List of things never to hide from your landlord
Finding the perfect place to live in is no simple feat. After weeks of pouring through listings and trudging along to numerous viewings, you zero in on the perfect home. It might be quite tempting to keep some secrets from your landlord after this ordeal, just so you don’t end up losing out on your dream rental in a densely populated city like Dubai. But it’s important to respect landlord rights in the city. Here are some things never to hide from your landlord.
THINGS NEVER TO HIDE FROM YOUR LANDLORD
Of course, we don’t mean you need to divulge all the details of your life and tell them about your dinner plans every day. But here are some secrets you can’t hide from your landlord.
Hiding Your Furry Friends
Anyone who has ever had a pet will tell you how difficult it is to imagine your life without them. Therefore, it’s only natural that you would want to keep living with your canine, feline or feathered roommates. It’s also true that many landlords may object to you having a pet. Hence, it is one of the things tenants hide from landlords.
It is a bad idea for a number of reasons. Sneaking your pets in your property for rent in Dubai to avoid this conversation is not going to work in the long run anyway.
Look for a pet-friendly neighbourhood if you already own a pet. If you decided to adopt a cat after you moved in, tell your landlord about your decision. In fact, you need to make sure that this is mentioned clearly in your tenancy contract so that you can’t be evicted on these grounds.
Having A Roommate Or Subletting
If you are planning on inviting a roommate (the non-furry kind this time) or subletting your apartment in Dubai when you are away, it’s legally mandatory to check with your landlord first and seek approval. There are rules regarding sharing occupation that you have to follow.
We have all been there. Your friend tells you they are looking for a place to live. The lovely friend that you are, you extend a helping hand and invite them to share your apartment. But before your friend or any other roommates move in, seek permission from your landlord and go through the registration process via Ejari.
We also recommend that you keep your landlord informed if you have friends or family staying for a long time so that later it doesn’t become a problem.
Damage to Fixtures and Fittings
It can be a little daunting to inform your landlord if anything breaks or stops working in your house. Often, you may be worried that you will have to pay to fix a broken window or replace a light fixture that’s come off the wall. You might even end up losing your security deposit over a broken cabinet!
If you have been thinking of fixing anything yourself instead of telling your landlord, please don’t. You may end up causing more damage, or worse still, hurt yourself. Be proactive and seek clarity about these things before signing the lease. Be clear about who is responsible about general wear and tear or other damages.
Pests And Infestations
Have you been having sleepless nights thanks to bed bugs sucking the lifeblood out of you? Roaches running amok in your kitchen? Tell your landlord. It’s important to deal with pests and infestations, as they can be serious health hazards.
You may be tempted to try DIY methods to get rid of pests, but sometimes what your house needs is some good old pest control. There are many companies offering pest control services in Dubai. Before taking the plunge, make sure to get approval from your landlord.
Maintenance Issues
Are you seeing large patches of moisture on your ceiling? Is there some unsightly mould in the bathrooms? All maintenance issues have to be reported at the earliest to the landlord, so no secrets here! And as per the law, the homeowner has to bear maintenance costs, so you have tenancy rights on your side in this scenario. However, the important thing to understand here is that you simply cannot wait to inform your landlord.
That patch of moisture may soon turn into a pile of rubble and a giant gaping hole in your ceiling if you put off this conversation. And we don’t want that, do we? So, here is another one of the things never to hide from your landlord.
Changes To Your Rental Home
Now, you don’t need to call your landlord if you are changing the sheets. But if you are putting in a new sink, or putting up a partition in the living room, you need to tell your landlord.
According to Dubai law under the RERA guidelines, you have to inform your landlord, and they need to procure the necessary permissions for you. This too will fall under one of the basic landlord rights in Dubai and they can evict you if they find any unauthorised changes. So do yourself a favour, and don’t keep this one a secret from your landlord!
Losing Your Keys
This is probably the toughest conversation on the list. You know you have messed up so instead of hiding this highly crucial information, immediately inform your landlord that you have lost your keys. Even if you have friends who have spare keys and you can make copies off them, still tell your landlord.
Unless someone who knows where you stay has deliberately picked up your keys, or you are one of those people that keeps your keys with your address printed over it, there is a very small chance that whoever has your key will be able to locate your house and break into it. So some landlords may choose to not change the locks at all and will simply get a spare key made.
This is among the things you should never lie to your landlord, simply because they are likely to find out.
FAQS ABOUT THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER HIDE FROM YOUR LANDLORD AND MORE
WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS OF LANDLORD IN DUBAI?
Read our explainer to learn about the rights of landlords in Dubai to make sure everyone is aware of their responsibilities.
WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS OF TENANTS IN DUBAI?
Go through our explainer on tenant rights in Dubai to ensure everyone is getting their due.
Practice these golden nuggets of wisdom when it comes to keeping secrets from your landlord. It will go a long way in building their trust in you. Landlord rights and tenancy rights are in place so that you can find the right balance in your relationship with your homeowner. So always think before you make a decision that could jeopardise your comfort or theirs. If you are still on the lookout for that dream rental, don’t forget to check out some of the popular areas to live in Dubai.
