Q: Hi, My rental contract expires in December 2016, however, since I can't afford the rent I am giving my two months notice to vacate the place by September 2016 paying 2 months rent. However, the landlord tells me that I can't stay in the place during my notice period and I still have to pay rent for 2 months. Please advise.

Q: My landlord is requesting me to leave the apartment at the end of tenancy period which is in 3 months. He hasn't requested this formally, I mean he only sent an email. Can this be counted? I do not want to leave as I know the reason he wants me to evict is that he wants to increase the rent on the new tenant since I have been for quite some time.

Q: We moved into a villa in August 2017 and we paid one cash cheque payment to the owner who is local, as he gave us a copy of his Emirates ID and contract. In December, our water was cut and was told by ADDC that the water has not been paid since August, which we all donated and paid for as we are about 7 tenants in the villa (Studio). On the 10th of this month, a legal notice came from the court showing First Gulf Properties that the landlord should appear in the court. He didn't show up to which. Yesterday, another same one was sent to him to appear today of which I doubt he did go because all his numbers are off. I need to know what's my right in this. NB: This property is in Abu Dhabi and I have a copy of the landlord's Emirates ID. I even took a picture of him and my husband with the agent, and a copy of the cheque I gave to him the day we signed the contract. Please advise me. Thank you very much as I wait for your swift advice.

Q: Hi. I am an owner of a studio. My tenant informed me about some floor tiles breakage. So, with his suggestion and consent, I decided to get the whole floor retiled. He agreed to move out for 3-4 days. The work was completed in exactly 4 days and I paid for the job. However, it took me two weeks before that to decide a good contractor for the job. All that while he was occupying the apartment. He only left for 4 days. Now, he has registered a case against me for compensation of AED 8000 as he lied and said he couldn't occupy the apartment for one whole month. The mediator called me and asked me if I'm willing to pay him one month's rent as compensation to which I refused. Now, our hearing is on 4th March. Please advise.

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!

Q: My husband and I are Dubai residents. We have a property in Al Reef in AUH which we rent out. It has come to our attention that the current tenant has made internal alterations to the property and has basically turned it into a salon (complete with advertising outside). He did not ask us for permission to do this. He maintains he has all the correct paperwork from the municipality which allows such changes to be made. Manazel has told him that it is not permitted. Long story short, the developer is now giving us, as landlords, two weeks to reinstate the house or they will take criminal and civil proceedings against us. We wish to sell the property but we assume that it will require some form of NOC from Manazel which I imagine will not be forthcoming given the circumstances. As we are in Dubai, we cannot get to AUH at the moment. Is there anyone you could recommend to advise us of our options (if any)?

Q: In our building, there is a play area that is all in glazed windows, all my windows overlook the playing field. We have a sign that says you can’t play football and cricket, but everyone ignores playing football and randomly hit our windows. I’m always scared of fear, burned my hand 3 times when cooking and ironing. The security guards asked them to take the balls, but the parents gave the children other balls, and so on every day. The security guards were tired of asking and then they were completely ignored, I called the police myself, but they didn’t come more than once, but called once. My son while doing lessons is also frightened by hitting the ball against glass. I asked the office of the security manager. It turns out no one will help.

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 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.

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. 

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.