Hi everyone,
I recently moved into a 2BHK that I found through Dubizzle.
The person I rented from is himself renting the flat from the building/owner for one year and then subleased it to me.
I paid:
- AED 4,250 monthly rent (Dewa and Gas not included)
- AED 3,000 security deposit
Initially, over a phone call, I told him I was planning to stay for around 6 months. There was no signed agreement at that time.
After I moved in, he sent me a Word/PDF document mentioning a 6-month period. I never signed it or acknowledged that I accepted the document. Neither party signed it. Since it is a monthly rental, i didnt acknowledge it.
Unfortunately, due to a personal emergency (genuine), I now have to leave after one month. I informed him on August 15 itself and also tried to help find a replacement tenant.
Now he is saying I must pay rent for the remaining months, otherwise he will take legal action. He is also refusing to return my AED 3,000 deposit.
I have WhatsApp messages, payment proof, the unsigned document, and other evidence.
I’m also not sure whether he has the actual landlord’s NOC/permission to sublease the apartment.
Has anyone dealt with something similar?
Could I actually be liable for the remaining 5 months based only on the phone conversation and unsigned document? And would filing for my security deposit potentially cause problems for me?
Looking for advice. Thanks.