Q: Dear lawyer, I have a tenancy contract for one year in Dubai, ending on 25 November 2018. On the 8th of October, the landlord sent me a lease renewal, with some parts of the contract modified and contains different terms from the previous one. I decided I don't want to renew the contract; neither with the new nor old conditions. On the 1st of November, I notified the landlord that I will vacate on the current contract end date 25 Nov. He replied that I needed to notify him 90 days prior to the expiry date and I didn't, and now he is entitled to reimbursement and asks for 2 months' rent as a compensation. Our contract says only "Tenant agrees to notify the Landlord in writing 3 months (90 days) prior to the expiry of this Agreement of his intention to renew or not renew the Agreement". However, no financial penalties for breaking the clause of 90 days' notice of non-renewal are mentioned there. Please tell, can he claim from me this 2 months' amount? I will highly appreciate your opinion. Best regards

Q: I am staying in the apartment since 2 years. My tenancy contract expires on 15th of June. I informed the landlord via email 1 month in advance, that I don't wish to continue the contract and will leave the flat. The landlord is now saying that we should have informed him 60 days in advance and is demanding for an extra 30 days rent. Is this a valid claim? Do I need to pay extra post my tenancy contract getting over? Kindly advise.

Q: Hi, I have lost my job and my next cheque is due next month, April. My tenancy ends on June 9. Can I terminate my contract now? And if so, how can I proceed?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am a tenant in Dubai, and my lease is expiring in one month. I do not wish to renew the lease; however, I forgot to give my landlord notice. My contract states that I need to give 90 days' notice if I wish to renew or vacate at the end of the lease. My landlord does not wish to increase the rent. He says that he will auto-renew my Ejari because I didn’t give notice, and requests new cheques for the new year. What can I do? I do not want to renew.

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.

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.

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.