07 Jan 2020
14 Jan 2020
Part 1: GENERAL .........................................................................................................................................................1
1. Title ......................................................................................................................................................................1
2. Legislative authority..............................................................................................................................................1
3. Application of this Law..........................................................................................................................................1
4. Purpose of this Law...............................................................................................................................................1
5. Date of enactment ................................................................................................................................................1
6. Date of commencement.........................................................................................................................................1
7. Schedules .............................................................................................................................................................1
8. Administration of the Law ....................................................................................................................................1
9. The power of the DIFCA to make Regulations........................................................................................................1
Part 2: GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF LEASES ...............................................................................................................3
10. Leases must be in writing...................................................................................................................................3
11. Invalid terms .......................................................................................................................................................3
12. Use of Leased Premises.......................................................................................................................................3
13. Lessee must not cause nuisance or interference ..............................................................................................3
14. Quiet Enjoyment ..................................................................................................................................................3
15. Rent payments.....................................................................................................................................................3
16. Fees, charges and taxes ....................................................................................................................................3
17. Prohibition on disconnecting utility services .....................................................................................................4
18. Transfer of Leased Premises by Lessor...............................................................................................................4
19. Registration of Leases........................................................................................................................................4
Part 3: SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL LEASES...............................................................................................5
20. Application of this Part 3 ....................................................................................................................................5
21. Residential Lease preparation costs ..................................................................................................................5
22. Security Deposits ...............................................................................................................................................5
23. Condition reports.................................................................................................................................................5
24. Security Deposit scheme ....................................................................................................................................6
25. Proceedings in respect of non-payment of Security Deposits............................................................................7
26. Obligations on expiry or termination of Residential Leases ...............................................................................7
27. Refunds of Security Deposits..............................................................................................................................7
28. Application to Court by Lessee ...........................................................................................................................8
29. Application to Court by Lessor ...........................................................................................................................8
30. Transfers..............................................................................................................................................................8
31. Rent increases ...................................................................................................................................................8
32. Lessee’s liability for various utility charges........................................................................................................9
33. Lessor’s liability for various charges .................................................................................................................9
34. Avoiding damage and cleanliness of Residential Premises................................................................................9
35. Repair notices.....................................................................................................................................................9
36. Lessee must not install fixtures without consent............................................................................................10
37. Lessor’s obligation in relation to provision of Residential Premises ...............................................................10
38. Lessor’s obligation to maintain Residential Premises......................................................................................10
39. Urgent Repairs ..................................................................................................................................................10
40. Application to Court for Urgent Repairs.............................................................................................................11
41. Application to Court for non-Urgent Repairs.....................................................................................................11
42. Entry of Residential Premises ...........................................................................................................................11
43. Conditions of Entry............................................................................................................................................11
44. Manner of entry..................................................................................................................................................12
45. Notice of entry...................................................................................................................................................12
46. Lessee’s obligation to permit entry ..................................................................................................................12
47. Damage caused during entry ............................................................................................................................12
Part 4: SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR RETAIL LEASES .....................................................................................................13
48. Application of this Part 4 ..................................................................................................................................13
49. Key-money and goodwill payments prohibited .................................................................................................13
Part 5: TERMINATION OF LEASES................................................................................................................................14
50. Application of this Part 5 ..................................................................................................................................14
51. Termination of Lease ........................................................................................................................................14
52. Termination by agreement ................................................................................................................................14
53. Termination without a Court order.....................................................................................................................14
54. Termination by Court order.................................................................................................................................14
55. Termination in other circumstances .................................................................................................................15
56. Registration of termination................................................................................................................................15
57. Surrendering a Lease.........................................................................................................................................15
58. Statutory lien over Lessee’s assets left at the Leased Premises.....................................................................15
59. Exercise of Statutory Lien..................................................................................................................................15
60. Sale of Lessee’s assets left at the Leased Premises........................................................................................16
Part 6: MISCELLANEOUS ............................................................................................................................................17
61. Words and expressions in Instruments under Law............................................................................................17
62. Reference to Instrument is reference to Instrument completed in Approved Form..........................................17
63. Service of notices..............................................................................................................................................17
64. Deemed receipt in certain cases.......................................................................................................................17
65. Registrar’s Directives........................................................................................................................................17
66. Contraventions of this Law ...............................................................................................................................18
67. Orders by Registrar in relation to breaches of this Law ...................................................................................18
Schedule 1.................................................................................................................................................................19
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