My tenancy has ended (I was evicted) and the landlord contacted me with quite a bogus list of repair costs that conveniently totals the amount of my security deposit (Dh2,500). Communication has completely broken down with no compromise in sight. I have already moved out but the keys/access cards are in my possession. I don't feel it is in my best interest to return them unless I get my deposit back. MK, Dubai
The rental property has to be returned to the landlord in the same condition as it was given at the beginning of the agreement. I assume therefore that it was given to you freshly painted and cleaned, if this is so then this is how it has to be returned. If you haven’t done this then the landlord has every right to use the deposit for this purpose. If you did get it painted and cleaned then I suggest you set up a meeting with the landlord to come up with an agreement. I understand that your relationship with him may have broken down, but a compromise has to be sought. The fact that you still hold the keys and access cards may seem you have a trump card, but remember that the locks can be changed and more access cards can be bought. Given the size of the deposit, your only weapon has to be diplomacy to get to a mutual understanding.
I have been in a fully furnished apartment for nearly two years and extended my lease for another year last December. Is it my landlord's responsibility to renew/update the furniture such as a sofa? Or if I want to buy my own sofa, should the landlord be responsible for moving the current furniture out? JP, Dubai
The first question that comes to mind in response to your query would be: what state is the furniture in at the moment, is it broken or requiring repair? If the answer is yes, then it is the responsibility of the landlord to repair or replace as necessary, unless the reason for the repair or replacement is down to your negligence. If, however, there is nothing wrong as such with the furniture but you just fancy getting new items for yourself, then the cost of removal and storage of the old furniture has to be down to you as the tenant. When you finally vacate, the original furniture/sofa would have to be returned to the property. All of this is open to negotiation, as you may have a generous landlord who doesn’t mind you replacing items for new ones, but I guess these new pieces would then have to remain when you finally vacate.
My contract is due to expire this month. So far the landlord has not said anything regarding rent or an extension to the contract. To my knowledge the contract is automatically renewed for the same price, terms and conditions when no notice is served two months prior to expiry. Do I have the right to extend for the same price, terms and conditions? IE, Abu Dhabi
Sixty days before the expiry of the contract, either party has to get in touch with the other to effect several scenarios. For example, if the landlord wants to increase the rent, he can do so only by giving 60 days’ notice of this change. Alternatively, if he doesn’t want to renew the contract, again he has to give the 60-day notice prior to expiration of the contract.
Similarly if the tenant does not want to renew the agreement or he wishes to effect any agreed changes to the contract, 60 days’ written notice has to also be given. If no communication between either parties happen during this window, then legally the contract is renewed automatically for the same terms and conditions as before. Therefore, given that we are already in October and your landlord has not communicated with you, you can naturally assume that legally he has to renew your lease for one more year on the same terms and conditions and rental amount as before.
Mario Volpi works at Asteco property management and has more than 30 years of experience in the real estate industry in Dubai and London. Send any questions to mariov@asteco.com.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only.
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
SPECS
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
THE%20SPECS
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
ANDROID%20VERSION%20NAMES%2C%20IN%20ORDER
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
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