Leasing Law DIFC Law No. 1 of 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