My residential rental contract commenced on December 2, 2019. I issued six rent cheques to the real estate agency. Unfortunately, I lost my job in May 2020. Although I managed to pay my rent until June, I have had no luck in finding employment as yet. I cannot afford to pay rent anymore. Out of the six rental cheques, I have not paid two as yet. My contract will end on December 2. What do I do? PJ, Dubai
It is very important to inform the landlord as soon as possible about your situation in order to reach an agreement with regard to the rent. It is always preferable (if possible) to meet face-to-face in order to better explain your situation.
Obviously, if you don’t have an income, it will be difficult to pay your dues but landlords have (in the major part) been sympathetic to tenants’ situations due to Covid-19. If, however, you are not so fortunate to have an understanding landlord, you can always look for guidance to the Dubai Rental Dispute Committee for cancelling your contract with no penalty.
This has been done in many instances during the pandemic this year, where judges have allowed rental contracts to be cancelled without consequences. You have to prove that you have lost your job by sharing relevant documentation such as a termination letter, etc.
However, the best outcome would be to come to some kind of an agreement with the landlord.
Which authority can I approach in Ras Al Khaimah regarding bounced cheques from tenants? RS, Ras Al Khaimah
I suggest your first port of call should be the Ras Al Khaimah Municipality. It is located on Al Nahdha Street, the telephone number is 07 246 6666 and email is info@mun.rak.ae.
I’m sure you would be able to sort out your problem there especially because the cheque is in lieu of a rental payment.
Failing this, you can always file a complaint with the police for a bounced cheque. Please note that the laws have changed and the consequence for the person issuing the cheque that is not honoured (in most cases) is now a fine.
The consequence for the person issuing the cheque that is not honoured (in most cases) is now a fine
In order to minimise the burden on the police, public prosecutors and criminal courts, legislators have introduced a procedure to quickly address minor bounced cheque cases by establishing one-day courts. These courts have the power to issue a decision on minor matters within 24 hours. They can be found in Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
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
Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
Manchester City transfers:
OUTS
Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Willy Caballero and Jesus Navas (all released)
INS
Ederson (Benfica) £34.7m, Bernardo Silva (Monaco) £43m
ON THEIR WAY OUT?
Joe Hart, Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony, Fabian Delph, Nolito and Kelechi Iheanacho
ON THEIR WAY IN?
Dani Alves (Juventus), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
VERSTAPPEN'S FIRSTS
Youngest F1 driver (17 years 3 days Japan 2014)
Youngest driver to start an F1 race (17 years 166 days – Australia 2015)
Youngest F1 driver to score points (17 years 180 days - Malaysia 2015)
Youngest driver to lead an F1 race (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest driver to set an F1 fastest lap (19 years 44 days – Brazil 2016)
Youngest on F1 podium finish (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest F1 winner (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest multiple F1 race winner (Mexico 2017/18)
Youngest F1 driver to win the same race (Mexico 2017/18)
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
