Boring but... who pays for washing machine replacement?!

[Reffio]

After getting raped by my landlord for a huge increase in rent this year (long story but I couldn't use the whole RERA/rent calculator defence) he is now insisting that I pay for the replacement of the broken down washing machine that has been there since I moved in (first tenant in a new apartment in downtown).

Is this one of these items that falls into the many grey areas (major v minor maintenance - who defines what!!) or does anyone know if there is a hard and fast rule here as I don't want to have to back down yet again?!

ps. sorry for the boring question!

[6th Gear]

If it's named on the inventory, it's the landlords responsibility to repair it.

[dxbtiger]

Landlord, they are responsible for anything that affects you living there, as it was supplied then 100% it's on his head.

The issue is actually getting him to do something about it.

Your contract should (may) have a clause re maintenance, do you have it to hand?

[TNW]

The one in my apartment went bang and was replaced by the Landlord. From what I hear from friend's experiences, I'm very lucky to have a great landlord (fellow petrol head) so I bought it and he paid me back. Seems this level of trust is almost non-exisitant here though, which is a shame.

[Reffio]

My contract only has the standard major maintenance for landlord and minor maintenance for tenant clause. Also no inventory.

He has offered to pay half but the machine stays in the apartment when we leave. Or throw the current one out and I pay for my own one to keep when I leave. But as far as I am concerned he should replace it. But as mentioned above getting him to do that is a different matter. As usual it seems that landlords can almost do what they want unless you open a dispute at rera.

So frustrating!!

[dxbtiger]

Are you planning on renewing?

If so, replace, knock the amount off next years rent, attach invoice with first cheque.

[Reffio]

I'd like to renew but he wants the option to "move in" himself so has given 12 months notice. It's a good idea but I don't think it will cut it with this guy. As per the other current post on renting, I'm guessing that going to rera is a waste of time (too trivial an issue) and risk to cash (the 5% of rent value needed to open a case).

[Psychobert]

Reffio said:

After getting raped by my landlord for a huge increase in rent this year (long story but I couldn't use the whole RERA/rent calculator defence)

Just out of interest, but how come? Other than landlords simply ignoring it, (as per my first landlord in Dubai), agent lying, (perish the thought) and tenants simply not knowing the law, I thought this was reasonably watertight now.

[Reffio]

Long story but here goes: My previous landlord tried to force us out without 12 months notice, which we told him to get lost. He even had the 1 cheque for the whole rent but never cashed it and never gave a tenancy agreement. 9 months in to the year, all of a sudden he wants a new cheque and gave me the tenancy agreement as he wants to sell. 4 weeks later the property is sold and new landlord wants to put the rent up (it was negotiating time under the terms of the tenancy agreement). I tried to tell him he was limited to a set increase as per rera to which he replies he has checked rera and my contract was not registered (i hadn't done so in the only four weeks i had the document) and he had legal advice that as the ownership had changed and no contract was registered he could do as he pleased. There was also a letter I had sent to the previous landlord when he tried to kick us out with three months notice saying get lost it must be 12 months notice and we'll leave. So a bit messy!!

[shirt]

Psychobert said:

Just out of interest, but how come? Other than landlords simply ignoring it, (as per my first landlord in Dubai), agent lying, (perish the thought) and tenants simply not knowing the law, I thought this was reasonably watertight now.

same here but i still hear many stories of people folding under landlord pressure.

my contract isnt registered. gotta give my 3mth notice intention to stay at the end of july so expecting some fun and games. that said it all worked out fine last year, although he did then say he wanted his son to move in this year. who knows. hopefully our housing allowance will be complete by then so i don't have to fret too much about an increase.

[Psychobert]

shirt said:

Psychobert said:

Just out of interest, but how come? Other than landlords simply ignoring it, (as per my first landlord in Dubai), agent lying, (perish the thought) and tenants simply not knowing the law, I thought this was reasonably watertight now.

same here but i still hear many stories of people folding under landlord pressure.

my contract isnt registered. gotta give my 3mth notice intention to stay at the end of july so expecting some fun and games. that said it all worked out fine last year, although he did then say he wanted his son to move in this year. who knows. hopefully our housing allowance will be complete by then so i don't have to fret too much about an increase.

Yup. The agent looking after this place, (and I say that very loosely) has lied to my face about the law re moving out, (the place is up for sale now) but hasn't as yet put anything illegal on paper, (other than asking me to sign a 'I'll definitely move out in April clause') which I know has been used to force people out in the same building, (all mostly managed by the same company). I'm sitting tight for the time being, but will be interesting to see what happens when the building works happen at Marina Gate, (takes my view completely away - dammit) as I wonder if rental prices may fall in this place.

On a side note, impressive number of ( ) above. Must be getting too used to 'cover your arse' mode here..

[Reffio]

It just seems to be one big game of who blinks first loses. The way rents are going up though there'll be another bubble to be burst in the not too distant future. Not for a wee while yet but it will happen...

[Reffio]

It just seems to be one big game of who blinks first loses. The way rents are going up though there'll be another bubble to be burst in the not too distant future. Not for a wee while yet but it will happen...

[dxbtiger]

If you cover your own arse then it is weightly heavily in favour of the tenant imo.

Edit - I am paying 15k under market rate for my villa, when it comes to renew in Oct unless there is a bug jump over the summer which there won't be then my Landlord can't increase it a Dirham, I'll take that!

Edited by dxbtiger on Monday 30th June 08:26

[Psychobert]

dxbtiger said:

If you cover your own arse then it is weightly heavily in favour of the tenant imo.

Edit - I am paying 15k under market rate for my villa, when it comes to renew in Oct unless there is a bug jump over the summer which there won't be then my Landlord can't increase it a Dirham, I'll take that!

Edited by dxbtiger on Monday 30th June 08:26

I think you are right, but the problem is that a lot of people don't know what they need to do to cover their arses and the landlords and agents are obviously economical with the truth to say the least as the increases mean more money for them..

[dxbtiger]

Psychobert said:

dxbtiger said:

If you cover your own arse then it is weightly heavily in favour of the tenant imo.

Edit - I am paying 15k under market rate for my villa, when it comes to renew in Oct unless there is a bug jump over the summer which there won't be then my Landlord can't increase it a Dirham, I'll take that!

Edited by dxbtiger on Monday 30th June 08:26

I think you are right, but the problem is that a lot of people don't know what they need to do to cover their arses and the landlords and agents are obviously economical with the truth to say the least as the increases mean more money for them..

Can't argue with that, as always knowledge is power! The framework is there for all to see, if you don't check what can and can't be done then you will get done over.

Don't always assume Landlords are out to scam you though, some of them are just are ignorant as tenants I believe.

From the limited conversation that my missus has with ours the other week when we said we were going to renew I am confident she has no idea what she can do with the rent, I'll look forward to educating her and advising that we won't be paying anymore

[Reffio]

Yup, knowledge is definitely power. I wish I had gone straight to rera once I had the contract off the last owner. Won't make the same mistake again!

Back on the original subject, it looks like as the washing machine isn't expressly listed it's just down to whether he wants to play ball or not and he clearly doesn't. Once again anything vague goes the way of the owner!

[shirt]

Same in the UK though isn't it? Unfurnished means just that, you buy your own white goods. The old washing machine was likely left behind by the old tenant.

[Reffio]

Was a brand new apartment when we moved in and the place came with the machine. Not an integrated unit though. It's always a learning process with these things I guess so next lease will be more explicit on this stuff.