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Am I liable for compensation to the new owner after vacating a property with an expired lease?

Dear Lawyers,

I had been living in a house with an expired tenancy contract. The house was sold, and the security deposit was returned to me. Prior to the transfer, I had verbally informed the previous owner that I wanted to leave.

Ten days after the transfer to the new owner, I vacated the premises. The new owner is now asking me for compensation.

Does he have valid grounds to sue me, since my tenancy contract had expired and I didn't sign one with the new landlord?

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Hend Humaid Alnuaimi Advocates & Legal Consultants
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9 Oct 2024, 08:17

Dear Questioner,

With your tenancy contract’s expiration, lack of a signed agreement with the new owner, and standard tenant rights—it appears that the new owner does not have valid grounds to sue you for compensation following your departure from the property.

9 Oct 2024, 08:19

I heard that the tenancy contract renews automatically each year unless neither the tenant nor the owner objects.

Also, the tenancy rights get transferred to the new owner upon the transfer of property. Based on this, wouldn’t I be held liable?

9 Oct 2024, 08:34

If neither party objects and you have not provided notice against renewal, you would likely remain liable under the terms of your tenancy agreement even after a change in ownership occurs.

Your obligations continue until either party formally terminates them according to legal requirements or contractual stipulations.

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London Center for Legal Consultancy Office
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9 Oct 2024, 08:19

Greetings,

If you do not vacate the rented property and hand it over legally, you are required to pay the rental value from the date of expiry of the contract until the actual vacating and handing over.

We are honored to provide you with legal support.

For further inquiries about your topic, you can come to our office or contact us via phone, WhatsApp, or email.

9 Oct 2024, 08:24

How can the actual date of vacating be proven since there was no communication and we just left?

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Rashid Khalil Obaid Advocates and Legal Consultancy
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9 Oct 2024, 09:09

Dear Questioner,

From the explanation you have given, you have stayed in the house even after the expiry of the contract with the consent of the previous landlord.

So, the contract will come to an automatic renewal according to Dubai rental law.

If we have proof regarding your willingness to vacate the property, then the new landlord cannot claim this compensation.

Apart from that, it should be specified in the tenancy contract.

We will discuss the possibilities in detail.

Kindly share your WhatsApp number to proceed.

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Engy Nabeel Advocates & Legal Consultants
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9 Oct 2024, 09:42

If you receive an eviction notice from the old owner, the new owner does not have the right to file a case against you.

If you have any other inquiries, contact us on phone number [--------].

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Ibrahim Al Banna Advocates & Legal Consultants
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9 Oct 2024, 12:56

Thank you for reaching out with your question regarding the tenancy situation!

Based on what you’ve shared, since your tenancy contract had expired and no new agreement was signed with the new owner, the claim for compensation may not have a solid legal basis.

However, certain factors such as local regulations and the terms of the original contract could play a role in the final determination.

In cases like these, it’s important to carefully examine the specific details of your tenancy agreement and the communications between all parties.

I’d recommend scheduling a consultation so we can review all the relevant documents and advise you on the best way to protect yourself against any potential claims.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly via WhatsApp or phone to discuss your case further and to set up a time for us to meet.

Best regards,

Suhail Rana

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