Dubai residents keep citing COVID-19-created job loss for early exit on rental contracts

Dubai residents keep citing COVID-19-created job loss for early exit on rental contracts

Dubai: Hit with a job loss… and want to exit the rental contract you are in? A resident in Dubai can still cite COVID-19 as a reason for wanting to get out of the contract and, in the process, do so without paying a penalty for an earlier exit. Residents can do so using the Rental Disputes Centre, which operates under Dubai Land Department, to do so. More than 12 months after COVID-19’s impact on businesses and subsequent job losses, the pandemic is still rated as a valid reason if someone finds that his or her existing rental obligations are too burdensome. The Rental Disputes Centre shares that view even after 12 months have elapsed since COVID-19 was cited as a reason, according to a senior lawyer with Baker McKenzie Habib Al Mulla – Dubai Office. “Yes, COVID-19 is still an existing reason - many businesses remain affected,” said Wael El Tounsy, Counsel and Head of Real Estate and Litigation at the law firm. “However, the judge considers the validity of this before making a decision, though it is noticed that the number of cases for this reason has decreased.” But for tenants in Dubai caught in the unfortunate situation