Q: I am staying in a rented apartment in Ajman since September last year. During September 2020 the landlord agreed to renew the rent agreement for a further period of one year with a reduced annual rent amount. Accordingly, both of us signed the application format of Ajman Municipality for renewal of tenancy agreement. Apparently, the landlord failed to authenticate the tenancy contract from Ajman Municipality. According to him his online account with the Municipality could not be accessed as it was locked and he is communicating with them through emails as the landlord currently stays abroad. My question is that, is it legal to continue in a rented flat in Ajman without Municipality Authentication? First-year tenancy contract was duly authenticated by Municipality which expired in Sept 2020. Are there any consequences to continue in the same flat without authentication?

Q: Hi I am a Landlord; the tenant has not paid rent for 4 months and he is refusing to leave. The tenant says he was never given a contract nor Ejari and the tenant gave me a cheque which was not valid due to the account being closed. He was supposed to bring a new chequebook but never did. I opened a case regarding bounced cheque and a notice of eviction last month but the tenant never left the house. My question is, can I bring the case to the court even if I never issued an Ejari nor a legal contract? Kindly advise because I don’t know what to do at this point. Thanks in advance

س: مرحبًا، عقد إيجار شقتي ينتهي في 25 نوفمبر. هل يمكنني عدم تجديد العقد لأنني أريد الانتقال إلى شقة أخرى؟ علمًا بأنني لم أبلغ الشركة المؤجِّرة. وماذا علي قانونيًا إذا لم أجدد العقد؟ و لكم جزيل الشكر!

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 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.

الإخطار أو الإنذار القانوني هو إجراء قانوني يتم اتخاذه من قبل شخص أو منشأة أو كيان يدعى (المنذر- المخطر) بناء على نص قانوني أو اتفاق عقدي موجه إلى شخص آخر يدعى (المنذر إليه - المخطر اليه) لإبلاغه او إخطاره أو تحذيره باتخاذ إجراء قانوني معين أو تقديم شكوى قضائية ضده في حال لم يتم تنفيذ ما تضمنه الإنذار القانوني خلال المدة الزمنية المحددة به.