Property business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is booming. Due to many foreign investments from all parts of the world, expatriates are exploring the UAE real estate sector. Every emirate has its land department, such as Dubai has the Dubai Land Department (DLD), and Sharjah has the Sharjah Land Department (SLD). These land departments rule the property regulations for the nationals and the non-nationals.
Role of the Sharjah Land Department
The Sharjah Land Department (SLD) is responsible for managing the ownership of every property of the emirate. It has to ensure that the property has legal compliance with the UAE property laws, ensuring to prevent fraud or any kind of misrepresentation. Besides that, after the property has been registered, the title deed is issued by SLD to have an of the property ownership. Further, SLD has to do mapping and land surveys to resolve the land disputes in Sharjah. In case of inheritance, the SLD has to ensure transfer of property is conducted as per the Sharia law and the UAE civil codes. The lawyers in Sharjah can help buyers and sellers document property rights and rules.
Legal Procedures at the Land Department
The real estate transactions at SLD are conducted systematically. The sale and purchase agreement has to be signed between both parties. The documents are verified for ownership, including the Emirates IDs. The SLD has to ensure that the registration fees and transfer charges are made timely. However, the mortgages or encumbrances on the property shall be cleared. The last step involves the issuance of a title deed in the name of the new owner of the property.
Hiring lawyers in Sharjah is a good decision for individuals who want to buy, sell, or transfer property in the UAE. They know the SRERD procedures and guide clients as per their needs and requirements.
The Rental Department in Sharjah
It is also known as the Sharjah Rent Regulation Department, has to manage matters related to rents, property owners, and tenants. They have to monitor rental contract registration, resolve rental disputes, and regulate compliance between the landlords and tenants. In such cases, mediation is also enforced. The Sharjah Municipality oversees the operations of real estate to ensure the best legal practices for the landlords and tenants.
How is a Tenancy Contract Registered?
It is mandatory to register all rental contracts in the Rental Department of Sharjah. The process is conducted through Tawteeq or Ejari registration. The process involves the submission of the tenancy contract, documents for verification including the landlord’s title deed, registration fee to the municipality, and to generation of an official rental contract certificate. There could be several legal consequences if the tenancy contract is not registered in Sharjah or any services of municipal are denied or rejected.
Rent Dispute Resolution
There could be rental disputes in Sharjah and each resolution leads to a better situation. The disputes between the landlord and tenants vary from rent increases to the non-payment of rent and disagreements about security deposits. The Sharjah Rent Disputes Committee handles such disputes with the Rental Department. However, it offers mediation services. The landlords and the tenants are encouraged to present a valid rental contract, payment records, and communication that they did to resolve the dispute on their own.
Rental Laws and Tenant’s Rights in Sharjah
When it comes to tenancy agreements, Sharjah has special rules and regulations to avoid rental disputes. One of the laws says that a minimum contract duration is one year for the rental property. Most importantly, the landlords should know that the rent cannot be increased in the first three years of the contract. However, the tenants must receive written notice 90 days before the contract or the rent has to be renewed. It is also clarified in the rental laws and rights that the landlords are responsible for major repairs and structural issues. However, the tenants should maintain the property by fixing the minor damages such as emergency plumbing. They should return the house in good shape. The legal representation from lawyers in Sharjah is helpful in resolving rental disputes.
Eviction and Legal Termination
Immediate eviction in Sharjah is not allowed. The eviction goes through a proper legal process. A written eviction notice is served by the property owner to the tenant, three months before the lease expires. An eviction can happen for a solid reason, otherwise it is prohibited. These reasons could be either the non-payment of the rent or illegal activities conducted on the property. If there is a violation in the eviction, the tenant can make a complaint to the Ren Disputes Committee with the help of lawyers in Sharjah.
Digital Transformation in Sharjah Real Estate
Sharjah has also made a digital transformation in its land departments. Services like property registration, verification of the deed, contract renewal, and appointments with legal professionals can be conducted online.
The digital services have improved the efficiency in the rental departments of Sharjah, saving time for individuals as they can be done with verification, online. Transparency is also enhanced throughout the process. The lawyers in Sharjah provide legal services, despite the online services are available.
FAQs
1. Is it mandatory to register property purchases in Sharjah?
The property shall be registered with the Sharjah Land Department; otherwise, legal repercussions are serious.
2. Can I rent a property without registering the contract?
No property can be rented in the UAE unless it is registered with the emirate’s Rental Department.
3. Where do I file a complaint against a landlord or tenant?
The rental disputes in Sharjah can be resolved through the Sharjah Rent Disputes Committee, which is monitored by the Rental Department.
4. How long does it take to resolve a rental dispute in Sharjah?
Usually, rental disputes take two weeks or four weeks to ensure legal compliance and transparency in the case.
5. Do I need a lawyer for real estate transactions in Sharjah?
It is not mandatory to hire lawyers in Sharjah for real estate transactions, but they can assure you of legal compliance in your case.