Being a landlord is hard. But being the landlord of an irresponsible tenant is even harder. And even more, if this is one of your ways to pay for your bills and put food over the table. Of course, things can get a little unpleasant so the best way to keep things peaceful is to stick to the law and, first, try to solve the issues by yourself and if things get too complicated, Dubai real estate agencies recommend getting in touch with a lawyer or a top real estate agents in Dubai with experience in the field.
Here are some tips to deal with your tenant so you can concentrate on investing in those beautiful Emaar Beachfront apartments or Arabian Ranches 3 Villas:
1. FIND OUT WHAT’S GOING ON
Don’t jump to conclusions, finding out what’s happening and why your tenant isn’t paying rent is crucial. Be polite and, if you have the chance, ask him/her personally so you can make sure both parties understand without further issues. Sometimes, the tenant can just forget to pay the rent or be in a temporary cash-flow problem. It can even be a misunderstanding between roommates/joint tenants.
Of course, things can also be a little more complicated than you expect and your tenant could’ve lost his/her job, for example.
2. KNOW THE LAW
As a landlord, the Dubai law gives you the power as an owner to evict a tenant when:
a. There’s a breach of the tenancy agreement or violation of the law (for example he/she hasn’t paid rent in over a month).
b. The landlord wants to sell the property.
c. The landlord wants to self-occupy the property.
Also, when there’s a case of breach of the tenancy agreement or a violation of the law, you have to serve a 30-day notary public notice to your tenant so he/she can start looking for somewhere else to go or at least start taking his/her things out of your property.
You have to know that, in Dubai, it is mandatory to have a legitimate reason for you to evict a tenant. Remember that there are three main reasons that qualify a tenant to get evicted. But in the last two scenarios, the landlord can evict the tenant just when the leasing contract is over and proper notice has been served.