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EWmums

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ewmoda

Is it safe handing over 1 cheque to agents? I'm a bit worried about this...

40

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 14:58

My husband & I have found a villa that is approx 15000 aed under other villas of that type? It seems a really good deal but the villa has never been lived in, apparently the owner was waiting to the last minute to get the mortgage? I dont want to say to much about the area incase someone else gets in there now before us. I am moving over with my 9 month old little boy to be with husband who is already out there & his company will pay 1 cheque but i'm worried if there is something not right? It seems strange that it has never been lived in when so many others have been finished for quite a while around the area. Its not a new development. Is it very common for people to get skammed by agents in Dubai & any ideas on how we can check this out? Thanks for any help!!

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bowbellscowbell...

304

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 09:23

We rang the DLD just this past week and they confirmed that the notice period is one year not 90 days if the landlord wishes to move in. A colleague has an issue with her landlord at the moment in supplying her with a title deed and has tried all avenues with the DLD who said there is nothing they can do and she must obtain a copy of the title deed from the owner. Like all things in Dubai though, it depends on who you speak to and regulations change all the time, sometimes they are not even publicised. Information copied from the RERA website and I am sitting the RERA exams at the moment. "A Landlord must provide 90 days notice to a tenant if the lease is not permitted to be renewed by the Tenant, this is only acceptable if the Owner or his/her immediate family are moving into the property. The Termination Notice must be served on the Tenant on the approved Form"

310

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 08:41

Title deeds are not always available. We own our apartment and 2 years on we still don't have the title deeds. If you need proof of ownership you can always ask for the 1st page or first 2 pages of the contract. This gives you the name of the landlord as well as the details required to show that he is truly the owner of the property. I vaguely remember someone complaining that they had handed an agent a cheque and deposit money only to discover that the so called agent had conned them and that the property was not his? So many properties are left open during the day so it would be easy for these guys to "show" the property to potential clients and then make them pay upfront.

332

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 08:30

We rang the DLD just this past week and they confirmed that the notice period is one year not 90 days if the landlord wishes to move in. A colleague has an issue with her landlord at the moment in supplying her with a title deed and has tried all avenues with the DLD who said there is nothing they can do and she must obtain a copy of the title deed from the owner. Like all things in Dubai though, it depends on who you speak to and regulations change all the time, sometimes they are not even publicised.

bowbellscowbell...

304

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 22:56

My husband & I have found a villa that is approx 15000 aed under other villas of that type? It seems a really good deal but the villa has never been lived in, apparently the owner was waiting to the last minute to get the mortgage? I dont want to say to much about the area incase someone else gets in there now before us. I am moving over with my 9 month old little boy to be with husband who is already out there & his company will pay 1 cheque but i'm worried if there is something not right? It seems strange that it has never been lived in when so many others have been finished for quite a while around the area. Its not a new development. Is it very common for people to get skammed by agents in Dubai & any ideas on how we can check this out? Thanks for any help!! Great job but to be honest it's a renters market ... your agent should have a RERA Brokers number .. you can ring RERA and check this number and its authenticity. Real Estate Regulatory Agency Call Center : +971 - 4 - 222 - 1112 Fax No : +971 - 4 - 221 - 5533 If he/she is a registered broker they will have a Registered Broker Card - this is an ID card with their full details on and it should state their company that they work for - the Broker Card is renewable every year and carries their photo ID. Each time they move companies - the RERA card should be reapplied for ... and will state the registered company details ( each company is registered with RERA ) The RERA regulations are very strict on transactions - some companies are better than others -

40

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 22:47

Thankyou very much for all your replies, its very helpful.

bowbellscowbell...

304

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 22:43

Be sure to get a copy of the landlord's passport and a copy of the title deed (to prove ownership) when signing the tenancy agreement and handing over the cheque. You will then be able to register yourself as a tenant under the Ijara service which means that should you ever enter into a dispute with your landlord, you will be able to go to RERA to have the matter heard. I have recently done this myself on the advice of a lawyer. When you are registered for example, your landlord MUST give you one year's notice if he or she intends to move into the property. It doesn't cost anything to register and the PRO at your husband's work may be able to arrange this for you. yes ... provided the company you are handing your cheque to is a RERA registered Broker. they should have given you a reciept on headed reciept paper - they will normally take a copy of the cheque and get the LL to sign the photocopy as recieved. To check legal ownership you will need a copy of the title deed.Check this with the DLD (Dubai Land Department) as the PLOT number differs from the actual address details.(plots came before the streets ....) You LL has a legal obligation to give you a notice period = this is 90 days. Not one year .. this is incorrect RERA regulation states that the LL may give the tenant notice if he himself wishes to occupy the property for his own use . This cannot be for any other reson besides his personal use, no brothers,sisters,mothers , fathers etc etc . Handing over one cheque for payment of your lease gives you greater negotiating power in the initial stages of negotiation ..

332

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 19:43

Be sure to get a copy of the landlord's passport and a copy of the title deed (to prove ownership) when signing the tenancy agreement and handing over the cheque. You will then be able to register yourself as a tenant under the Ijara service which means that should you ever enter into a dispute with your landlord, you will be able to go to RERA to have the matter heard. I have recently done this myself on the advice of a lawyer. When you are registered for example, your landlord MUST give you one year's notice if he or she intends to move into the property. It doesn't cost anything to register and the PRO at your husband's work may be able to arrange this for you.

213

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 17:37

Also make sure that you get a copy of the agent's passport and UAE visa just in case

2192

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 16:53

A Family member managed to pick up a Huuuuuge standalone villa in Al Barsha for 90 K one cheque and this is a 5 bed sep maid accomodation affair .. I was shocked at the price as he reduced it by about 25 K for her and wanted her to move in quickly. She was also really surprised about the big discount and also the price. Turns out the owner needed to pay money asap as he was getting hassel from the bank. As long as you get copies recipts and stamps and check with RERA you should be okay .. good luck.

AdviceSeeker13702

1100

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 16:39

Yes I agree get Proof of ownership and a copy of the owners passport and UAE Visa. My landlord doesn't have a UAE visa, and he's a fab landlord with no problems, so in some cases they may not have a UAE visa, but at least get the contact details (email, phone, mobile whatever you can get)

2043

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 16:13

Yes I agree get Proof of ownership and a copy of the owners passport and UAE Visa.

AdviceSeeker13702

1100

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 16:12

I am sure when we did this the cheque is made out to the owner/landlord of the apartment and not the owner, but as Laura321 says - do that too, to be sure. I thought this was the case as well, however there was a thread a little while ago and apparently the cheque can be made out to the agent in some cases... I personally would only want to do it if the cheque was in the owners name though.

AdviceSeeker13702

1100

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 16:11

Yes, make sure you check the agent is registered with RERA and then before you hand over the cheque take a photocopy of it, write on the paper this cheque is for the rental of property xxxxx from date xxx to date xxxx handed to agent xxxx on date xxx And both of you sign it.

26

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 16:06

I am sure when we did this the cheque is made out to the owner/landlord of the apartment and not the owner, but as Laura321 says - do that too, to be sure.

cleanfreak36299

61

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 16:00

PLEASE BE CAREFUL. always make sure to see the proof of purchase that it is their apartmetn they are renting to you. I had 50,000 AED stolen from me this time last year. i have just finished paying the debt that it caused when the courts evicted me. I know it sounds melodramatic but it is true.

68

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 15:04

Also...we managed to get 30,000aed off our rent this year! so maybe he just needs the money and wants to rent it quickly as it was overpriced for the market in the first place!

68

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 15:02

Whenever you hand over a cheque to an agent. Photocopy the cheque and get the agent to sign, date and stamp the photocopy with his business credentials hope this helps

374

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 15:00

Maybe it was not lived in because it was priced too high and nobody bought it before now? Are you renting via an agent? Which agent is it?

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