The real estate market of Abu Dhabi is regulated by the government authorities, regulating every aspect of the industry. Whether it is renting a studio apartment or buying a villa, every process is governed by the law. However, even in the most managed arrangements, disputes may arise, necessitating an effective resolution mechanism. This is when the Rental Dispute Settlement Committees come into the picture. The Committee is responsible for resolving all sorts of rental disputes between tenants and landlords.
Let’s dive a little deeper and elaborate on the role and importance of Rental Dispute Settlement Committees in Abu Dhabi.
Rental Dispute Settlement Committees in Abu Dhabi
Law No. 20 of 2006 governs the tenant-landlord relationship in Abu Dhabi. That said, in compliance with the law, the Settlement Committees are formed that work under the supervision of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD).
The Committees for Rental Dispute Settlement are responsible for catering to the disputes between the lessee or tenant and the lessor or landlord. Each committee should at least include one chair judge and two member judges.
You can avoid this legal hassle by discussing potential issues with the landlord and resolving it. That said, here are some tips on building a strong tenant-landlord relationship that can help you in the process.
How Rental Dispute Settlement Committees Work
The working process of the Committees for Rental Dispute Settlement in Abu Dhabi is divided into four different stages that are mentioned below.
Stage 1: Arbitration & Reconciliation Department
In this stage, both parties are provided additional time to discuss the potential dispute and resolve it without the legal hassle. Whether it is about maintenance or rent payment methods in Abu Dhabi, the Committee allows both parties to discuss and resolve it.
Stage 2: Court of First Instance
The court will arrange a proper hearing and both the parties will be requested to state their issues in the form of a memorandum.
Stage 3: Court of Appeal
Once the Court of First Instance has passed the judgement, landlords or tenants can file their application in the Court of Appeal. Please remember that the Court only accepts claims of more than AED 10,000 and the application should be submitted with15 days of judgment.
Stape 4: Court of Cassation
For claims valued more than AED 500,000, applications can be submitted to the Court of Cassation within 30 days of judgment from the Court of Appeal.
After the judgement has been passed by the First Instance and the Appeal Courts, the Enforcement Department ensures its implementation. However, to exclude the hassle, work on these common causes of real estate litigation and stay clear of the legal battle.
How to File a Complaint with the Rental Dispute Settlement Committee
Now that you are aware of the working process of the Committee, let’s move towards the steps to file a complaint with the Rental Dispute Settlement Committee.
- Step 1: Understand the nature of the complaint and list specific issues that you are having with the landlord or tenant.
- Step 2: Visit the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre located at 16, Al Nawfal Street, Al Rawdah.
- Step 3: Duly fill out the complaint form and submit it along with all the necessary documents (mentioned below).
- Step 4: Pay the required fee
- Step 5: Present your case and attend all the hearings
- Step 6: Comply with the judgements passed by Rental Dispute Settlement Committee
Besides filing a complaint, the legal system of Abu Dhabi also protects tenants’ rights in other ways. Read through our blog on all about the rights of tenants in Abu Dhabi for detailed information.
Fees of Filing a Complaint with the Rental Dispute Settlement Committee
The Rental Dispute Settlement Committee fee is 4% of the annual rent, a maximum of AED 10,000.
Documents Required for Filing Complaint with Rental Dispute Settlement Committee
The following set of documents is required to file the complaint with the Rental Committee. Please remember that the Committee may or may not ask for additional documents.
- Tenancy Contract (2 Copies)
- Rental Dispute Settlement Committee application (Original)
- Emirates ID/Passport (Copy)
- Trade Licence, in case of business
- Original Power of Attorney, in case someone else is representing the complainant
FAQs
What is the Rental Dispute Settlement Committee’s location?
The Rental Dispute Settlement Committee is located at 16, Al Nawfal Street, Al Rawdah, Abu Dhabi.
What is the Rental Dispute Settlement Committee’s contact number?
The helpline number of the Rental Dispute Settlement Committee is +971 2 651 2222 & 600 599 799.
What is the penalty for breaking a tenancy agreement in Abu Dhabi?
The penalty for breaking a tenancy agreement is 1 month of rent, or as mentioned in the exit clause.
This was all about the Rental Dispute Settlement Committees in Abu Dhabi. Similar to the Rental Committee there are many other laws regulating the real estate market of Abu Dhabi. The strict regulations lead to property transaction transparency facilitating both landlords and tenants. If you are also interested in availing of this regulated market, browse through these properties for rent in Abu Dhabi and find a suitable unit.
If you are looking for properties offering higher ROI, here are some popular bed types for best ROI in Abu Dhabi that you should consider.
Stay tuned to dubizzle’s property blog for more tips on how to resolve rental disputes.
