Scamming landlords/agents
Discussion
Contract is up in 6 days time and a few days ago I got a text saying the market conditions were such that a 22% rise was applicable but would sign for 10%. I've said no on the grounds that the notification wasnt given in time and RERA calculator says no increase permissable. I offered 5% given that I'd like to stay, thats not an unreasonable increase, (I got it cheap last year) and frankly that is what it will cost me to move in time and hassle..
Agent now involved, as the landlord stopped responding to emails and now I'm being stuffed for 1900 for a renewal fee.
I know this is all illegal, but whats the best way of doing something about it? I leave for KSA on Monday sometime so this really couldn't have happened at a worse time as I'll be overseas when the contract expires. The agent told me when I signed it would be an automatic renewal if I didn't say no and about 6 weeks ago someone from the same agency said I had to pay for the year as I'd not given notice that I was leaving in time, (was considering it).
What I don't want to happen is to be overseas with no contract and a flat full of my stuff.. I'm going to be away weekdays for about the next 6 weeks now..
I could sign anyway and then pay a fee to get it looked at by Dubai Municipality, but suspect I'm throwing good money after bad that way..
Company have been super helpful - why don't I put my stuff in storage and sort somewhere new when I'm back from KSA. I have a few choice words to say about that sortly once I've got over the immediate problem..
Agent now involved, as the landlord stopped responding to emails and now I'm being stuffed for 1900 for a renewal fee.
I know this is all illegal, but whats the best way of doing something about it? I leave for KSA on Monday sometime so this really couldn't have happened at a worse time as I'll be overseas when the contract expires. The agent told me when I signed it would be an automatic renewal if I didn't say no and about 6 weeks ago someone from the same agency said I had to pay for the year as I'd not given notice that I was leaving in time, (was considering it).
What I don't want to happen is to be overseas with no contract and a flat full of my stuff.. I'm going to be away weekdays for about the next 6 weeks now..
I could sign anyway and then pay a fee to get it looked at by Dubai Municipality, but suspect I'm throwing good money after bad that way..
Company have been super helpful - why don't I put my stuff in storage and sort somewhere new when I'm back from KSA. I have a few choice words to say about that sortly once I've got over the immediate problem..
No, I think it's notice I intend to leave.. Agent told me 6'weeks ago that as I'd not told them I was leaving I'd have to stay and pay the full rent for the year but never confirmed what that was. That guy has now left the firm.
Can't find anything on the web to see if the contract is registered with RERA etc, but the agent is. I've tried to register it myself as a tenant and not been able to.
Can't find anything on the web to see if the contract is registered with RERA etc, but the agent is. I've tried to register it myself as a tenant and not been able to.
dxbtiger said:
RERA is the best place to start for advice, as Shirt said it would be easier if the lease is registered with Ejari.
Cheers. Spoken to them and they advised me to use their calculator which says no increase permitted. Big difference between them saying no and me being sure that Boris won't let himself in and empty the place when I'm away and we are int the middle of a dispute. Feels like the easiest thing to do is pay up, or empty the place myself this weekend and get somewhere short term until I have more time. Agents are RERA registered, but appears not to be Ejari listed.. Bugger..
Actually spoken to an agent who isn't a complete a***hole so happy to recommend him to anyone looking around. He's got some good places here, but nothing quite right for my needs..
Edited by Psychobert on Friday 15th February 08:41
dxbtiger said:
Change the locks...
Specifically against my tenancy agreement, but it's an option if I want to stay. Mate of mine has offerd a place over the road from me short term which may be extendable, (spare room until he leaves for the UK). Next question is whether I'd get screwed if I do up sticks and leave without giving them notice. Given its an illegal increase in rental fee plus a frankly silly renewal fee, I'm wondering if they will just let it go and then fight me for the deposit. This place will rent out in no time at all if its anything like last time..He has no right to increase rent above what RERA's calculator permits. Notice either way is for notice to leave, otherwise it automatically renews. The agent has no right for a fee for a renewal but may supply a new contract for Dhs 150.
If the landlord wants you out he needs to give you the 3 months notice, but must have a very good reason for doing so and have it all agreed with RERA and the necessary forms stamped by them. He cannot serve notice simply so he can rent at a higher rate, it must be to allow himself or his immediate family move in. If he does serve notice, he cannot rent the property commercially for 2 years. If he does you can sue his for moving costs, higher rent at your new place etc.
Point out all the above to him, speak to RERA who are very helpful, and I doubt he will go to all the bother of moving your stuff out -he will be breaking the law..
Hope it turns out ok..
If the landlord wants you out he needs to give you the 3 months notice, but must have a very good reason for doing so and have it all agreed with RERA and the necessary forms stamped by them. He cannot serve notice simply so he can rent at a higher rate, it must be to allow himself or his immediate family move in. If he does serve notice, he cannot rent the property commercially for 2 years. If he does you can sue his for moving costs, higher rent at your new place etc.
Point out all the above to him, speak to RERA who are very helpful, and I doubt he will go to all the bother of moving your stuff out -he will be breaking the law..
Hope it turns out ok..
Thanks all..
Had a stroke of luck in that a mate needed to move from a better apartment thats not too much more per year so I've simply moved out and after a couple of days couch surfing will move into the new place. Storage and removals costing me far less than the extra I'd have had to pay to stay so although I'm paying slightly more for a new place, I'm happy with it. Kept the agent informed of what I was doign and when and they seem to be playing nicely at the moment - had the place emptied and cleaned before I left and handed the keys over a day early.
If they try anything re my lack of notice and deposit, I'll report them to RERA and fight from the position of not being in the place. No idea how it will go in reality, but I have the records to prove that I was told the renewal would be automatic and at the same price and that they with 10 days notice asked for a lot more and were (I think unreasonable) about it. Took a chance, but we'll see.
RERA take a while to get things moving and I gather now that there is a mandatory tie in between residency visa and contracts I think fewer people will get caught, (or they will get caught in different ways). There always was a tie in, but its been mandatory I gather for the last 6 months.
Can thoroughly advise not going from deciding to move to moving in less than 24 hours.. Particularly not when I was due to fly to Jeddah the afternoon of the move day..
Had a stroke of luck in that a mate needed to move from a better apartment thats not too much more per year so I've simply moved out and after a couple of days couch surfing will move into the new place. Storage and removals costing me far less than the extra I'd have had to pay to stay so although I'm paying slightly more for a new place, I'm happy with it. Kept the agent informed of what I was doign and when and they seem to be playing nicely at the moment - had the place emptied and cleaned before I left and handed the keys over a day early.
If they try anything re my lack of notice and deposit, I'll report them to RERA and fight from the position of not being in the place. No idea how it will go in reality, but I have the records to prove that I was told the renewal would be automatic and at the same price and that they with 10 days notice asked for a lot more and were (I think unreasonable) about it. Took a chance, but we'll see.
RERA take a while to get things moving and I gather now that there is a mandatory tie in between residency visa and contracts I think fewer people will get caught, (or they will get caught in different ways). There always was a tie in, but its been mandatory I gather for the last 6 months.
Can thoroughly advise not going from deciding to move to moving in less than 24 hours.. Particularly not when I was due to fly to Jeddah the afternoon of the move day..
shirt said:
at least you have the contract on your side.
i paid 5k deposit for the room i rented via dubizzle in the marina. when i moved out the tenant moved his mate in who was supposed to give me the 5k direct. i am still waiting for 2.5k of it 4mths later.
Bad luck mate.. Lesson learnt on this one, doing nothing without a contract over here.. Can't even trust that the Brits will be ok with you though as I had a guy from Glasgow want a 5K fee to get me an apartment while my residency visa was being processed. Said it was a standard fee to grease the administrative wheels over here. Even if 1 in 10 of the people he tried that on with fall for it, thats a nice suppliment for him..i paid 5k deposit for the room i rented via dubizzle in the marina. when i moved out the tenant moved his mate in who was supposed to give me the 5k direct. i am still waiting for 2.5k of it 4mths later.
BTW, long time no beer..
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