The number of foreign citizens who move to Dubai has been constantly increasing in the past few years. Most of their living arrangements include renting properties, which is why the Dubai government has enacted the Tenancy Law which provides for the main rules under which rental and lease agreements can be concluded and registered, as well as on the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants.
Even with this law in place, it is still possible for disputes to arise between parties, case in which a rental dispute lawyer in Dubai can be a solution for those seeking to avoid escalating conflicts.
Below, our Dubai lawyers explain the main aspects of the Tenancy Law and how rental disputes can be solutioned easy and simple.
The Tenancy Law in Dubai
Before renting or leasing a property in Dubai, it good to get acquainted with the Tenancy Law which stipulates that before moving in the house, apartment or any other type of property, a contract must be signed and registered with the Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Authority.
The contract must contain several elements as provided by the Contract Law. Among these:
- the duration and value of the contract, as well as how often the payments will be made;
- the rights and obligations of the landlord;
- the rights and obligations of the tenants;
- the address of the property to be let;
- other arrangements made between parties.
The contract can be drafted by one of our civil lawyers in Dubai who can also verify if the document respects the law.
However, if any dispute arises, our rental dispute lawyer in Dubai can offer the necessary assistance in extinguishing it.
The rights and obligations of the landlord
According to the Tenancy Law, the landlord has the following obligations once the agreement has been signed:
- he or she must hand over the property in good conditions;
- he or she must complete all the maintenance work, if something breaks down;
- he or she cannot renovate or complete other works that would affect the living conditions of the tenants.
In exchange, the landlord will receive the monthly payments as agreed in the contract.
If the tenant fails to pay, it is the landlords right to ask the tenants to leave the premises unless a settlement can be reached. This is where our rental dispute lawyers in Dubai can help, as they can prevent conflict to grow by making the parties reach and amicable arrangement both parties can benefit from.
The rights and obligations of tenants in Dubai
Tenants too have obligations once they have moved into a rented property. Among these, we mention the following:
- the tenant must pay a security deposit upon renting the property;
- the tenant must also pay all taxes and charged imposed by the Dubai authorities, as well as the utilities (where such arrangements are made);
- the tenant can make renovations to the property, provided that the landlord agrees;
- upon leaving, the tenant must return the property in the conditions he or she received it.
Also, specific arrangements can be made between the parties. Our rental dispute lawyer in Dubai recommend they are written in the contract. Also, rental agreements can be amended.
If you need legal assistance in renting or buying properties in Dubai, you can rely on our law firm.
What are the most common rental disputes in Dubai?
Just like everywhere else, disputes between tenants and landlords can arise over various disagreements. However, some of the most common are:
- the unpayment of the rent at the due date which can lead to conflicts between the parties;
- landlords who enter the property while the tenant is missing can also lead to conflicts;
- the tenant who fails to pay the bills can also create disagreements;
- modifications brought to the premises without prior notifications can also create tensions.
For all these, but also for other issues, our rental dispute lawyer in Dubai can arrange meetings between the parties so that the conflict is quickly resolved. However, if the situation is more serious, we can also provide court representation.
However, we recommend all tenancy agreements are registered with the Dubai Land Department.
Dubai rental contracts in numbers
If you are interested in renting a property in Dubai, you should know the following:
- rental contracts are usually signed for periods of 12 months;
- the landlord can increase the rent only after giving a 90-days notice;
- if the landlord intends to sell the property, a 12-months notice must be given;
- if the landlord has requested the tenant to leave the property for moving in, he or she cannot let the respective place again for a period of 2 years.
If you need legal help in tenancy agreement conflicts, do not hesitate to contact our rental dispute lawyer in Dubai.