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: Hi, I recently purchased a home. It's currently rented and I want to move in, but the law says that a 1-year eviction notice is needed. However, the tenancy contract states that the landlord has the right not to renew the tenancy contract by writing a notice before 90 days. This contract was signed by the previous owner, so will this be applicable or do I have to give him a 1-year eviction notice? The tenancy contract ends on January 14. Please advise. Thanks.

Q: I am a tenant in Discovery Garden and my landlord registered the Empower in his name and took AED 2000 for registration. Now he has sold the flat and not returning the Empower registration amount. The new owner was not aware of this and when he came to know he registered the same and asked me to register as a tenant plus pay AED 2000, while the due date to register the amount is passed. I told him I will not pay another AED 2000 until I get the same from the previous owner. Now I am stuck between the new owner and the old one.

Q: Hello everyone, I have been given a 12 months eviction notice through notary public by my landlord in March 2022, in Dubai, stating selling the property as a reason. If the new landlord has no intention to move in or refurbish the property and wants to continue renting the property, am I as an existing tenant given the first right to continue residing in the property? Is the new landlord allowed to hike up the rent as per market conditions? Or does the RERA rental index calculator still applies in this case? Thanks in advance!

Q: Hi, I'm a new landlord of the property which is already rented. Kindly advise, do we have to sign a new tenancy contract with the tenant for the remaining period? And who will pay the cost of Ejari?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I recently purchased a property with a sitting tenant who has a tenancy contract expiring on 20/08/2023. The current rent is 35,000 AED per annum. If I wish to increase the rent, can I give the tenant a 90-day notice and increase the rent to (a) the free market rate, (b) the RERA index range, or (c) just the RERA prescribed percentage (5%, 10%, 15%, or 20%), based on the difference between the current rent and RERA index?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I recently purchased a studio flat in Dubai that was previously tenanted under a Tenancy Contract from November 2022 to November 2023. However, there is no registered Ejari to establish a tenant-landlord relationship in the Dubai Government record. The previous landlord had given the tenant a year's notice to vacate the flat, which was given six months ago. Now that I have purchased the flat, I have asked the tenant to replace the cheques, but she has refused to cooperate. Can you please advise me on whether I am obligated to continue the Tenancy Agreement signed by the previous owner, given the absence of an Ejari? Alternatively, when can I tell her to vacate the flat, or do I have to wait until November 2023? Secondly, I would like to know if I need to serve the tenant with an eviction notice again to vacate the flat. If so, for how long is the remaining period valid, or do I need to issue a new eviction notice of one year? I would appreciate your prompt response. Many thanks! Kind Regards,

Q: Hello, I'm a new landlord and the apartment has tenants. Their contract expires at the end of June. Can I increase the rent more than the RERA calculator shows? Because the market price for the rent now is more than 40%. Please help me with some advice. Thank you!

Q: My current landlord has sold the building I live in, and my rent cheque was due to be presented on April 1st. I contacted the new landlord and the current landlord about my rent cheque. My current landlord advised that they had withdrawn the cheque and presented it to the new landlord. However, the new landlord has ignored three requests for clarity on how to pay my rent, which is now overdue. What are my options here? I am attempting to pay the rent, but they are unresponsive.

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.

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. 

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.

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.