Whether you want to live on your own, are getting married, or have just moved to the UAE, you will need to rent a property. In doing so, it’s important to understand the various methods for resolving rental disputes in the UAE.

Renting a property comes with certain obligations and rights that can help you avoid rental disputes.

Rental Disputes in the UAE

The UAE has made significant progress in development and projects, which has led to a large increase in its population. This growth has been supported by laws that help resolve rental disputes in the UAE.

To accommodate this growth, authorities have worked to provide various rental housing options that suit all individuals and help them avoid rental disputes, especially given the high demand for rental properties.

As a result, the Rental Law was enacted to protect the rights and obligations of all parties in a lease agreement and to resolve rental disputes in the UAE.

The Role of the Rental Law in Resolving Rental Disputes

The Rental Law contains several provisions that define the relationship between tenants and landlords in the UAE. It acts as a regulator to reduce exploitation.

This has led to the control of rent prices and requires both parties to respect each other’s rights. The law sets the permissible rent and the conditions for increasing rent or extending the lease term for new, existing, or renewable contracts, all to prevent rental disputes.

This is an effective solution to prevent landlords from arbitrarily increasing rental prices, which can be a primary cause of rental disputes in the UAE.

If you need legal advice regarding rental disputes , you should contact a specialized law firm, such as Samaha Legal Consultants.

Conditions for Terminating a Contract Without Rental Disputes

The Rental Law also includes specific rules that a landlord must follow if they want to terminate a contract for the purpose of modifying or demolishing the property. The landlord must give the tenant sufficient time to vacate the property.

If either party violates these laws, they can be held legally accountable, and the affected party can file a complaint.

Furthermore, the Rental Law grants the Rental Disputes Committee in the UAE significant powers. The committee can apply certain rulings on its own, without needing a complaint from the affected party to hold the other party accountable and impose fines.

The Rental Disputes Committee handles rental disputes in the UAE between landlords and tenants with a sense of urgency.

If you require assistance with rental dispute cases in the UAE, you should contact Samaha Legal Consultants.

Rights of the Tenant and the Landlord

• A lease agreement, like any other contract, grants rights and imposes obligations on both parties. The Rental Law clarifies these rights and obligations, outlining what each party can do normally and when facing a problem or disagreement.
• According to Article 4 of the law, the landlord must hand over the property to the tenant in a condition that is fit for the purpose of the agreement. A tenant renting a residential property has the right to expect it to be suitable for living without any issues that would prevent this, thereby avoiding rental disputes .
• Based on this right, a tenant can file a request with the Rental Disputes Committee in the UAE to terminate the contract, receive a rent refund, or have the rent reduced if it becomes clear that the rented property does not serve its intended purpose.
• According to Article 6 of the law, the landlord must maintain and repair the leased property to ensure it is suitable for its intended use, unless the contract states otherwise.
• If the landlord refuses or is slow to perform necessary maintenance after being notified, the tenant has the right to carry out the repairs and deduct the costs from the rent. However, they must first obtain approval from the Rental Disputes Committee in the UAE.
• The tenant must obtain written permission from the landlord if they wish to make any alterations to the property. This is not required only in cases where the desired change does not cause any damage to the property. If the tenant fails to comply with this, the landlord can demand that the property be restored to its original condition, according to Article 12 of the Rental Law.
• The tenant must pay all utility bills, including water, electricity, and telephone, for the duration of the contract, unless the contract specifies otherwise.

If you need legal advice regarding rental disputes in the UAE, you should contact us at Samaha Legal Consultants, a law firm specializing in this area in the UAE, conact us via WhatsApp or Phone +971544447773.