Five red flags in the listing
- 01.No photos of the kitchen. Almost always means the kitchen is outdated, damaged, or missing a cooker.
- 02.The agent answers "1–2 cheques only" before you even ask. Means the landlord is cash-tight and may be refinancing.
- 03.Rent is 15%+ below the RERA index. Either the building is in trouble or the landlord knows something you do not.
- 04.Agent refuses to share the Ejari of the previous tenancy. Total blocker.
- 05."Chiller pays by tenant, no capacity charge" — almost always false, ask for the bill.
Three red flags on viewing
- 01.Lift out of service. One lift out of three is normal; two or more and you will have a miserable year.
- 02.Rusted AC grilles. Means the chiller loop has leaked at some point and the maintenance was cosmetic only.
- 03.Corridor smells of cooking or smoke. Tells you the ventilation system is not being serviced.
Three red flags in the tenancy contract
- 1Clause saying any maintenance under AED 1,000 is tenant-paid. Legal, but punishing.
- 2No break-clause, no diplomatic clause, and no sub-let clause. If the contract is that strict, the landlord plans to hold you to every word of it.
- 3Penalty of 2+ months for early termination. The market standard is 2 months total; more than that and you should walk.
Already signed? Use this escalation ladder
- 1Document everything. Take photos of every issue with timestamps.
- 2Send a written notice by email (not WhatsApp) giving 14 days to fix.
- 3If they ignore you, file a complaint at the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDC). Filing fee is 3.5% of annual rent, capped at AED 20,000, and is refundable if you win.
- 4Publish a verified Lived report so the next tenant knows.
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Frequently asked
— answers for the hurry- Can I sue my landlord in Dubai?
- Yes. The Rental Dispute Settlement Centre in Al Kifaf handles all residential tenancy disputes. Cases typically resolve within 30–45 days, and tenants win the majority of cases involving rent-cap breaches, illegal evictions, or unrefunded deposits.
- Can my landlord evict me in Dubai?
- Only for specific reasons listed in Law No. 33 of 2008: personal use by the landlord or first-degree relative, sale of the property, major renovation, or tenant default. For personal-use eviction, the landlord must give 12 months notice by notary public or registered post — WhatsApp is not valid.
- How do I check if a landlord in Dubai is registered?
- Use the Dubai REST app or the Dubai Land Department website. Enter the Makani number of the building; you can see the listed owner and whether the broker is licensed with RERA.