Q: I bought a property in January 2022. I gave a 12 months' eviction letter through the notary under the major renovation clause. We are now 14 days before the eviction day and the tenant refuses to leave (the reason is that he needs 1 more month as he bought a property that is not handed over yet). I have already the contractor company booked to start the work. What are my rights in this case and how can I have the tenant leave on time?

Q: In my landlord-tenant dispute scenario I have received conflicting answers from lawyers, so I want to know if you have any real judicial judgments from the RDC on this: The property was tenanted and the tenant received a court-stamped 12-month eviction notice due to the landlord wanting to sell the property. The property was sold to a new owner prior to the end of the 12-month period. The tenant claimed that the previous eviction notice was invalidated due to a change of ownership and refused to vacate. The new landlord sent a subsequent court-stamped notice, referencing the date of the previous eviction notice and instructing the tenant to leave as the landlord desires to move in himself. The tenant claims that the subsequent notice has no legal basis, neither in reinforcing the original notice nor as a new 12-month eviction notice. The original 12-month eviction period will expire on June 8 and the new landlord will raise an RDC case on June 9 to evict the tenant.

Q: Hello, I am a landlord in Dubai and I wish to send a 12-month legal eviction notice to my tenant for my intention to sell my property after the 12-month eviction notice. My question is: If after putting my property on the market for sale I don't manage to sell it and I decide to rent it out again, can my tenant take any legal action against me or ask for any compensation? Will they be entitled to that?

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.

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. 

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.

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.