Tenants are urged to be well-informed about their rights and the mechanisms available for reclaiming their deposits. The Rental Disputes Centre in Dubai and the Abu Dhabi Rent Dispute Settlement Committee stand as key resources in these situations. In addition, Dr Hassan Elhais, senior legal consultant at Al Rowaad Advocates, sheds light on the situation. He advises tenants to approach the rental dispute centre if landlords decline to return the deposit. Furthermore, if landlords wish to make deductions, they should file a counter case against the security deposit. Knowing your rights can make all the difference when it comes to settling rental-related issues in the UAE.
In November 2020, a raft of personal and civil UAE laws were amended. Months on, the impacts of these changes, including the end to jail terms for bounced cheques or prosecution of couples living together out of wedlock, have become clear – resulting in a country that is more attractive to expatriate workers with a reduced case load on the justice system. I’m quoted in a The National newspaper article identifying the disappearance of a particular dispute that was commonly seen in business cases. As I explain, the amendment of a law that previously insisted family business owners only sell their shares amongst the family has had a dramatic impact on reducing case load.
In my column in The National newspaper, I answer a reader who is having difficulty with her landlord. The landlord has been slow to carry out repair work and avoids communication, but recently sent a copy of an updated tenancy contract stating he is no longer responsible for repair work. I explain the landlord must give 90 days notification before any changes to an existing contract before renewal and that he does not have the power to change terms unilaterally. In addition, maintaining the property is an obligation on a landlord. I recommend the reader file a case with the Rental Dispute Centre for failure to repair property issues.
In my column this week in The National newspaper, I answer a reader who is underperforming at work and whose children are missing school as a result of broken sleep due to a faulty air conditioning system. While the landlord has promised to fix the problem, it has been ongoing for some time. I explain that if any aspect of the lease is not honoured, including the centralised air conditioning in the block of flats, the landlord has failed in his or her obligations to the tenant, who can then register a case with the Rental Dispute Center.
In my publication this week, I discussed about the tips and methods to avoid being scammed when leasing a property in the UAE. I took an example of a recent scandal and explained how the victims could have avoided falling prey to such a scam.
In my publication this week, I discussed about a property case that I was involved in. One of the leading developers in Dubai failed to deliver villas (worth upto 84m) to three Asian investors in Dubai. During the construction phase, the investors agreed to adjust the purchase price of the aforementioned villas with a new order of five villas that developer promised to deliver. The developer had promised that the balance would be returned to the investors after adjusting the price. After reviewing the case documents, the court ordered to cancel or terminate all agreements between parties and further ordered the developer to pay 84m to the investors along with the applicable legal interest.
In my interview this week in The National newspaper, I spoke about how recent directions given by The Dubai Land Department (DLD) to brokers to verify ownership information before brokering sales and rental deals would help combat real estate fraud.
Legal experts say there are precautions residents can take to prevent being defrauded by bogus landlords and property agents.
The UAE property market has had a tumultuous history with the property bubble bursting during the global economic crisis of 2008. Since then, the real estate industry has seen much legislation introduced to boost the confidence of homeowners and investors and prevent the recurrence of the property crash. Dr Hassan Elhais highlights some of the key legal measures introduced over the years.
In my below interview with Gulf News, I explained the procedures that tenants can take regarding disputes with their landlord. Residents should be aware that there is a committee in each emirate that handles cases for both tenants and landlords.
Dr. Hassan Elhais is quoted in a Gulf News article outlining the legal situation in relation to a case where Silicon Oasis tenants were asked to vacate their properties at short notice so the landlord could rent the properties at a higher price to new tenants.
Total Publications: 11
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