Refund of tenant’s deposit a contractual obligation

The role played by Dubai Rental Disputes Centre offers big relief to tenants with a speedy resolution

Atenant’s right to the refund of his security deposit upon vacating the premises is an industry norm in the UAE that has been mostly upheld by landlords but there is also another side to the picture that is emerging — of landlords playing truant with the deposit amount. In 2017, the Dubai Rental Disputes Centre received 9,407 cases and the Reconciliation Department handled 1,545 cases.

The issue of tenants facing this problem — and we are not talking of a delayed refund — in the absence of any serious disputes regarding the state of the premises, is a serious lapse in the contractual obligation between landlord and tenant. Herein, the role played by the Rental Disputes Centre offers a huge sense of relief to distressed tenants.

A tenant’s right to file a case with the centre will ensure that such incidents are dealt with through the proper channel, obviating what can otherwise turn out to be an indefinite time line for the settlement of such disputes. The centre’s ability to arrive at a solution within seven to 15 days from the date of the filing of the complaint will bring about speedy resolutions.

It however merits reiteration that the terms and conditions of a tenancy contract are equally binding on both — the tenant and the landlord. Just as tenants are appraised of the extreme importance of paying rent at the specified time, maintaining the property and abiding by the rules of the contract, a landlord too must remain aware of their duties towards the tenant.

This contract of respect, though unwritten, is as binding as the written document.