Questions & Answers
Can I stay in the property if the landlord served me an eviction notice to sell?
My landlord sent me a notary notice to vacate the property saying he will ‘sell’ the property. He previously asked me to leave so that his family can stay there.
We are almost certain that he wants to lease the property to new tenants to take advantage of the rent hikes in the area.
We have signed a contract till the eviction date.
Do I have any option to remain in the property after the eviction date taking into account that I have been in the property for 4 years?
Dear questioner
Thank you for your inquiry.
Based on your question, it appears that you are a tenant and the landlord has served you an eviction notice with a 12-month period due to their intention to sell the property.
We would like to inform you that, as per the current tenancy laws in Dubai, the landlord has the right to serve a 12-month notice to the tenant expressing their desire to sell the property.
Accordingly, it is essential for you to vacate the premises by the end of the specified notice period mentioned in the eviction notice.
However, it is crucial that the eviction notice is issued by a notary public, properly announced, and the full 12-month period is observed.
Only after this period, the landlord can file a case with the Rental Disputes Settlement Center to evict you from the property.
The landlord must provide substantial evidence of their intent to sell the property, not merely a verbal claim.
Regarding your rights as a tenant, if it is proven that the landlord has re-rented the property instead of selling it, as they claimed, you have the right to file a lawsuit against the landlord to seek appropriate compensation. The court will then determine the compensatory amount in your favor.
Please do not hesitate to seek further clarification or ask any additional questions you may have.
No. You need to evict the apartment. However, if the owner rents it to another one, you have the right to file a case asking for compensation.
