-
Mon to Fri: 08:00 am to 06:00 pm
How to Protect Your Rights as a Tenant in Dubai
April 27, 2023
Dubai is a bustling metropolis that attracts people from all over the world for its luxurious lifestyle, booming economy, and abundant job opportunities. However, with a growing population and an ever-expanding real estate market, tenant issues have become increasingly common in Dubai.
Many landlords in Dubai are known to be strict when it comes to enforcing the terms of the lease agreement. For example, tenants may face penalties for minor damages or late maintenance and repair solutions, even if they have a legitimate reason for the delay. This can create a hostile environment for tenants, and many may feel intimidated or afraid to speak up about any issues they face.
What are my rights as a tenant in Dubai?
As a tenant in Dubai, you are protected by various laws and regulations that govern the relationship between landlords and tenants.
Maintenance and repairs are usually the biggest concern when you are already occupying the property. Depending on the terms of your tenancy contract; your landlord or property manager should be responsible to provide prompt and efficient maintenance and repairs for any issues that may arise in your rental unit, such as plumbing problems, electrical issues, air conditioning breakdowns, or appliance repairs.
The Landlord may also provide you with some or all of the following as part of your tenancy or lease agreement:
- Security: Your landlord should take steps to ensure the security of the property and the safety of the tenants, such as installing security cameras, proper lighting, and secure locks.
- Amenities: Depending on the building, there may be amenities such as a gym, pool, laundry facilities, or a community room that you can access as a tenant.
- Communication: The landlord or property manager should be accessible and responsive to your questions, concerns, and requests.
- Rent payment options: Some landlords may offer the option to pay rent online, by mail, or in person, and may accept different forms of payment such as credit cards, debit cards, or electronic checks.
- Lease renewal: Landlord should communicate with you in advance about lease renewal options and any changes to the terms of your lease.
- Move-in/move-out support: Landlord or property manager should provide clear instructions and support during the move-in and move-out process, such as scheduling a walkthrough, providing information about utilities, and ensuring a smooth transition.
It's important to review your tenancy or lease agreement to see what services are included and to communicate with your landlord or property manager if you have any questions or concerns.
However, expect to deal with some situations where the lack of communication, lack of regulations knowledge, and even bad intent may bring very disturbing outcomes, and in this regard look for solutions to protect your interests as a tenant.
How can I protect my rights as a tenant in Dubai?
As a tenant in Dubai, you may face some complex technical complaints against your landlord such as:
- Poor maintenance of the property
- Non-functional or malfunctioning appliances
- Uncooperative or unresponsive property management
- Poor quality of community facilities like gyms, pools, or parks
- Disruptive construction or renovation work in the building that prevents you from enjoying the property you are renting
- Inadequate waste management or improper garbage disposal
- Issues with the central air conditioning
- Problems with plumbing and drainage systems
- Poor quality of building materials used in construction that is preventing you from enjoying the property you are renting
- Lack of proper insulation and soundproofing or the existence of outside noise
- Lack of parking space or insufficient parking facilities
- Problems with the quality of the water supply
- Lack of privacy due to the proximity of other buildings or units
- Lack of adherence to fire safety regulations
Your first action should be to record the complaint properly through a property inspection by Realpoint Real Estate Consultancy and issuance of a Property Complaint Report to support any legal action you may consider taking
Furthermore and depending on the type of property, Realpoint Real Estate Consultancy may be in a position to lodge the report directly with RERA on your behalf as a record which will support your further legal action to help a fast and effective resolution.
Once the report is provided, you can consider any of the following further legal actions to take:
- Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDSC): The RDSC is a government agency established by the Dubai Land Department to help resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. You can file a complaint with the RDSC if you have a dispute with your landlord related to rental increases, eviction, or other
- Dubai Police: If you are facing any criminal behavior or harassment from your landlord or anyone else, you can file a complaint with Dubai Police.
It is recommended that you try to resolve any issues with your landlord directly before filing a complaint with any authorities. However, if you are unable to resolve the issue, you have the option of filing a complaint with the relevant authorities.
Comments
No comment found.
