DUBAI // A new official legal resolution centre is to be set up in Dubai with the aim of settling rent disputes in 30 days.
The centre will have the power to rule in all rent disputes, including in free zones.
Until now such disputes have dealt with by a committee at the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, but the process has been criticised for taking too long.
The new centre will provide a “simple and quick mechanism to deal with cases” and will “enhance the legal framework for rent disputes”, the state news agency Wam said.
The Rera committee will be required to accept decisions taken by the new centre.
The centre will be given a 30-day period to make a decision on a case. In complicated cases, that may be extended to 60 days.
Once the centre has ruled, appeals will be allowed only in certain cases. These include disputes concerning amounts of more than Dh100,000 and disputes over eviction notices.
The centre’s departments will be headed by judges and staffed by legal professionals.
The establisment of the new centre at the Dubai Land Department was ordered in a decree issued yesterday by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
Property business professionals welcomed it. “The committee takes a long time to agree to a settlement,” said Mario Volpi, managing director of Prestige Real Estate. “This move will mainstream the work of the committee.”
“This is a big improvement as it will speed the process,” said Craig Plumb, the head of research at Jones Lang LaSalle’s office in Dubai.
wissa@thenational.ae
