Mario Volpi, the sales and leasing manager at Engel & Volkers in Dubai, provides readers of The National with a weekly column containing the latest advice on how do deal with property issues within the UAE.
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 further questions to mario.volpi@engelvoelkers.com
Here's an accessible breakdown of the questions posed by readers during the past 12 months:
Tenants moving out early, breaking leases and bounced cheques
'Can I break the lease on my town house if it is infested with rats?'
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'My Dh15,000 rental cheque will bounce as my work has dried up amid Covid-19'
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'I've lost my job and need to move out. Do I have to pay a rental penalty?'
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'Our landlord has found a buyer for our Dubai villa. Do we have to move out?'
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'Should my landlord agree to a rolling monthly rental contract?'
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'I've lost my job, so can my landlord charge a penalty for moving out early?'
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'I'm on unpaid leave and my landlord is chasing me for rent. How do I pay?'
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'I've lost my job and cannot move out. How do I negotiate with my landlord?'
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‘Do I have to pay a two-month penalty for vacating early?’
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'Can we stay to the end of our contract even if we terminated early?'
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'I've changed my mind about moving out. Can I withdraw my notice to vacate?'
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'I bounced nine rental cheques despite asking the landlord for a short delay'
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'Can I break a tenancy contract I am unhappy with?'
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'Will I be penalised for bouncing a cheque to avoid a fraudulent agent?'
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'Should Dubai tenants give 90 days' notice before moving out?'
Help for landlords
'My tenant has not paid the rent since October and uses Covid-19 as the excuse'
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'I've cut my tenant's rent amid Covid-19. Do I have to stick with this rate?'
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'I've bought a Dubai property. What notice period do I give the tenant?'
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'I won a case to evict my tenant. How is the ruling enforced?'
Help for home owners
'The developer is denying access to a storeroom that is legally ours'
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'Should Dubai owners still pay service charges directly to developers?'
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'Can I sell my Dubai apartment without using a real estate agent?'
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'Can a new developer dictate terms on a delayed project?'
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'Does a 100-year lease renew when you sell a Sharjah property?'
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'Can I get a copy of my title deed if I haven't paid my service charge?'
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'Can I sell my delayed off-plan unit from the UK?'
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'Can I get my money back on a delayed off-plan property?'
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'My property handover is three years late. Can I cancel the contract?'
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'Can I get my money back on a delayed Dubai project?'
Maintenance issues
'Who is liable for water damage from the apartment above?'
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'Why am I liable for mouldy walls my landlord never fixed?'
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'Can our landlord charge us for work he didn't do when we lived in the villa?'
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'My newly purchased apartment is full of flaws. How do I resolve this?'
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'Can I challenge a Dh7,000 damage claim by my former landlord?'
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'Can my landlord charge for items that were broken when I moved in?'
Security deposits and fees and renewals
'Can my landlord keep my security deposit when I move out?'
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'Are we entitled to a booking fee refund if the unit was already let out?'
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'How do I negotiate a lower rent with my landlord in the UAE?'
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'Is it safe to pay my rent to the landlord's power of attorney?'
To buy or rent, and where?
'Is now a good time to invest in Dubai's real estate market?'
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'Where are the best family-friendly areas for a three-bedroom home in Abu Dhabi?'
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'I want to upsize to a villa in Dubai. What are the best areas?'
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'Can we live the Dubai dream on Dh160,000?'
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'What are the best locations to buy in Abu Dhabi or Dubai?'
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'What are the best places to live in Dubai for a new arrival?'
Mortgages
'Can I delay switching to a more expensive mortgage amid the pandemic?'
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'My off-plan property's valuation is 20% less than the purchase price'
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYango%20Deli%20Tech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERetail%20SaaS%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESelf%20funded%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Kerb weight: 1580kg
Price: From Dh750k
On sale: via special order
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMaly%20Tech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mo%20Ibrahim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%20International%20Financial%20Centre%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.6%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2015%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%2C%20planning%20first%20seed%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20GCC-based%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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How to become a Boglehead
Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
• Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.
• Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.
• Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.
• Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.
• Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.
• Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.
• Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.
• Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
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
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The Dark Blue Winter Overcoat & Other Stories From the North
Edited and Introduced by Sjón and Ted Hodgkinson
Pushkin Press
HEADLINE HERE
- I would recommend writing out the text in the body
- And then copy into this box
- It can be as long as you link
- But I recommend you use the bullet point function (see red square)
- Or try to keep the word count down
- Be wary of other embeds lengthy fact boxes could crash into
- That's about it
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine.
Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.
Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.
Begin your cryptocurrency journey here.
Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104
Mission%3A%20Impossible%20-%20Dead%20Reckoning%20Part%20One
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