Dubai Tenancy Law · Dubai Law 26 of 2007
Article 17
English translation
The Landlord may not make to the Real Property or any of its amenities or annexes any changes that would preclude the Tenant from full use of the Real Property as intended. The Landlord will be responsible for such changes whether made by him or any other person authorised by the Landlord. Further, the Landlord will be responsible for any defect, damage, deficiency, and wear and tear occurring to the Real Property for reasons not attributable to the fault of the Tenant.
Official translation, as published by the portal.
Official Arabic text
لا يجوز لمؤجر العقار أن يحدث فيه أو في مرافقه أو ملحقاته أية تغييرات تخل باستيفاء المنفعة المقصودة، ويكون المؤجر مسؤولاً عن تلك التغييرات سواءً صدرت منه أو من أي شخص تلقى الحق عنه، وكذلك عن الأعطال والأضرار والنقص والتلف الذي يلحق بالعقار لسبب لا يد للمستأجر فيه.
What it means when you sign
This article limits what a landlord may do to the property during the lease. The landlord may not make changes to the property, its amenities or its annexes that prevent the tenant from using it fully for its intended purpose. The landlord is responsible for such changes, whether the landlord made them or a person who got the right from the landlord did.
The landlord is also responsible for defects, damage, deficiency and wear that affect the property for reasons not caused by the tenant.
When you are about to sign, this article means that a clause letting the landlord alter the property, its facilities or access in a way that undermines the tenant's intended use may run into this article. It also means that damage the tenant did not cause is placed on the landlord. A lease clause that tries to make the tenant pay for defects or wear that are not the tenant's fault is worth reading against this article.
Not yet cited in a Fahm report; shown because it sits in the same chapter as one that is.
Related articles
- Article 6Cited in Fahm reportsThis article covers what happens when a lease term ends but the tenant stays in the property and the landlord does not object.
- Article 7This article says that once a lease contract is valid, neither the landlord nor the tenant may end it on their own during its term.
- Article 12This article says when the tenant pays the rent.
- Article 13Cited in Fahm reportsThis article covers changes at renewal time.
- Article 14This article sets a notice period for changing lease terms at renewal.
- Article 16Cited in Fahm reportsThis article says who is responsible for maintenance during the lease.