Landlord Issues - HELP?

[indoMLA]

Long story short, I moved into a place, the landlord won't remove his personal items (not fixtures, but items like a book shelf, ironing boards, mattress, curtains, etc.). Also, they are other problems that he is slow in repairing or moving on. Can I do the items necessary and withhold the cost from the rent? Is there a government entity/body that I can lodge a complaint to?

[Bigjimbo]

You can with RERA but its a long slow expensive way of doing things. Better to call the Landlord and threaten to do this and try to elicit a response.

[rsinner]

Or warn him and then remove the items and dump them in the garbage room.

Curious as to how you would withhold the cost from the rent - haven't you already given him the cheques upfront?

[indoMLA]

^ Nope, just one check up front. I can cancel the other checks and re-write it for the amounts of the repairs, etc. taken out.

[cobragb]

There are lots of people in jail here in UAE that thought they could "cancel" checks. Unless you get the checks back from him and personally tear them up, they are legal documents and can't be canceled.

[rsinner]

Originally Posted by indoMLA

^ Nope, just one check up front. I can cancel the other checks and re-write it for the amounts of the repairs, etc. taken out.

Just to be clearer, have you handed him the cheques yet or not? If you have, then you cannot cancel them. If you haven't, then I bow to your negotiation techniques !

[indoMLA]

I gave him two checks.... they are company checks so I was hoping that a company would be able to cancel and rewrite them.
How can you not cancel a check? Is the UAE that archaic in its banking practices? I guess so since you go to jail if you bounce a check. Instead of trying to recoup your money, they are willing to lose it and throw you in jail.

So what I gather is that I am stuck storing this fu<ker's crap and paying him to do it?

[rsinner]

Originally Posted by indoMLA

I was hoping that a company would be able to cancel and rewrite them.

Unfortunately not. That's the whole point of the cheque "system" here.

Originally Posted by indoMLA

So what I gather is that I am stuck storing this fu<ker's crap and paying him to do it?

Unfortunately yes.

Like it has been mentioned before, the number of cheques just takes care of the cash flow issue. Otherwise you are stuck for a year whether you have given 1 or 12 cheques.

Just take a tough line with the guy, tell him to pick up his stuff, or....
And probably use the RERA ruse as suggested.

[wandabug]

A cheque can be cancelled with permission from the police. But in this instance there is nothing you can do-you have signed an agreement and it is binding. Write to him, tell him to collect his stuff by a certain date or you will consider he no longer wants it and you will dispose of it.

[TallyHo]

There's RERA and the Rent committee. Google them online and you'll find out how to contact them.

The rent committee does recognise that landlords are supposed to hand over properties in relatively good conditions (and empty). Tell the landlord that you've been speaking to the good people at RERA and if he doesn't commence with the repairs and remove his possessions by X date you will open up a case against him.

A lot of landlords in Dubai bank on tenants being naive and new to the country and take advantage of their ignorance, when in reality tenants have quite a few rights and protections as long as they fight for it. RERA and the rent committee are much more tenant friendly than landlord friendly.

Originally Posted by indoMLA

Is there a government entity/body that I can lodge a complaint to?