What does the law say about subleasing apartments?

A questioner from Dubai asks: I rented an apartment in Dubai six months ago. Three months later, I subleased only half of the said apartment to someone for a family use without the right to sublease from the landlord. When the landlord came to know of it, he filed a complaint before the Judicial Committee in the municipality and requested my eviction. I want to know whether I am entitled to ask the Rent Committee to stay in the apartment and I undertake that I would utilise it myself and cancelled the sublease contract, as I have paid the rent value of the apartment in full, and whether subleasing part of the apartment is considered one of the reasons for eviction.

 

Answer: I would like to clarify to the questioner that as per the Dubai Rental Committee Law No. 26 year 2007 Article No. 25 states that subleasing full or part of the real estate without the employer consent is a reason for eviction. Therefore, the Judicial Committee might decide to evict the questioner in spite of the questioner’s payment of the rent for the year in full.

 

— Questions answered by advocate Mohammad Ebrahim Al Shaiba of Al Shaiba Advocates and Legal Consultants.

(Compiled by Bassam Za’za’, Legal and Court Correspondent)