Q: Hello Advocate Nikhat, How are you, Madam? My house is in Abu Dhabi and I had rent bounced cheques due to my job loss. Q.1 As we know that for a rent cheque bounce, after the police case is closed and the civil case is opened, then in this civil case, the judge will decide on the amount for instalments. Won't he consider what we say about how much we can pay? Q.2 Ref to the above question, it means there is no jail directly if we agree with the judge on the amount to be paid in instalments. Now, I understand that once the instalments are finalized, then we have to pay them regularly. The question is, in the civil case, there is no direct Jail in the first or second hearing, as the judge negotiates the amount for payment, correct? Q.3 During eviction case, when rent/lease is expired. Since the lease is now connected with Tawtheeq, so if Tawtheeq expires as the rent agreement expires, Will ADDC cut my electricity during this time? Q.4 Please, also advise what is Legal Advice Middle East, is it a law firm?

Q: Hi, I have lived in my current apartment for 14 years. This year in Jan 2020, I called the office to ask for my new rent details from 1st Jan 2020 to 31 Dec. They told me that I was having a court case as I didn't pay last year's rent. I handed over 4 cheques in 2019, but I didn't wait for a receipt and never went to collect my tenancy agreement as I haven't done for almost 2 years. They always handle things and I trust them. It turns out no rent cheques were cashed for 2019, no one in the office can find the cheques, no tenancy was signed and no one contacted me in a year. I assumed that the cheques were going to be deducted from my account. What can I do? Thanks!

Q: Hi, I would like to have a suggestion from one of your lawyers. There is an enforcement case against me in RDC Dubai for my rent of AED 26268. The court issued a travel ban as well as an arrest warrant for me. I want to pay but due to my financial situation as all my business was destroyed in Corona and I am looking for a job, I want to pay in maximum installments. What should I do? Thank You!

Q: Dear Lawyers, I failed to pay rent in Sharjah to my room owner, and he filed a case against me. The court initially ordered me to pay in installments, but I failed to pay. Now, the police have arrested me again for this case. Is there any chance of jail punishment for me by the judge?

Q: I am in a rental dispute with my landlord and last week the landlord told the judge he was willing to settle during the court session online, this week he is not replying to my emails to come up with a settlement plan. Can I go to the RDC center this morning and come up with a payment plan directly with the Rental Dispute Centre? We have another court session this afternoon at 4:00 PM and the judge has requested that we come up with a settlement plan before then.

Q: Hi, If someone gets jailed due to being an absconder and has rental agreement defaults as well, how much prison time will he get for the absconding status? Will they send him to his home country without clearing the rental agreement? Let me know. Thanks!

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.

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.

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.