Q: Dear Sir/Madam, As a new owner, should I send a legal eviction notice referring to the notice served by the previous owner, especially when the tenant has agreed to vacate the property in the lease renewal after the previous notice was served? The tenant is now changing their mind and saying that the agreement to vacate the property was on the rental contract with the previous owner and that what was agreed with them does not apply to the new owner.

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, As the new owner, I need to send a follow-up eviction notice to the tenant, referring to the old eviction notice served by the previous owner. How much would it cost to file a court eviction notice? Thanks!

Q: Good Evening, I am looking to purchase a tenanted property where the seller has already served a one-year eviction notice to the tenant. I am purchasing it for personal use and want to move in as soon as the tenant leaves in March. Is the seller's original eviction notice still valid after he sells it to me or do I have to serve a new eviction notice to the tenant?

Q: Hi, I would like to purchase a property but there is a tenant inside. She was given an eviction notice in Feb 2023, but her tenancy contract is expiring in October 2023. The transaction goes well, by that time I should be owning the property and my intention is to move in and live there. However, I called Dubai Land Department and they told me that in case I make the purchase, I will need to serve a new eviction notice, which would push the tenant for another 12 months. In that case, I will not buy this property and look for a vacant one. The tenant seems ready to move out, but there can always be some unexpected situations, in which case she may extend. Therefore, I am happy to risk her staying until February next year, but not for another 12 months from the moment I buy the property. Please can you tell me what my options with this flat are, and how I can minimize the risk of the tenant staying longer? Thank you!

Q: I was served an eviction notice from my present landlord 5 months ago, he has now sold the property. Does the new landlord have to serve me a 12-month eviction notice now also?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, An eviction notice was served to the tenant by the old owner in June 2023. The apartment was sold in March 2024, with the tenancy contract limited by the notice passed on to the new owner. The date of eviction is now approaching. Is there a risk that a new eviction notice is required since the owner's name changed and the tenant might not respect the old one?

Q: Dear Lawyers, The former owner of a unit sent an email to the tenant stating he wouldn't renew the contract as the unit was being sold. The tenant acknowledged the email and agreed to vacate the property at the end of the contract, so no eviction notice was issued. Now, the property has been sold. The tenant has been reminded about the email exchange but no longer acknowledges it and refuses to leave, claiming it has nothing to do with the new owner. Does the new owner have a claim if they go to the RDC to evict the tenant? Will the email exchange hold in court?

Q: My previous landlord served me a notice to vacate, stating he intended to sell the apartment, which he later sold to a private company. From what I understand, this notice should transfer to the new owner, who would only be allowed to either sell the unit or move in themselves and cannot ask me to vacate to re-lease for higher rent. We are closer to the 12-month notice expiry and the new owner (a private company) is now demanding a significantly higher rent—above RERA’s allowed increase—or insisting I vacate so they can lease it again at market rates. The demand is more than 50% of my current rent. Is this demand from the new owner valid? I called up RERA who couldn’t help and advised me to approach a lawyer. I am not sure if my rationale holds or if the new landlord is correct. I’ll appreciate advice from this community.

Q: I bought an investment property last year on the condition that the landlord serve the 12-month notice specifically for the purpose of selling the unit and gave the tenant the notice. The landlord sent a court notice of 12 months for selling the property which was sold to me. Plus at the time of renewing the lease with the new landlord (myself) during these 12 months. It was mentioned in the contract that the landlord will not renew. It was also mentioned that the validity of the contract is until the date of court notice. The landlord sold the property as per the notice. The tenant got their 12 months. Now the tenant is refusing.

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.

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 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 determines the maximum percentage of rent increase for real property in the Emirate of Dubai when renewing lease contracts.