Q: I live in a 4 bedroom apartment in Deira/Dubai. 3 out of the 4 bedrooms have sewage leakage problem somewhere in the ceiling and the smell is horrible. The landlord refuses to fix the problem even though my tenancy contract clearly states that he must fix on his expense. To make the story short, After filing for a case against him at the RDC, It all went down to the police station where he refused to sign a paper that states his willingness to fix. Next, a Dubai Municipality official visited the apartment and submitted a report to the Land Department confirming that the apartment smells very bad. All meanwhile I refused to pay any rent to pressure this landlord to fix. So now 4 months have passed and the accumulated rent has built up to above AED 100,000. The landlord has filed a case to claim the rental amount. What to do? And how can he file a case against me at the RDC without the RDC asking him to fix the apartment first?! Can I refuse to pay this landlord? I think it is unfair to pay!

Q: Hi Raluca, I'm facing a problem with my landlord and I hope you can assist me. While I was away on business (for 5 days), the water heater tank in my apartment broke (through no fault of mine) and caused leakage damage to my apartment and two apartments below mine. My landlord is saying that the cost of the damage caused (approx. AED 15,000) should be paid by me because I was absent from the apartment during the time of the leakage and thus responsible for it. As you can imagine, I am contesting this. The lease states that the landlord is responsible for maintenance repairs of over AED 500, except where they are caused by the tenant. If you could assist me, that would be much appreciated.

Q: Dear, Last year, 28th September 2017 to be exact, we rented 1 BHK Flat in Bur Dubai. The flat is old and since we required it on an urgent basis, we took the flat with unfixed things. We as the tenant fixed whatever is needed (bathroom door, kitchen cabinets, bathroom ceiling...etc.). We decided not to renew the contract due to the maintenance issues we had encountered. Now, the real state agent is asking us to pay the maintenance which quoted me for AED3500/- (kitchen and toilet ceiling change, full flat ceiling change, light change, switch change, kitchen exhaust fan change, all cleaning, shower pipe change, cabinet hinges repair, all materials and labours). Do we really need to pay for this maintenance? Please advice. Highly appreciate your immediate answer. Thanks & regards,

Q: Dear sir/madam, We rented a serviced and furnished apartment via a real estate agent and paid the 5% agency fee. We paid the deposit to the landlord and one rental check. Our contract is for one year, paid in two checks. The real estate agent agreed on a deep cleaning before we move in. We moved into the apartment on April 10. When we moved into the apartment, we noticed that the wall skirting panels were broken, none of the doors close properly, the drainage of the dishwasher is broken, the couch and carpets have large stains, some tiles are broken, and the walls are dirty. The apartment is serviced and comes with utensils and kitchen supplies. Some kitchen supplies and utensils are broken or incomplete. The landlord doesn't answer our requests to have all fixed, replaced, and liveable. After five days of fighting and trying to get a hold of the landlord and get the real estate agent to do something to assist us, we are done. Can we move out and request our deposit, rental check, and agency fee back?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I recently purchased a new apartment unit from a real estate developer, and the unit is brand new. The building's completion certificate and civil defense certificate were issued in September. The handing over and snagging was completed last November. However, after receiving the apartment, I noticed that the paint was peeling off due to moisture in the walls. Since the unit is still under a 1-year warranty, I have contacted the customer service of the developer to rectify the problem. Unfortunately, the maintenance team only painted the walls and did not address the underlying issue. The problem has persisted for six months and is only getting worse. I am wondering what steps I can take with the developer to get them to fix the problem. How can I file a complaint and receive real support from the developer? Should I consider appointing a lawyer and granting them power of attorney? Is it worth the cost? Please note that I am currently residing in KSA and do not have a residence permit in the UAE.