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[MrScaramanga]

80-90K for a 2br... Maybe 2 years ago... 150 big ones is it will cost ya! I actually visited a 1 br dump for 110K!!! Living room the size of a shoebox and hardly any windows...

Real estate agents are now charging to visit a place: AED100 a pop!

Unbelievable is right! It is also true that construction is not catching up fast enough with the shortage, hence staff in hotels for months and skyrocketing prices.

All this is starting to make Dubai look good. Who knew?

[like2answer]

delete

[saluki]

There may be hope for those in that situation. I recently came across this extract from the housing law. Sorry it's so long - I couldn't track down a link.

Chapter VII
Vacating Reasons


Article (23)

Without prejudice to the provision of Article (20) of this law, the lessor may not request the Leased Premises to be vacated except for one of the following reasons:

1. If the Lessee fails to settle the Rent due within the dates specified in Article (11) of this law. However, it shall not be permissible to issue a decision to vacate the Leases Premises if the Lessee paid, before the settlement of the case, the Rent due along with all the adjudication expenses incurred by the Lessor. If the Lessee�s delay in payment of the Rent was repeated without an acceptable justification then it shall be permissible to issue a vacation order.

2. If the lessee assigns or sub-lets the Leased Premises in full or in part in any way whatsoever except in the case of approval or consent stated in Article (17) of this law.

3. If the Lessee or the sub-lessee occupy the Leased Premises with a number of tenants which exceed the customarily number for residing..

4. If the lessee use the Leased Premises or permits for it to be used in a manner contrary to the lease conditions, harm the lessor�s interest or use it for different purposes for which it was leased for.

5. If the Lessee use the Leased Premises or permits for it be used in a manner that is harmful to health, disturbing to peace or violating the public order and morals.

6. If the Lessor wishes to demolish the Leased Premises to rebuild it, build more stories to it, add to it or alter it, provided that:

- In the case of demolish to rebuild or alteration, the property shall be at least fifteen years old.

- The owner obtains the necessary permits from the competent authorities.

- It was not possible to undertake the building of more stories or addition with the Lessee remaining in the Leased Premises. The building of more stories or addition shall commence after the Committee issues a decision that this condition is fulfilled and for that purpose, the Committee may seek assistance of experts as it deems appropriate to ascertain this.

- The alteration is not limited to the Leased Premises excluding the rest of the building.

- The Lessee is granted a period of six months as of the date of issuing the required permits from the competent authorities in order to vacate the Leased Premises.

- The previous Lessee shall have the priority to lease the premises after rebuilding, building more stories , addition or alteration.

If the owner did not undertake the rebuilding, building more stories, addition or alteration works after obtaining the required permits and vacating the premises, a decision may be issued in favor of the Lessee to re-occupy the premises and compensate him or either of them, and the Committee shall decide the suitable amount of compensation provided that it does not exceed one year�s Rent.

7. If the owner of the property desires to occupy the Leased Premises for residence provided that he does not own another properly for residence within the Municipality area in which the Leased Premises is located, in that case:

- The Lessee must be notified six months prior to the expiry date of the lease contract.

- The owner must actually occupy the Leased Premises after it was vacated from the Lessee for a continuous period of one year.

If the Leased Premises was not actually occupied by the owner within three months from the vacation date without an acceptable justification or was occupied by the owner for a period less than one year or if the owner leases the Leased Premises to another Lessee after it is being vacated, the Committee may issue a decision in favor of the Lessee to re-occupy the premises and for compensation or for either of them. The Committee shall decide the appropriate compensation amount provided that it does not exceed the amount of one year�s Rent.

In all cases, the Committee may grant the Lessee the appropriate period of time to vacate provided that it does not exceed six months.

[MrScaramanga]

or...
item 8 - landlord claims he wants to remodel building/unit... gets rid of tenant... pretends to live in building/unit for a year... eventually rents unit for much more $$$.
Meanwhile tenant looks for another place and eventually must pay much more $$$.
This is an everyday occurrence in the UAE and particularly in Abu Dhabi. How much enforcement of housing laws can one expect really?

MrS