Q: My tenancy contract specifies that "In the event of early termination, Tenant shall have to serve two-month written notice prior to the vacating date and to pay two months rent as a penalty to the landlord and the remaining balance to be refunded". Based on that, please advise if during the two months notice I can stay in the property and paying those two months rent (which are effectively already paid) are the penalty or if after the two months notice an additional two months rent should be paid as a penalty? Thank you

Q: I have served notice on my rental property in Dubai. The early termination clause states that I must give 30 days notice and pay 2 months penalty rent. Is the 2 months penalty consecutive to the notice period or is it concurrent with it? Appreciate any advice.

Q: Hello. I have left the UAE and had handed over all keys and all cancelled DEWA connections documents to my villa owner. I had to leave the UAE and walk out of the tenancy contract in the middle and the owner was fine with it. He was supposed to send my deposit through a bank transfer. Suddenly, I get a message from my bank saying that a cheque had bounced. It was one of the cheques I had given to the house owner which he was supposed to return. Now he says the contract says I have to pay him 2 months' penalty for leaving the house before the end of the contract so he deposited my cheque and it bounced. Then he filed a police case for the bounced cheque. Is he allowed to do so? I handed him the house keys myself and he mentioned nothing about this, but now he says I need to pay him. What are my options?

Q: Dear Sir, To cancel a commercial tenancy contract (Land in Sajaa, Sharjah), how much advance notice should we give to the landlord for canceling the contract? And further, what are the procedures? Thanks!

Q: Hi, I have lost my job and my next cheque is due next month, April. My tenancy ends on June 9. Can I terminate my contract now? And if so, how can I proceed?

Q: I closed a rent contract with my new tenant on 7 December and after 2 weeks she changed her mind and asked me to refund her the security deposit. She broke the contract and she is threatening me that she is going to make a complaint to RERA. She said that she couldn't open the Ejari even though I provided her with all the necessary documents. I am not living in Dubai and couldn't do it in my person. So I would like to know if I am entitled to any compensation because she broke the contract? I refuse to give her the security deposit which was even not fully paid (only 3k). I lost the rent for a month and refused other clients as I already had a contract signed. Thank you

س: السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته، أردت أن أستفسر عن أحقية المالك في المطالبة بإيجار شهرين بسبب عدم إخطاري له كتابيًا لإخلاء الشقة. علمًا بأنني ذهبت للمكتب الخاص بالبناية وأعلمتهم شفهيًا بأنني لن أجدد العقد ولكن لا يوجد ما يُثبت وقد انتهى عقدي بتاريخ ٢٧ فبراير وانتقلت إلى شقة أخرى. عند ذهابي لتسليم المفتاح، رفض وقال إن عليّ دفع شهرين لعدم إبلاغهم بالإخلاء.

Q: Dear Lawyers, I have just renewed my tenancy agreement with my landlord for a new one-year contract. Both of us have signed the contract, and I have given the cheques, with the first one to be cashed on 22nd October 2024. I have just learned that my employment contract will be terminated on 31st December. Can I cancel the tenancy agreement and get my two cheques back without paying a fee since I am losing my employment?

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.