5 common issues between owners and tenants

The relationship between owners and tenants is a complicated one. It lies somewhere between the comforts of friendship and the professionalism of the office. Like any other relationship, it comes with a fair share of problems that can be stressful and in some cases, detrimental.

For various and varying reasons, many GCC locals and foreigners are opting to rent their next home. This has shed light on an array of issues that pop up regularly between both parties.

It is almost impossible to cast blame on one party in particular. On the one hand, some owners can be extremely difficult and unforgiving. On the other, some renters come to believe that the property is their own and start behaving as such.

The nature of the problem also varies greatly. While some can be solved on a friendly, one-on-one basis, some problems require the intervention of the legal system.

The problems that arise between owners and tenants cannot be summed up in a short list.

We have brought you the 5 most common issues you can face as either.

Evacuation

A very common issue is the owner’s desire to evacuate the property of its current tenant. Most times, the owner fails to inform the tenant of this decision within the legal notice period.

Accordingly, tenants are unable to vacate the premises immediately as they are unable to locate another property within a short time period. The law doesn’t favor either in these cases and instead, looks at each individual case and assesses it.

It is worthy to mention that in Dubai, owners are legally bound to inform tenants 12 months in advance to the evacuation date. Furthermore, they are only allowed to ask a tenant to leave and rent to a higher bidder in four cases.

They are: restoring the property, demolition of the property, selling it, or if the owner wishes to reside in it.

Rent increase

The all too familiar rent increase has affected renters across the globe. As owners try to keep up with a more expensive lifestyle, they tend to increase rent. They hope this will help them make their own ends meet.

In their pursuit, however, they fail to notice that renters themselves are struggling in a financially expanding world.

The law is quite clear on this matter, usually setting a limit to the yearly rent increase and notice periods. That does not keep matters from escalating, with owners ignoring the notice period and tenants refusing to pay the increase.

Shutting off basic services

This step usually happens when an owner is fed up with their tenant, trying to force them to leave. Shutting off water and electricity and the like is an illegal action punishable by law.

Even if the tenant has failed to pay rent or has damaged the property in any way, the owner is still held accountable for turning off services.

Failure to pay rent

Some owners and tenants may have a more understanding relationship, coming to terms on late rent and resolving the issue among themselves. However, if this is a recurring problem, owners will resort to filing a suit against their tenant.

Renters are obligated by law to pay the monthly rent in accordance with the relative article set in the contract.

Damage of property

Another issue that arises is the damage to property caused by tenants. Though some rent contracts allow tenants to make specific changes to a home, some completely forbid them from even adding a nail to the wall.

It is crucial for tenants to review the terms they have agreed on in the contract and to abide by them.

This sort of issue rarely requires the interference of the legal system, unless damage to the property is extreme. Owners and tenants will usually find a way to resolve this problem on their own.