Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I agreed with my landlord to vacate his apartment because he wanted to sell the property. He provided me with one year's notice from a notary public. My current contract ends on June 4th, 2023. However, the one-year notice period expires at the end of November 2023. I have two questions: - Can he increase the rent from June 4th, 2023 to November 2023? - How can I request evidence from the landlord that he is selling the property?

Q: I have been renting an apartment in Dubai for 5 years. The landlord was not happy last 3 years as they were not able to raise rent more than the RERA calculator. In 2023, they sent me an email, non-notarized, asking me to evict the property for the reason of personal use. I refused this as it did not go through court and the contract was renewed for another year. This time, in 2024, they sent a court eviction notice with a reason for sale. It was sent 12 months before the end of the contract. In the period since the notice was sent, they did not try to sell the property or list it anywhere for sale. My question is, can I dispute the notice based on the reason they do not show any intent to sell, and that I suspect they only want me out so they can re-rent it higher?

Q: Dear sir/madam, I have been asked by the landlord to leave the property by the end of the contract and he doesn't want to renew it. He is going to sell the apartment. I confirmed over email that I will start looking for an apartment on the due dates. The property suits me for my kids' school and I cannot move away from the location. Upon checking into the area, there is not a single apartment available that can suit my requirements. 1. What happens if I want more time after the tenancy period expiry to look for an apartment? 2. Since it was 2 months' notice, can I ask the landlord to renew for this year or extend the current tenancy? 3. Can the landlord force me to terminate and avoid renewal?

Q: I want to file a case against my previous landlord as I found out after a while (7 months) after I moved out that they evicted me to rent the apartment with a higher rent. I was checking the type of cases that I can open in RDC (Mediation, first instance, appeal, enforcement) and couldn't know which one to use, any advice? Also, is a screenshot from Bayut and the title deed enough as evidence? I verified the title deed on Dubai Land and the owner is still the same and just found out that the apartment was rented on Bayut with higher rent after I left.

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.

This Decree determines the maximum percentage of rent increase for real property in the Emirate of Dubai when renewing lease contracts.