Disagreement over tenancy contract

I rented a villa in October 2014 and paid my rent in eight cheques. My tenancy contract expires on October 15. I have informed my landlord verbally that I do not wish to renew the contract and will be moving out when the lease expires. He asked me to contact the real estate office as they are the ones who signed the tenancy contract. I contacted the real estate office and informed them about my plans. They told me to pay two months’ rent as I informed them late. They said that by law I have to give them two months’ notice. I told them that I will not continue with the contract. They did not agree and insisted on two months’ rent in order to give me clearance. I sent them a written notice, but they rejected it. What legal action should I take? Do I have to give them two months’ notice in case I want to leave? As per my landlord’s understanding, I am not breaking my tenancy contract.

The Sharjah Rent Law does not oblige the tenant to give the landlord, or real estate office, two months’ notice provided the contract is terminated on the date of its expiry and not before. Therefore, in this case, if the real estate office does not accept this, the questioner can file a complaint before the Rent Judicial Committee and apply for key handover at the rental committee.

Disciplinary action

I own a company and want to know what rights I have under the UAE Labour Law to impose disciplinary penalties on an employee.

Article 102 of Federal Law No 8 of 1980, allows an employee has the right to impose disciplinary penalties on employees, including:

A warning, a fine, suspension from work with reduced pay for a period not exceeding 10 days, forfeiture or deferment of a periodic increment, in establishment having an increment scheme, forfeiture or promotion, in establishment having a promotion scheme, dismissal without prejudice to severance pay, dismissal with forfeiture of all part of the severance pay.

This penalty may only be imposed on the grounds expressly specified in Article 120 of this law.

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