Q: After having signed the rental contract and handed the cheques, I communicated to the landlord that I no longer wanted to start the rental. I did so with more than a week's notice before the rental start date. No Ejari has been signed. The landlord is now asking me to pay a 2-month penalty. is this legal?

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?

Q: Dear sir/madam, My tenancy contract expires on 17.07. 2020. On 22.12.2019, I emailed the owner with a termination of the contract to be on 31.03.2020. The contract says: The Lessee may terminate Contract and vacate Premises following the Labor's written consent and upon Lessee agreeing the following: (a) Provide at least two months written notice to the Lessor prior to the expiry of the Term of its intention to vacate the Premises where such notice once served cannot be retracted unless the Lessor provides its written consent; (b) Settlement of the Lessors administration fee currently in force for breaking the Contract prior to the expiry of the Term, subject to the Lessor's approval. The Lessor is not obliged to refund to the Lessee any difference in rent in case of an early break of the Contract. The owner says that this notice period is applicable only to non-renewal, not early termination so either to pay penalty or complete till 16.07.2020. Is this true? Is there a limit to the penalty to 2 or 3 months or can they ask for more?

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 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.

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. 

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.