My tenancy contract expires on May 14 this year and I wish to renew it.
I understand that a rental contract automatically renews if the tenant does not provide notice to the landlord, according to the Real Estate Regulatory Agency. Therefore, I did not tell my landlord that I wanted to renew the lease 90 days before the contract's expiry.
My landlord has now informed me that he plans to increase the rent. As he did not notify me of a rent increase 90 days before the contract expires, I refused to comply and asked him to renew the contract at the existing rent amount.
However, my landlord claims that, as per the addendum in our tenancy agreement, I’m liable to inform him of my intention to renew the lease 90 days before the contract expires. Is this legal? SS, Dubai
Firstly, you are correct that a rental contract automatically renews under the same terms and conditions if there is no communication between the two parties.
However, you have a specific clause in your agreement that states what you need to do in the event of contract renewal or vacating the unit. This must be adhered to.
But if you want to contest it, you can file a case at the Rent Dispute Settlement Committee (RDSC) and see what the judges decide.
Secondly, any changes to a contract have to be communicated in writing, giving 90 days’ notice. This would include increasing or decreasing the rent and payment terms, such as the number of cheques, but does not, however, apply to non-renewal.
If your landlord has not communicated in writing that he wishes to increase the rent 90 days before contract expiry, this will not be allowed.
To avoid unnecessary expense, time and effort in filing a case with the RDSC , I suggest speaking to your landlord directly to see if you can agree on a common ground.
My tenancy contract will expire in January 2023. The landlord wants to sell the unit.
How do I ensure that the landlord will serve an eviction notice in January 2023, rather than during the term of the contract? ZH, Dubai
As per Law 33 of 2008, if a landlord wants to serve the 12-month eviction notice to sell the property, they should do so upon expiry of the tenancy agreement.
In your case, the notice should be served just before January 2023.
If a landlord wants to serve the 12-month eviction notice for reason of selling the property, they should do so upon expiry of the tenancy agreement
Mario Volpi,
sales and leasing manager at Engel & Volkers
However, the timing of the 12-month eviction notice has been the subject of debate. Some judges at the RDSC have allowed these notices to be served at any time during the contract.
However, the UAE law is not set on precedent. Judges will rule on future cases based on merit.
I suggest you wait to see what your landlord will do. If they serve the eviction notice before January 2023, organise a meeting with your landlord to explain what the law says and try to steer them towards your view.
If this does not work, you can challenge your landlord’s decision by filing a case at the RDSC. However, some judges have upheld such decisions, so the outcome is uncertain.
Mario Volpi is the sales and leasing manager at Engel & Volkers. He has worked in the property sector for more than 35 years in London and Dubai. The opinions expressed do not constitute legal advice and are provided for information only. Please send any questions to mario.volpi@engelvoelkers.com
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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