My apartment tenancy contract ended on July 8. In May, I contacted the landlord and said I would agree to renew the contract on the basis of a negotiated rent. I have proof of this in the form of a text message. Since then, we have been going back and forth but we cannot agree.
He wants a rent of Dh73,500 – a reduction of Dh500 from last year – but according to the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, the rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Jumeirah Village Circle should be between Dh50,000 to Dh61,000.
I have sent letters to let my landlord know I will not be renewing and will move out of the unit. I also suggested he keep my deposit to end the situation amicably. My landlord has now given me an ultimatum via email to either sign the renewal contract or face an automatic renewal.
He says he will not give me a no-objection certificate (NOC) to allow me to leave. What can I do? I can't afford to make a case against him. I have already found another apartment in the building. AM, Dubai
Your landlord cannot hold you to ransom in the manner you have described. Even if you do not want to renew your contract due to a breakdown in negotiation, he cannot refuse this.
It is true that a contract does automatically renew but not in the way he says. There still has to be an agreement in place and clearly there is not. What he is saying, therefore, is not correct and you do not need an NOC from the previous landlord to move on.
Strictly speaking, you do not owe him any financial gain to vacate, but I do understand why you would offer your deposit for a smooth transition.
I understand you do not wish to file a case against him due to financial reasons but remember that if you do and the judge finds in your favour, you normally also get your costs included with the judgment. If you still cannot find an amicable solution when speaking directly to the landlord, you could suggest that he file a case. This way, your side of the story can still be heard.
From what you are telling me, a judge would most likely rule in your favour, so there is nothing to fear should he go ahead and file a case himself. I suggest you go about your business and let him make the moves.
In today’s market, it is imperative that the parties find a solution that caters for all. Often, this means people having to give up some of their rights, especially when it comes to the rent itself, the number of cheques and so on.
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
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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