Can you leave your current residence as soon as you find an apartment or villa that matches your needs and your budget while looking for a new place to live?
Even if finding a deal is attractive and your rent can make up a significant portion of your monthly budget, it’s crucial to prepare for your relocation to avoid breaking your lease and incurring big fines.
When you sign a one-year lease with your landlord, you are obligated to the terms of the contract and must go by the Emirate’s rental laws if you want to end the lease early.
The relationship between landlords and tenants in the emirate of Dubai is governed by Rental Law No. 26 of 2007. According to Article 7 of this law, neither party may stop the agreement before the end of the rental period unless both parties agree to the early termination or unless the early termination is required by law.
How much may one need to pay?
You may find information on the notice period you must give if you want to stop your rental agreement once it expires in your rental contract. The contract also specifies the fine you will have to pay if you disregard this notification period. You might pay this as your rent for the next two or three months. Therefore, even if your lease has expired, failing to inform your landlord that you won’t be renewing it for another term could result in you having to pay additional fees.
Unless a different term has been agreed upon by both parties, Article 14 of Dubai’s rental law requires either party to change the terms of the lease by alerting the other party not less than 90 days before the contract’s expiration date.
Also Read: What to include in a home moving checklist in Dubai?
Early termination
Depending on the terms of your tenancy agreement, you may be required to pay at least a few months’ rent if you break your lease early. Most contracts feature an early termination or exit provision.
If such a clause is missing, the landlord may demand payment in order to terminate the tenancy agreement early.
Most contracts provide that tenants must give landlords a 90-day notice period before ending a lease.
In order to guarantee that the lease ends amicably, tenants are recommended to always communicate with their landlord.