Abu Dhabi · Renting guide
In an Abu Dhabi summer a failed AC is not a comfort issue, it is an emergency. Knowing whether the repair is yours or your landlord's - before it happens - saves days of back-and-forth.
StringsSG · Updated
The legal starting point
Leasing in the emirate is governed by Abu Dhabi Law No. 20 of 2006 and its amendments. In general, the landlord must keep the property fit for use and carry out necessary maintenance and repairs, while the tenant must use the property properly and handle the minor upkeep that comes with day-to-day use. The lease can allocate responsibilities differently, which is why the contract wording matters.
General information only, not legal advice. Check your lease and seek advice for a specific dispute.
Villas vs apartments
Villas
Leases for villas more often make the tenant responsible for routine servicing of the many AC units, sometimes with a cap per repair above which the landlord pays.
Apartments
In managed buildings, the landlord or building manager may arrange AC maintenance centrally, and district-cooled towers maintain the central plant themselves.
A practical approach
- 1
Before signing
Find the maintenance clause. Ask who handles AC servicing, what counts as "minor", and any value cap.
- 2
At move-in
Test every unit and record faults in the handover report.
- 3
During the lease
Do the upkeep that is yours and keep the reports.
- 4
When something breaks
Notify the landlord in writing with photos and a technician's diagnosis.
If repairs are refused
Send a written request with a deadline. If the landlord still refuses a repair that is theirs under the lease and the law, you can bring a claim before the rental disputes committee. Keep paying rent while you do - withholding it can count against you.
Get the fault in writing
A diagnosis visit (AED 81.88) gives you the fault and the repair quote to send to your landlord.
