Q: Dear sir/madam, I am terminating my tenancy contract with my landlord. He gave me an eviction notice in May and since then he has refused to fix any major issues in the property saying that "I'm free to fix it at my own expense", forcing me out of the property. Given these conditions, am I on the obligation to pay the 2 months' penalty for early termination? It seems to me that he waited until the contract was renewed to give me an eviction and force me out.

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I rented a unit through an agency leasing on behalf of the landlord, and I don’t have the landlord’s contact details. Two months ago, I noticed a leak in the unit and reported it to the agency via their portal. Despite this, I received no response. I also sent emails, and the only reply I received was that they are waiting for the landlord’s approval to fix the leak. Since then, the leak has spread throughout the walls, causing insect infestations despite my efforts to hire pest control. Can I sue for compensation for the following: 1. Pest control costs 2. Increased DEWA (utility) bills 3. Inconvenience and discomfort 4. Loss of use

Q: I have been renting an apartment for 1.5 years in Dubai. Recently, the kitchen ceiling leaked and the water has gone into the wooden cabinets and 3 of the cabinets have completely rotted from inside. All of our food in there is destroyed. Not only that, but the water from the leak mixed with the glue from the wooden cabinets and became brown and sticky. It is now all over the worktops and the floor and appliances in the kitchen. There are puddles of brown water on the floor. The entire kitchen is unusable. The main maintenance person first refused to visit the apartment to inspect the damage. He only came when we insisted and then told us we have to wait until next Thursday to get the work done. Meanwhile, we cannot use the kitchen, every day the water is spreading more and more and there are now flies everywhere (and the smell is terrible). Can I legally deduct the rent for the number of weeks we have been without a kitchen? I need to pay rent for the second half of the year in August.

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.

With the introduction of the new procedures for obtaining a power of attorney (POA) remotely in the UAE, after it was mandatory to appear in person in front of the notary public as a global rule to ensure the identity and intention of the person requesting a POA, we put between your hands this brief guide for how you get it done.

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. 

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.