Khaleej Times, Sun, Feb 11, 2024 | Shaban 1, 1445
Dubai: Are tenants responsible for maintaining rented apartments?
Emirates:
Question: I stay in a two-bedroom apartment in Dubai. The flat's water
heater broke and leaked all over the place. In this case, who is responsible for
fixing it? Me or the landlord?
Answer: As you are residing in a rented apartment in Dubai, the provisions of
Law No. 26 of 2007 Regulating Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the
Emirate of Dubai are applicable.
In Dubai, a landlord is liable to maintain the fixtures and fittings of a rented
apartment unless it has been agreed in a tenancy contract that the tenant is
responsible for maintenance works of such fixtures and fittings.
This is by Article 16 of the Dubai Tenancy Law, which states, “Unless otherwise
agreed by the parties, a landlord shall, during the term of the lease contract,
be responsible for the real property maintenance works and for repairing any
breakdown or defect that affects the Tenant’s full intended use of the Real
Property."
Based on the aforementioned provision of Dubai Tenancy Law, as a tenant, you are
not liable to bear the expenses related to repairing the water heater at your
rented apartment, as it is the obligation of your landlord to repair and
maintain the same. However, if your tenancy agreement with the landlord mentions
that you are responsible for repairing and maintaining the water heater of the
rented apartment, then you are responsible for repairing the water heater and
bearing any expenses related to the same.