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: Dear Sir or Madam, Good Afternoon. Two months ago, we have moved from an apartment, settled all the bills, and collected our security deposit back from the agency. However, the agency is sending us an email saying that the cooker is not working at all at the moment, and that was caused by us. During our stay, we did have an issue with the cooker, smoked started coming out, and at that time we informed the building management as they had to shutdown the power. The oven was fixed afterwards by the building management and was working properly. We didn't pay for anything. Please advise, can agency press charges against us, or do we need to pay for the new cooker, as that is what they are asking from us now? Appreciate your assistance with the matter, Thank you, Andrea

Q: I have a friend who is harassed by her landlord. She vacated the flat even though she has 3 more months in the contract. This landlord is harassing her and doesn't want to give the clearance to her and asking additional payment which is out of the contract. This landlord is threatening her to file a complaint to the police. What can she do to this matter? Thank you very much.

Q: Please see the information given below and let me know who should pay this security deposit to the tenant and what will be the new landlord role here. 1. In August, 2016, I purchased a property in Gate Tower, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, where the tenant stayed. 2. His contract was until Feb 2017, so instead of returning the balance amount of rental charge, I requested the previous owner to deduct that amount. 3. After signing the contract, I received the contract between the previous owner and tenant and realized that there was a deposit AED 4,750. 4. I did not know about this deposit and transferring deposit was not even mentioned in the contract. Furthermore, the deposit agreement was between previous owner and tenant. 5. Now, the tenant wants to receive the deposit. Please let me know whether I as a new landlord have to return this deposit or the tenant has to collect the deposit from the previous owner since they made an agreement of deposit.

Q: I moved out of an apartment in Abu Dhabi on 5th of June 2017. The property management company issued me with a clearance certificate for the air conditioning with the intent of deducting the final amount owed from the security deposit. It is almost two months later and they still have not refunded the balance of the security deposit. I have made repeated requests to get the money back but they are just wasting my time. How can I proceed to get this money back? In my home country, we can go to a small claims court in which the defendant would be ordered to pay, plus pay the court fees. I tried to find similar on the ADJD website but could not and as the amount is for 1300Dhs, I don't want to have to spend this filing a court case, if I am liable for the fees also.

Q: Hi, Rocky Real Estate is deducting painting and cleaning charges by mentioning the clause number 6 of the agreement signed between me and them. Clause number 6 says if the tenant vacates the flat before 3 years than the tenant has to pay painting and cleaning charges. Howsoever landlord has not given the 2nd-year contract to Rocky and they itself has not managed the building for 3 years, so is clause number 6 void or not? They still hold the property till 19th Sep 2017 and I have not handed till now to them. Please suggest appropriate action. I cant let them play with my hard earned money.

Q: Good Afternoon...... Can I write "Security Cheque" on the face of the Cheque? What legal protection does it give me from the landlord or from the bank? Will the bank honour the security cheque across the counter or when it presented in clearing?

Q: Hi. My daughter had stayed at an apartment 807, Marina Diamond 2 in Dubai from 1st May 2017 to 31st July 2018 on the lease of Mr Alex Hejazi's US national apartment. The first contract was for one year and then extended for six months. The original contract had two months notice clause and renewed one with one month notice. He was given a month's notice as per the tenancy agreement on 25th June 2018 by mail and over the phone and vacated on 31st July 2018. Returned to India on 8th August 2018. The landlord is now not responding to mails or texts and has not returned any money. The dues are three months' rent and the security deposit total of AED 15600. Now, she is back in India and cannot travel to lodge a case in RDC. How do I get back my hard-earned money without travelling to Dubai?

Q: I had rented a flat in Sharjah and returned it to the landlord prior to expiry after obtaining the necessary clearance from authorities. All rents due were paid. The landlord is not paying the security deposit of AED1500 for the last 90 days. Now, he is not answering calls or replying to messages. Please advise

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.

The provisions of this law On Evidence in Civil and Commercial Transactions (Law of Evidence) govern evidence in civil and commercial disputes in the UAE.