Question: What can I do if my landlord does not reply or answer calls after I rejected, in writing, his proposed rent increase because it was more than the maximum allowed by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency?
There are less than 60 days left until the contract expires and we haven’t reached an agreement yet. SM, Dubai
Answer: The fact that you have responded shows you are not in agreement with the landlord’s proposal. Even if you do not hear back from him, you can do one of two things.
Given that the rent increase the landlord wants is not allowed according to the Rera calculator, I would prepare the next renewal cheques/contract at whatever rate Rera states is allowed.
I don’t have this information, so cannot confirm one way or another, but please check yourself and then deposit these documents at the Dubai Land Department.
There is a charge for this service. They will then get in touch with the landlord to request that he collects the rent cheques and signs the contract.
The alternative would be to file a case with the Rental Dispute Settlement Committee, which will look into it and rule in favour of one of you.
Since you rejected the rent increase as it is higher than what the Rera calculator allows, the judge should find in your favour and ask the landlord to renew at the allowed rate.
Q: I live in Sharjah and my rental contract expired on January 29.
I started visiting the real estate office to renew the contract before the due date, but the accountant who usually accepts my cheques and documents is delaying the process.
Sometimes he asks me to vacate the apartment without any reason.
I have made my payments on time and sometimes even ahead of time. I don’t have any problems with my neighbours. What should I do? MA, Sharjah
A: Before considering your next move, I suggest you read Sharjah contract law number 2 of 2007. This provides provisions on the relationship regulations between the landlord and tenant.
If the real estate company does not co-operate with your renewal, I suggest you initially speak to Sharjah Municipality to get some clarity on how best to move forward.
The municipality's website is useful and you can also download its app. Alternatively, you can email info@shjmun.gov.ae or call 06 562 3333.
Once a tenancy contract expires, you have a grace period of 90 days to get it renewed.
Sharjah leases can be renewed digitally at Tasheel offices or any Sharjah Municipality-authorised typing centres.
The documents required to renew are: original Emirates ID, copy of passports of the landlord and tenant, copy of visa of the tenant and/or landlord, signed original tenancy contract, registration paper copy and Sewa bill.
Q: My landlord sent me an eviction notice six months ago, citing personal use. However, he recently sent me an email saying that a potential buyer was coming to view the property.
Is it legal for him to change the reason on the eviction notice? Would he need to issue another notice?
I recently found out that eviction notices are now transferable to new owners.
Would the new owner be able to rent the property or wait for two years to comply with the regulations? AN, Dubai
A: Firstly, I am under the impression that if the landlord changed the reason for eviction, he would have to send a new notice to reflect this change.
You are correct that the 12-month eviction notice is now transferable. The actual notice served is more important than either the reason behind it or who served it.
It is now likely that judges at the Rental Dispute Settlement Committee will think carefully before deciding whether the initial notice is still valid, or if a new owner needs to serve their own notice.
We need to wait and see what transpires.
A landlord is not allowed to evict a tenant and then re-let the same property to a different tenant.
If the buyer is an investor, you will most likely be able to negotiate terms to stay on and renew the tenancy.
Mario Volpi is the sales director at AX Capital. He has worked in the property sector for 40 years in London and Dubai. The opinions expressed do not constitute legal advice and are provided for information only. Please send any questions to m.volpi@axcapital.ae
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
The Good Liar
Starring: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen
Directed by: Bill Condon
Three out of five stars
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nicola%20Coughlan%2C%20Luke%20Newton%2C%20Jonathan%20Bailey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results
Light Flyweight (49kg): Mirzakhmedov Nodirjon (UZB) beat Daniyal Sabit (KAZ) by points 5-0.
Flyweight (52kg): Zoirov Shakhobidin (UZB) beat Amit Panghol (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (56kg): Kharkhuu Enkh-Amar (MGL) beat Mirazizbek Mirzahalilov (UZB) 3-2.
Lightweight (60kg): Erdenebat Tsendbaatar (MGL) beat Daniyal Shahbakhsh (IRI) 5-0.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Baatarsukh Chinzorig (MGL) beat Shiva Thapa (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Bobo-Usmon Baturov (UZB) beat Ablaikhan Zhussupov (KAZ) RSC round-1.
Middleweight (75kg): Jafarov Saidjamshid (UZB) beat Abilkhan Amankul (KAZ) 4-1.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Ruzmetov Dilshodbek (UZB) beat Meysam Gheshlaghi (IRI) 3-2.
Heavyweight (91kg): Sanjeet (IND) beat Vassiliy Levit (KAZ) 4-1.
Super Heavyweight ( 91kg): Jalolov Bakhodir (UZB) beat Kamshibek Kunkabayev (KAZ) 5-0.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
PAKISTAN v SRI LANKA
Twenty20 International series
Thu Oct 26, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 27, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
Sun Oct 29, 3rd T20I, Lahore
Tickets are available at www.q-tickets.com
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
The specs: 2019 Subaru Forester
Price, base: Dh105,900 (Premium); Dh115,900 (Sport)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 182hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 239Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.1L / 100km (estimated)
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
