When renting a property in the UAE, part of your upfront costs is of course the security deposit – which is usually set at five percent of the annual rent.
Considering rent for a villa will invariably exceed AED100,000, this is not an insignificant sum and, should a landlord decide to withhold a large portion of it when you leave, can create an unforeseen financial issue – and a potentially difficult situation.
There can be a number of reasons for losing your deposit but the most common is damage to the property, but you can avoid such losses by taking some simple steps, according to ServiceMarket.com:
1. Read and understand your contract
A lot of people make the mistake of not giving their landlord enough notice that they are leaving. Every rent contract specifies a notice period, which might be typically two months before you plant to vacate. So, it’s important you check your contract and give the right advanced notice. This rule is in place so that landlords have enough time to advertise the property and find a new tenant, so the landlord is likely to deduct money from your deposit if you don’t give them enough notice.
2. Take photos of your apartment
Your landlord might point out a damaged area and hold you responsible for it even though it was already damaged when you moved into the house. To avoid such situations, you should take photos of all damaged areas and things when you first enter the property and send a formal request for these things to be fixed.
3. Save money by repairing the house yourself
If something got damaged while you were living in the house, you should consider getting it repaired, cleaned and painted yourself. Sometimes landlords deduct more money from the deposit then it would cost for you to repair the house. Where possible, make sure you leave your home in its original condition.
4. Register your contract with Ejari
To make the agreement between you and the landlord legally binding, you should register your contract with Tawtheeq as soon as you move in. Doing so will save you from unnecessary hassles and make it easier for you to get your deposit back in case there is a dispute.
5. Contact the land department
Arguments and disputes between tenants and landlords are not uncommon. If you think that the landlord is holding back your deposit unfairly or is not acting according to the terms and conditions specified in the contract, you should speak to the Rent Disputes Settlement department. They can offer advice and help you in settling the dispute.
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