Question: A year ago, I rented a villa from a real estate company. Four months before the end of the lease term, the firm sent an email asking me to vacate the villa upon the expiration of the contract.
Does it have the legal right to ask me to vacate on the pretext that the lease contract states that the rental period is only one year, and that I must vacate at the end of the contract? What are the conditions for eviction, according to the rental law in Dubai?
Answer: The real estate company doesn’t have the right to evict you on that pretext. Moreover, in case they want to evict you, they should notify you through a Notary Public or Registered Post 12 months prior to the date set for eviction.
According to Article 25 of the Law No. (33) Of 2008 Amending Law No. (26) Of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the emirate of Dubai, upon expiry of the tenancy contract, the landlord may request eviction of the tenant from the property only in any of the following cases:
a) Where the owner of the property wishes to demolish the property to reconstruct it, or to add any new constructions that will prevent the tenant from using the property, provided that the required permits are obtained from the competent entities.
b) Where the property is in a condition that requires restoration or comprehensive maintenance that cannot be carried out in the presence of the tenant in the property, provided that the condition of the property is verified by a technical report issued by or attested by Dubai Municipality.
c) Where the owner of the property wishes to take possession of it for his personal use or for use by any of his first-degree relatives, provided that the owner proves that he does not own another property appropriate for such purpose.
d) Where the owner of the property wishes to sell the leased property.
The landlord must notify the tenant of the eviction reasons 12 months prior to the date set for eviction, provided that this notice is given through a Notary Public or Registered Post.
