Q: Good day, Madam, I had a deal with a real estate broker in Dubai for a flat located in Sharjah. Paid everything since 17-Apr-19 after almost 2 weeks still no contract presented to me. I decided to go directly to the building management and found that the broker I contacted did not provide to them the cash and all cheques I have issued, though a receipt was given to me by the broker. Then the building management summoned the broker asking the later to hand over the cash and the cheques, however, the cash is now lacking AED 1000. The building management found out as well the commission charge against me by the broker was AED 2000 which is 40% more and an unnecessary additional charge of 300 for PRO services. Can I make a complaint against the broker? Many thanks

Q: On 20th April, we paid 5% agency fee and 5% landlord deposit for a new property rental contract, ready to move in on the 1st May. A week after the 20th April, we contacted the agent and landlord to request to urgently pull out of the agreement due to husband losing his job. We lost the 5% deposit to the landlord as he insisted on cashing our cheque. However, are we entitled to ask for the 5% agency fee back as we didn't even move into the new property? We have tried to contact the agent but he is not communicating with us.

Q: 5 years back, I paid a real estate broker an amount of AED 797,420 in cash towards booking amount for 3 units in an under construction building in Dubai Marina. He has cheated me by giving me bogus stamped registration forms from the developer and has never paid the money to them. The developer has no record of me in their system. I have tried to speak numerous times with the broker but he insists that the documents are all true and the money has been paid to the escrow account, but the developer has verbally confirmed otherwise. Since the forms are all bogus, the developer is refusing to communicate with me officially. I need legal assistance to get information from the developer as they are the only ones who can prove that these forms are bogus. Do let me know future course of action and fees applicable as well. Best Regards,

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.

This Bylaw regulates the Real Estate Brokers Register in the Emirate of Dubai. No person may engage in real estate brokerage activities in Dubai unless he is licensed by the competent entities and entered in the register, which is maintained by Dubai Land Department.

The provisions of this law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.