Q: Dear Sir or Madam, Good Afternoon. Two months ago, we have moved from an apartment, settled all the bills, and collected our security deposit back from the agency. However, the agency is sending us an email saying that the cooker is not working at all at the moment, and that was caused by us. During our stay, we did have an issue with the cooker, smoked started coming out, and at that time we informed the building management as they had to shutdown the power. The oven was fixed afterwards by the building management and was working properly. We didn't pay for anything. Please advise, can agency press charges against us, or do we need to pay for the new cooker, as that is what they are asking from us now? Appreciate your assistance with the matter, Thank you, Andrea

Q: I live in a 4 bedroom apartment in Deira/Dubai. 3 out of the 4 bedrooms have sewage leakage problem somewhere in the ceiling and the smell is horrible. The landlord refuses to fix the problem even though my tenancy contract clearly states that he must fix on his expense. To make the story short, After filing for a case against him at the RDC, It all went down to the police station where he refused to sign a paper that states his willingness to fix. Next, a Dubai Municipality official visited the apartment and submitted a report to the Land Department confirming that the apartment smells very bad. All meanwhile I refused to pay any rent to pressure this landlord to fix. So now 4 months have passed and the accumulated rent has built up to above AED 100,000. The landlord has filed a case to claim the rental amount. What to do? And how can he file a case against me at the RDC without the RDC asking him to fix the apartment first?! Can I refuse to pay this landlord? I think it is unfair to pay!

Q: I am posting this to seek your advice on a matter regarding the rental dispute. The scenario is as follows; I selected an apartment to rent in Sharjah. The apartment was in bad condition with termites on door frames, a bathtub that needed to be replaced and other minor fixings to be done. The agent assured me to fix all the issues so I handed him over the 3 rent cheques, 1 cash installment, and a deposit of Dhs. 2000.00 (I have the receipts for cash payments). This all happened on 26.12.2023 and he promised me to fix the property by the 1st of January and the contract shall be made for 15.01.2024. Now today is 11.01.2024 when I am writing this email to you and nothing has been done yet other than false promises of fixing it all in 2 days. The contract date mentioned is 15.01.2024 but I have not yet received it physically. Now my question is, can you advise what are my options? Any help regarding this will be much appreciated.

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.

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.