Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
7 available 7 • View allPossibility of a settlement at the court for bounced rental cheques
4
Q: Hello Advocate Nikhat,
How are you, Madam?
My house is in Abu Dhabi and I had rent bounced cheques due to my job loss.
Q.1 As we know that for a rent cheque bounce, after the police case is closed and the civil case is opened, then in this civil case, the judge will decide on the amount for instalments. Won't he consider what we say about how much we can pay?
Q.2 Ref to the above question, it means there is no jail directly if we agree with the judge on the amount to be paid in instalments.
Now, I understand that once the instalments are finalized, then we have to pay them regularly.
The question is, in the civil case, there is no direct Jail in the first or second hearing, as the judge negotiates the amount for payment, correct?
Q.3 During eviction case, when rent/lease is expired. Since the lease is now connected with Tawtheeq, so if Tawtheeq expires as the rent agreement expires, Will ADDC cut my electricity during this time?
Q.4 Please, also advise what is Legal Advice Middle East, is it a law firm?

Sep 17, 2018
2050
Can the landlord disconnect property utilities in case of defaulting on rent?
20
Q: My contract is expiring at the end of this month. The Lessor of the property management has notified me to pay the pending amount of my rental dues by the 15th of July. Failing in which they will disconnect my utilities.
I have delayed my payments but I have somehow covered my monthly rentals. I am still due to pay some amount to them. Previously when this situation occurred, they have disconnected my utilities.
Can anyone suggest to me whether this is legal to disconnect utilities?

Jul 15, 2021
3278
What to do if the hotel apartment I am renting cut off electricity and water?
2
Q: I am living in a hotel apartment in Abu Dhabi. For the last 3 days, my flat does not have electricity and water. I have already paid them 6 months' rent on contract.
Hotel management is saying that they have to deposit AED 300K to ADDC, then only electricity will resume. It's been three days since the electricity is there.
Can someone point me in the right direction, where to complain and so that my flat electricity is back?

Apr 27, 2022
349
Can the landlord cut off all house utilities and threaten the tenant of throwing him out?


3
Q: Hello,
My landlord disconnected the water and electricity for the 4th time this week because my signature didn't match the cheque. What I can I do?
And he is threatening me now if I will not pay until tomorrow by cash he will change the locks and he will deport me.



Nov 9, 2022
873
Can the tenant complain about me for suspending his electricity due to rent non-payment?



3
Q: Hello,
My tenant didn't pay for 1 year and kept on having bounced cheques.
I filed RDC and he got an eviction case then the eviction date was set.
He still refuses to leave after that and complained about why I cut his DEWA.
Can he complain about me for suspending his electricity?




May 19, 2023
293
Can I cut DEWA to force my tenant to register it in his name?




1
Q: Dear Lawyers,
My tenant is making monthly payments when Ejari is for four cheques. Moreover, he has not registered Empower or the DEWA bill in his name.
Sometimes, I make payments as a default, which would fine my account for 2500 AED—feeling helpless, as the tenant doesn't pick up the phone when payment is due.
Can I cut DEWA now so that he registers DEWA in his name?





+1
Jul 8, 2024
296
Can I sue my landlord for cutting off utilities during the pandemic?



1
Q: Hello,
During the pandemic, I was unemployed and living in a one-bedroom apartment with my wife, who was also unemployed, and my five-year-old daughter.
Since we were not working for roughly two years, from the beginning of 2020 until the start of 2022, I was unable to pay rent.
The landlord's office could not evict me as all such procedures were on hold by RDC, so they resorted to disconnecting electricity and water since the DEWA account was under their name.
This resulted in my family and me living in the house without electricity or water from March 2021 until February 2022, which was the eviction date. Due to these harsh living conditions, my young family and I suffered immense moral and financial losses.
During this period, I made several attempts in person and by email to restore the DEWA service upon payment of a partial amount, but to no avail.
I want to know if I have legal grounds to sue the landlord for this action and demand compensation.




Aug 9, 2024
126
Legal blog
2 available 2 • View allWhat You Should Know While Renting a Property in the UAE 5
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.
Feb 24, 2020
3928
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
21360
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
24286
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
24940
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
7291

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Dec 27, 2022
231
How to know the reason for rejecting the police clearance certificate? 0
In case of police clearance certificate rejection, do the police give a reason for rejection?
Apr 24, 2023
851
Can I cancel my house sale contract without extra fees after personal plans changed? 0
Dear Lawyers,
I signed a Form F with a buyer for the sale of my house as we were planning to leave the country. The contract was signed about a month ago, but the handover is not until August.
Due to personal circumstances changing, we are no longer leaving Dubai and would like to cancel Form F.
The Form F contract stipulates that we have to pay the buyer 10% of the purchase value. The real estate agent is now claiming that we also have to pay the buyer's real estate commission and the conveyancing fee.
Our understanding is that the 10% penalty is the only penalty. Which is correct, and what are the next steps to dispute this?
Also, is there any way to dispute the 10% itself under the law due to personal circumstances changing?
Jul 12, 2024
567
Can the landlord evict me from apartment for personal use if he lives in his own property? 0
The owner sent me a notice by email saying that he doesn't want to renew the contract for the purpose of personal use.
He didn't mention what this personal use means. He already has multiple houses for rent and he has his own which he is living in currently.
Is it legal to evict me?
Thanks
Aug 31, 2023
328
How to know if an offer letter I received from a company in the UAE is legit? 0
I got an offer letter from Al-Haldin Gulf Construction & Petroleum LLC. Can you please advise about the company?
Mar 18, 2024
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183 183 answers •
View allThe landlord refuses to wait for days beyond rental cheque due date. What to do? 0
Dear sir/madam,
My rental cheque is due tomorrow and unfortunately, I’m not able to honor it. I asked my landlord to wait a couple of days but he doesn’t want to wait and said that he is going to cash the cheque tomorrow.
Of course, the cheque will bounce, what would be the procedure then?
Do I have a certain amount of days before eviction to pay the rent?
Sep 25, 2022
477
What happens when the property is sold mid-lease? 0
Dear Sir/Madam,
Does the existing tenancy contract between the tenant and the previous owner remain in force even after the new landlord has purchased the property in the middle of an ongoing lease?
And when should a new tenancy contract be made?
Should it be made immediately after the property has been sold, or at the end of the ongoing tenancy contract signed between the previous owner of the property and the tenant?
Also, does a new contract have to be in place for the tenant to exchange the cheques, or does the existing tenancy contract with the previous owner remain valid for the purpose of exchanging the cheques?
Apr 5, 2023
765
Evicting an employee from school accommodation while a labor case is pending 0
Dear Sir/Madam,
I was wrongfully terminated by my school under Article 44 on March 20th, 2023. I have a case in the labor courts, and the first hearing is on April 4th, 2023.
However, my employer is asking me to vacate the school accommodation. I asked the Ministry of Labor and the courts, and they informed me that the school cannot evict me until the case is resolved.
Is this information correct?
I am currently unemployed and have nowhere else to go until I find another job.
Apr 3, 2023
127
If I have a travel ban in KSA, can I travel to the UAE on a work visa? 0
Hi,
May you and your family be blessed.
I'm extremely tense and need your kind feedback on the following issue.
If I have a travel ban in KSA, can I travel to the UAE on a work visa?
I have been visiting Dubai on a tourist visa without any problems.
The ban was imposed because I had to leave KSA suddenly and could not return after an exit-entry, and I was unable to pay back my car EMI and credit card payment totaling 30k SAR, which I intend to pay off gradually now.
When I left KSA, they only had my fingerprints at the time. I also understand that while coming for a visit to Dubai, only a retinal scan is done.
On the other hand, when obtaining a work visa, UAE takes and registers fingerprints as well. Could this lead to any issues for me?
I have finally obtained a better-paying job after a long time and can finally save up to pay off my debts. The case registered for which the travel ban is imposed is only for SAR 16000.
As of now, I cannot afford to hire a lawyer to check in UAE.
Thank you for your help!
Mar 29, 2023
1876
Tenant's rights: Can my landlord evict me, raise my rent, and ban my pet? 0
Dear Sir/Madam,
My landlord wants to evict me from the property where I reside. They have not provided a court order for eviction within the past 12 months.
Additionally, they are requesting a 40% increase in rent and are insisting on a 6-month fixed-term renewal, despite the RERA index indicating no such increase.
Furthermore, they have included an unreasonable clause that prohibits pets, even though I have lived on the property with a pet for over three years.
What options do I have if I do not agree to these demands?
Mar 16, 2023
447

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157 157 answers •
View allكيف يمكن لشركة ذات مسؤولية محدودة أن تعلن إفلاسها؟ 0
كيف يمكن لشركة ذات مسؤولية محدودة أن تعلن إفلاسها؟
Feb 3, 2022
1717
Can the new owner of an apartment increase my rent if it is against RERA Index? 0
Hi
I'm a tenant of an apartment and a new owner has purchased the apartment. I would like to know:
1. Should I revise the Ejari by canceling the previous one and applying for a new one?
2. My current rent is 35% less than the current market value. Can the new owner change the rent as per the market value, or he still has to follow the RERA Index calculator for a new contract?
Nov 19, 2023
99
I agreed with my landlord to increase the rent 10% I pay in cash. Should I insist on changing the contract? 0
I'm staying in JLT in a house with a rent of AED 140,000 per year. The lease starts on 1st Sep '23 and expires on 31st Aug '24.
The landlord sent me a legal notice from the Dubai Courts in mid-Sep '23, giving me 1-year notice to vacate the house as he plans to sell the house. The notice was received by me through email from the court.
He claims the email notice sent by the court is not valid till I receive it by courier via Aramex for my physical signature. Can you please confirm if this is true?
The landlord is now ready to let me stay in this house for two more years. He has proposed that we maintain the existing lease agreement and Ejari. However, I should pay him AED 14,000 in cash (10% increment).
We will sign a separate paper document wherein we will agree that I will further rent increase of 10% (10% on (140,000+14,000)) on 1st Sep'24 when my current lease expires.
Should I insist on making a fresh written contract with the higher rent (140,000+14,000=154,000)?
Nov 18, 2023
130
Is it possible to terminate a labor contract before the end of the two-year term? 0
Hello.
I have been with my employer for 15 months, and my employment contract is for two years.
Is it possible to terminate the contract before the end of the two-year term?
Nov 24, 2023
121
I have signed Form F and got the mortgage but the seller is in breach. What to do? 0
Hi
I have signed the MOU Form F since July 2023 and we prepared all the papers and the loan from my end on 23/8/2023.
When I went to DLD for the transfer, the seller had registration issues and asked for some papers to be provided as the property is under the company not an individual.
Since that time, we have kept renewing the MOU every month in the hope of finalizing but I am not seeing any progress.
So I am asking about legal action as I already got a bank mortgage and started paying as well but not seeing any progress from the seller.
So I need to ask the following:
1. If my MOU expired on 20.11.2023, can I file a complaint on 20 or after a couple of days like 23?
2. What will happen in terms of 10%? Will it be returned and what about the fees paid to the bank like mortgage fees, evaluation, and cancellation of loan? Will the EMI payment be compensated by the seller?
3. What is your advice?
Thanks
Nov 16, 2023
888
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