What are a tenant's rights if the landlord fails to carry out necessary maintenance?

Hello,

If the landlord does not fulfill their maintenance responsibilities, the tenant can file a complaint with the Rental Dispute Center (RDC) in Dubai, or the appropriate rental dispute authority in other Emirates.

The RDC can issue a ruling for the landlord to carry out the repairs or compensate the tenant.

In cases where the property is uninhabitable due to lack of maintenance (such as unsafe conditions), the tenant may have the right to terminate the lease agreement without penalty.

This usually applies if the maintenance issues make the property unlivable and the landlord does not act on the request.

Dear Inquirer,

We are pleased to serve you and address your inquiries.

You can file a lawsuit to compel him to perform maintenance or submit a case to the Rental Disputes Committee.

Contact us via email or call our offices in Dubai or Sharjah.

Jasim Al Haddad Advocates & Legal Consultants

Under UAE law, tenants have the right to request necessary maintenance if the landlord fails to carry it out. If repairs are not made, the tenant can request a rent reduction or terminate the contract.

The tenant can contact us via WhatsApp for further details. We specialize in these legal matters.

If the maintenance you are referring to is the basic maintenance that the owner is obligated to perform and has not carried out, preventing you from benefiting from the property, you have two options.

The first option is to document the condition of the property through a technical inspection to prove the works with defects, proceed with the repairs, and claim the costs from the owner.

The second option is to request the owner to make the repairs according to the obligations. If they fail to comply, you may terminate the contract and hold them liable for compensation.

Hello,

In the UAE, a tenant has specific rights if the landlord fails to carry out the necessary maintenance of the property under the Federal Contracts Law and local rental laws, such as the Dubai Landlord-Tenant Relationship Law No. (26) of 2007 and its amendments.

Tenant’s rights in the event that the landlord fails to carry out maintenance:

- Landlord’s legal obligation:

The landlord is responsible for carrying out all necessary maintenance work that ensures the property remains fit for use in accordance with the contract.

If maintenance is necessary to maintain the property, it is the landlord’s duty unless the contract states otherwise.

- Written notice to the landlord:

The tenant must notify the landlord in writing of the maintenance problem and give him a reasonable period to carry out the repairs. If the landlord does not respond, the tenant may retain the right to escalate.

- Maintenance at the landlord’s expense:

If the landlord fails to carry out the necessary repairs after the notice, the tenant may carry out the maintenance himself and claim the costs from the landlord or deduct them from the rent, provided that this is done after obtaining permission from the Rental Disputes Settlement Center (in Dubai, for example).

- Requesting the intervention of official authorities:

The tenant can file a complaint with the Rental Disputes Settlement Center of the Department of Lands and Properties in the emirate, where he can request:

• Forcing the landlord to carry out repairs.
• Reducing the rent until the defect is repaired.
• Compensation for any damages incurred due to negligence.

- Termination of the lease contract:

If the landlord's failure to carry out maintenance renders the property unfit for habitation or use, the tenant has the right to request termination of the contract without paying fines.

- Tenant compensation:

If the tenant incurs financial losses due to the landlord's negligence in maintenance, he can claim compensation for damages through the competent legal authorities.

For assistance, please contact us via phone or WhatsApp number [----------].

We can help you send a legal notice to the owner to carry out the necessary maintenance on the property.

So contact us on phone number [---------].