Q: I moved out of an apartment in Abu Dhabi on 5th of June 2017. The property management company issued me with a clearance certificate for the air conditioning with the intent of deducting the final amount owed from the security deposit. It is almost two months later and they still have not refunded the balance of the security deposit. I have made repeated requests to get the money back but they are just wasting my time. How can I proceed to get this money back? In my home country, we can go to a small claims court in which the defendant would be ordered to pay, plus pay the court fees. I tried to find similar on the ADJD website but could not and as the amount is for 1300Dhs, I don't want to have to spend this filing a court case, if I am liable for the fees also.

Q: Good Day, I would like to know, unfortunately, I had to cancel my tenancy contract before the expiry date, now my penalty was 2-month rent, which I accepted, but it then came to my knowledge that there was already new tenants lined up to move in 2 days after I have vacated. They also want to give me back 200 AED of 3000 AED deposit, for damages which were already there when I moved in and notified them about, but the person I dealt with, is no longer with them, and they "can't find" the email I have sent to them. What is the best way to go about this? I feel like they are completely taking advantage.

Q: Dear Sir, I am renting a house in Dubai. The yearly rent is paid with 2 cheques. I have been renting the house for 8 months. The landlord has already cashed in the 2 cheques. My tenancy agreement includes an exit clause for early termination: "In the event of the tenancy contract being broken by the tenant, he/she will have to give the landlord 60 days' notice". The tenancy agreement will end in 4 months. I informed the landlord that I will leave the house within 60 days. He told me that he will not refund the remaining 2 months. What should I do?

Q: I have returned back to the UK. When I left the UAE, my landlord was out of the country, or so he said. So he used this as an excuse and he didn't return my final rent cheque which had previously been agreed. He subsequently tried to cash the cheque after I had left the country and when that failed, he threatened to report the incident to the police. How do I find out if he has done so because I would like to visit my friends and colleagues?

Q: I am having an issue with my real estate company regarding security and advance rent payment. I am following up with them for more than the past 3 months but it is still not resolved.

Q: I had rented a flat in Sharjah and returned it to the landlord prior to expiry after obtaining the necessary clearance from authorities. All rents due were paid. The landlord is not paying the security deposit of AED1500 for the last 90 days. Now, he is not answering calls or replying to messages. Please advise

Q: I have vacated my flat in the first week of February. The old tenant made so many changes in the flat and the landlord knows about this one. They told me that they will not charge me. It was in 2016. Now, they refused to pay my security deposit back because they don't have any proof whether they deducted from the old tenant or not. What can I do? Please help.

Q: I moved to an apartment in July 2018 and the landlord was outside of Dubai. Being a foreigner, he promised to complete all documentation soon and he cashed out my cheques. Then he stated that the apartment was registered on his son (a minor) and doesn't have the necessary documents and he will complete when he comes to Dubai. He came 9 months after I moved in and that costed me to pay AED 12,100 proven fine for late renewal of my maid’s visa (Ejari is the landlord's responsibility). As per the contract, the Building Management deactivated access cards including the parking during my stay, saying the landlord failed to pay the service fee. This was the case for 100 days. All failures were acknowledged by the landlord via emails. When moving out (July 2019) his agent inspected the apartment. They promised to provide a list of deductions in few days which happened with 53 days delay and failed to present invoices and return deposit balance so far (80 days delay). The deduction is a round figure (suspicious). Please let me know if you can assist and tell me about the cost.

Q: The landlord is not returning the security deposit. I have vacated the apartment that I rent and satisfied all conditions as per the Tenancy Contract (painted the apartment, fixed and cleaned all -- this had been acknowledged in written by landlord's deputy, cancelled all utility services and Ejari and delivered the landlord cancellation forms). Upon returning the keys, the landlord's deputy said he would call me when the security deposit cheque is ready. He never called, my email requests are not answered, my calls are ignored since then. Now already 2 weeks. I do have proof of handing over the security deposit cheque (by the real estate agency that arranged the apartment rental), that it was cached by the landlord and a written acknowledgement that the apartment was handed over with no issues. What is the correct and most effort-time efficient way to make the landlord fulfill his obligations and return the security deposit to me? Thank you, V.

Q: I am the Landlord and the Tenant has filed a case in RDC. He left the property without maintenance - whitewashing, cleaning, pest control, etc. I failed to prove the condition of the house as it was not done by any legal authority. I don't have the tenant's signatures on the picture I took. I need to return the deposit money. As per the Tenancy contract, he agreed to do the maintenance. What shall I do to recover the maintenance money?

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.

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. 

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.