Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am a landlord and gave notice (through a Notary Public) to the tenant to vacate the villa for personal use or to sell it one year ago. The tenant vacated the villa after one year as per the notice. I failed to sell the villa after trying to sell it through multiple agents for the past two months. I re-offered my previous tenant the villa for rent for one more year as I failed to sell it, through email (7 days ago). However, I have not received any response to this email. Please advise whether I can proceed with renting the villa to another tenant as I am incurring losses by paying EMI, maintenance, etc. Please also advise if the previous tenant can still ask for compensation. Thank you in advance!

Q: Dear Lawyers, My wife is the owner of a villa in Dubai, and in September 2023, she issued an eviction notice to the tenant on the grounds of self-use. In August 2024, the tenant vacated after serving the notice, and the tenancy contract has ended. Now, our situation has changed, and we would like to re-rent the villa to a new tenant. If my wife transfers the villa to my name via a gift deed, will I be able to rent the villa after the transfer of ownership is completed? Can the old tenant still fight a case through the Rental Dispute Center if I am the new owner?

Q: Good morning, I've been renting a villa on an annual lease since 1st March 2021. In November 2021 (90 days' notice), the landlord informed me that he would be increasing the rent by just over 20%. This was above the RERA rental calculator but we talked and agreed on 10%. In November 2022, I received an email stating that he would be raising the rent by 33%. Nearly 50% in 2 years. We've talked again but cannot reach an agreement. The RERA calculator states no increase allowable. I have now been told that he will be selling the property and received a recorded delivery (12-month) notice of eviction dated November 25th, 2022. 1. Law 33, 2008 states that the 12-month notice should be given upon expiry of the lease. Should the contract be renewed for one more year from 1st March 2023 to 29th Feb 2024? 2. Should evidence be provided to corroborate the intention to sell the property? 3. What rights do I have to ensure that the property is indeed being sold and not re-let at the higher rent?

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.

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.

The provisions of this law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.

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.