Living In UAE

UAE: Why was I charged Dh5,000 for filing a rental dispute?

Dubai Land Department clarifies process and cost involved in rental dispute cases

Published: August 19, 2020 18:19 Huda Tabrez, Senior News Editor

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UAE residents can also file a case to seek a settlement — If you have a disagreement with your landlord, you can file a rental dispute case with the local authority in your emirate. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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you can file a rental dispute claim with your emirate’s real estate regulatory authority — Learn how you can file a rental dispute case here: https://gulfnews.com/1.1592839424839 Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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as reported by Gulf News earlier, it has now become easier to terminate your rental contract if you have lost your job. — COVID-19 related regulations have made it easier for tenants to terminate a contract early. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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Dubai’s Rental Dispute Centre issued a judgement earlier this year, allowing the tenant to terminate the contract early. — Read about the judgement here: https://gulfnews.com/1.1592400486943 Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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A Gulf News reader, however, wrote in sharing his experience when he tried to file the case with Dubai’s Land Department. — Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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to my surprise, the center charged so much in filing this case - over Dh5,000.” — A Gulf News reader was surprised by the fees he had to pay to file the rental dispute. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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Dh420 for the translation, Dh1,000 for the filing [of the case] and Dh3,610 — Breakdown of the payment made by reader, which came up to over Dh5,000. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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I also received a message from them that the first hearing would be on September 15. — The reader also had a rent cheque due before the first hearing. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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“I tried going to the center and asking them to reconsider the hearing because I have no budget for that cheque — The reader was unable to get an assurance on the cheque due. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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Gulf News raised the reader’s experience with the Dubai Land Department to get a clearer understanding of the cost and processes involved in filing a rental dispute at the department’s Rental Dispute Centre. — Dubai Land Department clarified how the charges are calculated. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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The department provided the following details to educate complainants, if and when they decide to file a rental dispute — Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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What is the total cost of filing a rental dispute (from the first complaint to the final judgement) that a complainant would have to incur if he or she files a case? — Total cost of filing a rental dispute. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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. In the case of eviction claims, the claimant shall pay 3.5 per cent of the annual rent upon the registration of the claim — Depending on the type of case, you may be asked to pay 3.5 per cent of the annual rent at registration of the claim. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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As for any monetary claims, the fee shall comprise 3.5 per cent of the total claimed amount. — Don't know what Knowledge and Innovation fees are? Read here: https://gulfnews.com/1.1577798563538 Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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Is there any part of the payment which is refundable? What are the terms for the refund to be made? — Which amount gets refunded? Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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Dubai Land Department: For lawsuits that are settled amicably between the parties at the RDC Conciliation Department, the claimant shall be refunded half of the paid court fees and basic claims. — You can get a partial refund if the lawsuit is amicable settled. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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While the rental dispute case is being considered by the centre, are any rent cheque payments suspended? — What about due cheques? Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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The RDC does not have jurisdiction to suspend a cheque from being encashed — Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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… The judgment creditor can, however, execute the judgment that states the cheque or its amount to be returned by the defendant if encashed. — Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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Suneer Kumar, a lawyer based in Dubai, clarified how a tenant can get his or her money back in such a situation. — Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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the judgment creditor is tenant and the defendant is the landlord — Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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By executing the judgement, the tenant can get a refund — Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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If a complainant wishes to raise his or her case with the Dubai Land Department — To file a complaint with RDC, call 800 4488 or visit rdc.gov.ae Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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Dubai REST application — Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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