in a year in the form of PDC. I went on a normal 1-month vacation with a return ticket, but unfortunately, all flights were suspended and travel restriction applied due to Coronavirus.
Now for the last 2-3 months, I am in my country and unable to join work but my landlord said I have to pay money from my country.
How can I pay with no salary and I am stuck outside with no guarantee what will happen next?
Out of 4 cheques, 3 easily cashed with no problem but he said pay half cheque amount in May and the remaining in next month.

May 13, 2020
551
Reducing the rent for a few months due to COVID-19 salary reduction
0
Q: Good Morning,
Due to the global pandemic, Hotels and Tourism business is majorly effected and that resulted in my 50% salary reduction for the month of March, April 2020. I am not sure if I might get paid these coming months as well.
My wife is a Cabin Crew and is effected with the same salary reduction scenario and due to no flights assigned is getting paid only 20% of the actual she was earning before the Covid-19 outbreak.
I politely requested my landlord to either decrease rent for the month my salary will be effected or extend the tenancy contract free of charge for a few months, that will ease my financial burden for the Year 2020.
Please guide me through this financial crisis & rental relief situation.
Thank you

May 13, 2020
599
How to check the status of a case at RERA from outside the UAE

6
Q: My ex-landlord opened a civil case against me for what should have been opened in RERA rental disputes.
I had to urgently leave the UAE during COVID-19 and relocate back to the USA and have no idea what happened with the execution of the court case and if there is a travel ban on my passport.
How can I check my status prior to coming back to the UAE?


Dec 19, 2020
1351
Refusing to return the remaining rental cheques despite providing a proper notice
1
Q: Dear sir/madam,
Can a landlord refuse to return the remaining rental cheques if the tenancy agreement has been terminated earlier with proper notice in place?
I am vacating a quarter earlier, but the landlord refuses to return the 4th quarter cheque until I vacate the premises and he makes post-inspection despite having a separate security deposit amount in place.

Feb 14, 2022
859
عدم الانتفاع بالعقار المؤجر بسبب عدم دفع المالك للرسوم. ما الحل؟

1
س: السلام عليكم،
لدي عقد إيجار مُوقَّع من صاحب العقار منذ أكثر من ٥ أشهر. إلى الآن لم أستطع استخراج إيجاري بسبب أنه لم يدفع رسوم مستحقة عليه والعقار محجوز في الإيجار.
حاولت التواصل معه بالهاتف والوتساب والإيميل ولكن لا يوجد رد.
ما الحل الآن وأنا غير منتفع من العقار طوال هذه المدة؟


Dec 28, 2022
356
Is there a timeframe for a refund after canceling the rental contract before moving in?



1
Q: Dear Questioner,
I signed a rental contract. Two days later, my circumstances changed, requiring me to cancel the contract. This was still 15 days before the move-in date. I had not received the keys, and the flat was not yet ready.
Unfortunately, the agent insisted that the first payment be made by direct transfer, not a cheque. Since I canceled, they have emailed to acknowledge the cancellation, but I haven't heard anything since.
There is a two-month penalty written into the contract, so I am waiting for the returned cheques and the rest of the rent (minus the two-month penalty) to be returned.
Is there a mandatory timeframe for this to be completed?
Three weeks have passed since their acknowledgment.
Thanks in advance!




Jul 15, 2024
144
Can I get the rent cheques back if I decided to cancel the tenancy shortly after signing the agreement?




0
Q: The landlord has entered and signed a 1-year tenancy agreement with a tenant on 10.10 with a move-in date 4 weeks later, and on 07.11. collected 4 cheques (3 + 1 security deposit).
1 day before moving in the tenant decided to abruptly cancel and demanded for the cheques not to be deposited. Ejari has not yet been registered as it was planned to be done after the key handover.
Is the landlord entitled to deposit the cheques (security cheque + 1 cheque) and demand 2 months' rent as a penalty?
The tenancy contract has no explicit early termination clause. What are the rights of the landlord in this case to protect and address the financial inconvenience?
Thank you.





+2
Nov 6, 2024
165
Can the landlord ask for two months penalty if I break the contract before signing Ejari?




0
Q: After having signed the rental contract and handed the cheques, I communicated to the landlord that I no longer wanted to start the rental.
I did so with more than a week's notice before the rental start date. No Ejari has been signed.
The landlord is now asking me to pay a 2-month penalty. is this legal?





+2
Nov 28, 2024
59
Can I renew my tenancy contract for three months only without any rent increase or penalties?




0
Q: Hi,
I am a tenant living in the same apartment for the last 5 years. My tenancy contract is expiring in the month of May 2025. I want to renew my contract this time but only for 3 months until August.
I communicated the same to my owner through the real estate who is handling the property. Initially, they said that it would be possible but the current market rent would apply.
When I checked, I found they could not increase my rent as per the rental index and I told them this. After that, they said that they would not renew the contract for 3 months.
If I want, I can renew for the entire year and then vacate when I want by paying the penalty of 2 months.
In this scenario, I want to know if it is legally correct on their part to refuse to renew my contract for 3 months.
Can you please guide me?





+3
Mar 13, 2025
38
Legal blog
5 available 5 • View allMy Tenant Stopped Paying Rent & Became Unresponsive, What Should I Do? 6
An interview-format article covering the topic of defaulting on commercial lease in the UAE and related procedures. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW. In this article, Ludmila discusses what one should do if the tenant becomes unresponsive.
Feb 11, 2020
14851
Procedures 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
21354
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
1322
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
642
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
526
Laws & Regulations
2 available 2 • 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
24284
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
880
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
14626
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
4877
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
695
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
1510

Other answers by
17 17 answers •
View allHow to expedite the process of sending a judgment issued in the UAE to another country? 0
Hello,
There was a bounced cheque case against me in Dubai in 2009-10. I won the case upon appeal in January 2020. I have been fighting extradition to Dubai since 2018 for the same case.
Even though, the case was won in January. Until today (December 2020), the authorities in my country of residence (Ukraine) haven't officially received the judgment from the UAE.
1.What steps can be taken to expedite this process?
2. What steps does a judgment go through before it is communicated to the country in which the extradition case is pending?
3. What is the normal time frame for this process and for the removal of the Interpol red notice against the accused?
Thanks and regards,
Dec 4, 2020
298
The scope of the Will in the UAE 0
Hello Sir
Good day.
Does Abu Dhabi Will cover immovable properties as per the wishes of a non-Muslim testator?
Oct 22, 2020
308
The developer failed to rectify the numerous leakages in the apartment, what to do? 0
Good afternoon,
I have purchased a property in Al Barsha (top floor). In spite of repeated reminders, the developer failed to rectify the leakages (numerous) in my apartment.
I had also notified this during DLP (Defect liability period). Can I refer my dispute to Rental Disputes Committee in Dubai Courts, even though there is an arbitration clause in the Sale and Purchase Agreement?
Appreciate your guidance on this.
Kind regards,
Kalpesh
Oct 21, 2020
560
The penalty applied when resigning before the expiry date of a limited contract 0
Dear Sir,
I am working with Jafza company as a product development manager under a limited contract.
Today, I am giving my 30 day-notice period against my contract. My contract will end by July 2021. I heard that I need to pay 45 days' salary to the company because of contract breaching.
I would like to know:
1) If I am giving an advance 30-day notice period, then why should I pay 45 days' salary to the company?
2) Currently, am I not doing my job as per Jafza attested contract?
3) After a year, the company changed my job profile without any amendment in Jafza attested contract?
I look forward to your valuable feedback.
Best Regards,
S.D
Sep 27, 2020
1337
Filing a divorce case in Dubai and having daughter stay under father's visa 0
Good morning Mr. Ghosh,
I am 52 years old.
I am working in Dubai and am a sponsor for my wife (49 years old) who stays with me as a housewife. I have a daughter as well (19 years old) staying with us.
Can I file a divorce case here in Dubai due to marital disharmony and mistrust? What is the procedure?
After the divorce, can my daughter stay here under my visa?
Sep 27, 2020
308
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