Latest news with #rentalproperty
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Are tenants allowed to make temporary changes in rental property?
Question: I'm renting a two-bedroom apartment in Dubai, and my two children currently share one of the rooms, I would like to divide their shared room into two separate spaces. I understand that structural modifications are generally not allowed in rental properties here. However, would it be legally allowed to install a non-permanent partition, like a gypsum board divider, that doesn't affect the apartment's structure? Please advise on the legality of this and whether any permissions are required for this type of modification. Answer: In Dubai, tenants are prohibited from making any changes or carrying out maintenance work in a rental property without first obtaining approval from the landlord and the relevant authorities, including but not limited to Dubai Civil Defence. This is outlined in Article 19 of Law No. 26 of 2007, which regulates the relationship between landlords and tenants in the emirate. The law states: 'A tenant must pay the rent on its due dates and must maintain the Real Property in a good condition as a reasonable person would maintain his own property. Without prejudice to the tenant's obligation to carry out any restoration that is agreed upon or which is customary for tenants to undertake, the tenant may not make any changes or carry out any restoration or maintenance works in the Real Property without obtaining the permission of the landlord and the necessary licences from the competent official entities.' Additionally, if a tenant makes changes that compromise the property's safety or cause irreparable damage, the landlord may seek eviction even before the lease term ends. This is in accordance with Article 25 (1) (e) of Law No. 33 of 2008 Amending Law No. 26 of 2007 Regulating the Relationship Between Landlords and Tenants in Dubai. 'Where the tenant makes any change to the Real Property that endangers its safety in a manner that makes it impossible to restore the Real Property to its original state; or causes damage to the Real Property as a result of his deliberate act, or his gross negligence by failing to exercise due caution and care or allowing others to cause that damage." Based on the mentioned provisions by law, while you may want to divide the room with a non-permanent partition, you should get prior approval of the landlord and the competent government authorities, including but not limited to Dubai Civil Defence.
New York Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
My Friend Hid Her Income While I Picked Up the Tab. Can I Still Trust Her?
A friend and I, both 68 years old, have known each other since high school. We've become closer in the last 15 years and now speak almost daily. My friend has always been less fortunate financially than me, so I have been generous and have included her in my will to make sure she is taken care of in her older age. Recently, she disclosed to me that she owns rental property that was willed to her 10 years ago by a late boyfriend, which she never told me about. She gets an income stream from the rental property that she deposits in the bank and doesn't spend. She says she never told me about this income stream because she felt I'd be mad and jealous. She claims that this rental property is a personal matter that she did not need to disclose. She feels she has not been deceitful in accepting my generosity, but now I feel it has been given under false pretenses. In addition, all our mutual friends know about this rental. I believe that she did not tell me about her additional income because she wanted me to consider her poorer than she is, continue to pick up the tabs and keep her in my will. The chances are good that I would have done these things anyway, even if she had told me about the rental property, because I'm still significantly better off. I am relieved that she is more financially stable than I thought. However, I feel taken advantage of and manipulated. My resentment is not about money. It's about the truthfulness that friends owe each other. Is it possible to be close to her or ever trust her again, particularly since she can't offer an apology that includes accountability? She thinks she's done nothing wrong. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
ABC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Requirement for professional carpet cleaning at end of lease ruled invalid in Tasmania
Tasmanian tenants are not necessarily required to have their carpets professionally cleaned when they vacate their rental property, despite "almost all" leases saying they are, a ruling has found. In a recent bond dispute regarding a Burnie property, the Residential Tenancy Commissioner found the tenant is only required to have the carpet professionally cleaned if they leave it in a worse state than when they began their lease. "A tenant is not responsible for carpet cleaning performed as a matter of general practice as opposed to any real need or genuine failure of the tenant, in accordance with their obligations," it states. The Tenants Union of Tasmania, which represented the tenant, said this was the first definitive ruling on the matter and was a legally enforceable decision. "It really shines a light that a blanket clause in standard tenancy agreements that says you have to have premises professionally cleaned is invalid," Tenants Union senior solicitor Andrew Smith said. "A tenant has the right not to do it, if they've left it in the same condition as when they moved in and there's proof of that. Mr Smith said despite the ruling, the condition to have carpets professionally cleaned was appearing in leases "all the time", as it was in the standard lease provided to landlords by the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania. "It is in the standard Real Estate Institute lease almost all real estate agents will use and a lot of private landlords will choose to use, even some social housing providers are using these leases," he said. The Real Estate Institute of Tasmania has declined to comment. In the case that led to this ruling, the Residential Tenancy Commissioner said the owner had provided a photo of a "small yellow stain on the carpet of one of the bedrooms, which was not recorded in the ingoing condition report". But no other photos had been supplied showing the condition of the carpet at the end of the tenant's lease. Hence, the commissioner said the tenant was only responsible for the cost of cleaning that one stain. "I will award an amount I consider reasonable given the stain in question is very small, even when photographed close up," the ruling states. "The owner is awarded $25 for carpet cleaning." The case also dealt with the cost of fumigating the property, given the tenant had a pet. The tenant had argued the same principle should apply to fumigation as carpet cleaning, but the commissioner took a different view. "While I understand they seem similar in nature, carpet cleaning is predominantly cosmetic and the requirement can be determined based on outgoing photographs," the ruling says. "Fumigation is considered a necessary measure to return the property to a hygienic state and remove pests, dander and other allergens associated with pets in the premises. "Therefore, I am satisfied that a requirement for fumigation at the end of a tenancy is reasonable and is not inconsistent with the [Residential Tenancy] Act." The Tenants Union said it did not agree entirely with the commissioner's interpretation of the law. "We think it's a similar issue and that clauses requiring professional fumigation unconditionally are also invalid if they're not required by the condition of the premises," Mr Smith said. "Say if the tenant had a dog that always stayed outside or simply a fish in a fish tank, why is a tick and flea spray required inside the premises?"
CBS News
29-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Aurora landlord summoned to court for "chronic violator property," a common issue in the Colorado city
Sitting in the sun in her inviting backyard, Lindsay Wanek finds joy in calling Aurora home for the past eight years. "I moved out here because I like diverse communities," she said. Yet the last several months haven't been so joyful due to a troubling house next door. "People started coming and going and we couldn't figure out who was living there," said Wanek. Lindsay Wanek CBS That uncertainty put Wanek on edge. It became worse, she said, when she consistently heard loud music and saw strange behavior in her neighbor's backyard. "At one point, I poked my head over the fence to ask them to turn down the music and I saw all these cars back there and people working on them," she said. "I was like, 'This is weird.'" Wanek snapped several photos showing multiple cars lined up in the backyard, as well as several vehicles being worked on in the front yard. Knowing it was a rental property, she tried reaching out to the landlord in hopes of getting answers. "I called him twice and he was just like, 'There's not an issue there.'" But to Wanek, and many of her neighbors, she says, those vehicles weren't the only issue. From mounds of trash and debris in the yards and alley behind the home to a more than busted fence, problems kept piling up. A code enforcement photo of trash in the backyard of the home in question City of Aurora "There were car registrations all over the alley and so I was like, 'Something is not right.'" So, Wanek took action again by reaching out once more to the landlord, Aurora City Council, even Aurora police. "I tried everything I possibly could and then I saw your article," she said to CBS Colorado's Kelly Werthmann. She is referring to Werthmann's coverage in April about the City of Aurora's code enforcement team encouraging residents to reach out if they have concerns about problem rental homes in the city. Wanek did just that and within a couple days, code enforcement officers showed up and cited the landlord for numerous violations, including not removing trash, unlawful vehicles, and unlawful outdoor storage. Turns out, the house next door to Wanek has been labeled as a "chronic violator property" by the city of Aurora. CBS Colorado's open records request revealed dozens of citations in the past 10 yers and now a court summons issued to the landlord. Not only does he own the house next to Wanek's, but also eight other rental homes in the area. They, too, have a lengthy history of violating city code. "I tell you what, these people are crazy," said Andris Berzins, the landlord and homeowner. Much like he told Wanek by phone, Andris Berzins told Werthmann that he doesn't see an issue with his properties. "I don't see a problem," he said. "The problem is the code enforcement. They can come over here and see a piece of paper on there and they just give me trash [citation]." Berzins said his numerous citations for things like trash, building maintenance and unlawful vehicles over the years are because he has become an unfair target of Aurora's Code Enforcement. "They decided that I am not good," Berzins said. According to public property records, more than 50 different people have lived in the 3-bedroom, 800-square foot house next to Wanek since Andris Berzins purchased it in 2008. He claims the last person who lived there unexpectedly moved out in the past six months and allowed squatters to move in. Andris Berzins CBS "So you weren't keeping track of who was living in your home?" asked Werthmann. "I didn't, no," said Berzins. "Do you create leases for them to sign?" Werthmann asked. "No," he said. "Why not?" Werthmann replied. "I don't need to," he said. Upon learning her neighboring homeowner doesn't keep track of his tenants, Wanek decided to dig a little deeper into what's happening next door. "Oh, I found the property owner's spouse is running for city council, and on her website, she's advocating for safe neighborhoods and a safe community, which is really ironic," said Wanek. Marsha Berzins, Andris Berzins' wife, is a former Aurora City Council member and is running for election this November. While she is not listed as a co-owner of the home next door to Wanek, property records indicate Marsha Berzins is co-owner of at least three other homes in Aurora that have been repeatedly cited by code enforcement. CBS Colorado reached out to Mrs. Berzins for an interview, but she declined and said she has nothing to do with those rental properties. "What are the consequences for this? There doesn't seem like there's any," Wanek said. So, CBS Colorado went back to Aurora's code enforcement office to get answers. "A lot of times when we do see repeat offenders, we have the option of what's called a chronic violator property," explained Josh King, manager of Aurora's Housing and Community Services Department, "and we can put them on that and then issue a summons going forth for repeat violations." That is now what's happening to Andris Berzins. He is due in court in June. "It may look like we're not moving fast, but unfortunately zoning cases take time," explained King, adding some cases can take years to reach a summons. CBS Colorado's Kelly Werthmann interviews Josh King, the manager of Aurora's Housing and Community Services Department. CBS King said unfortunately situations like the Berzins' properties receiving multiple citations are not uncommon in Aurora. "Do you see the need for more enforcement or more regulation around rentals in Aurora?" Werthmann asked. "That's a tough question," King replied. "No one likes over-enforcement of things, but again, we're always looking at stuff to help our community members and maybe that does involve another code being written or how we address things. I'm not opposed to change by any means. The world is evolving, and we need to evolve with it." That change can't come soon enough for neighbors like Wanek. "I think the system is broken," she said. Aurora City Council is considering an amendment to its city code related to Neglected or Derelict Buildings or Property (page 400). According to the proposal, the provisions intent to gain compliance and eliminate the burden such properties place on neighborhoods and the community in general. It passed its first reading 8-0 in a council meeting earlier this month and is up for a second reading on June 9.
Independent Singapore
22-05-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
1 in 4 rental listings in Singapore tagged as diversity-friendly through PropertyGuru's ‘Everyone Welcome' feature
Photo: PropertyGuru SINGAPORE: One in four rental listings in Singapore has been tagged 'diversity-friendly' through PropertyGuru's 'Everyone Welcome' feature, according to its press release on Wednesday (May 21). While Singapore embraces multiculturalism, one in four individuals in the city-state has faced racial bias when searching for a rental property. The feature, aimed at inclusivity, was introduced in December last year to help renters find homes where landlords welcome tenants of all races, religions, genders, and sexual orientations, while also encouraging agents and landlords to embrace diversity and inclusive practices. This is part of the property technology company's broader effort to create a fairer property market. The group also enforces comprehensive listing creation guidelines, uses a language moderation tool to detect discriminatory content, and allows property seekers to report discrimination. The 'Everyone Welcome' feature was also recently launched in Malaysia's marketplace. As part of the group's Sustainability Report 2024, it highlighted its continued adoption of the eco-conscious tool 'Green Score.' PropertyGuru launched the eco-conscious tool in 2021 to help property seekers in the city-state find eco-friendly homes. Since its launch, it has become a trusted indicator among 63% of eco-conscious property seekers. According to the group's survey last year, 72% of Singapore consumers have become interested in sustainable homes, while 68% were willing to pay more for sustainable and eco-friendly features. Building on this, the group recently launched a 'Sustainable Living' feature in its Thailand property market platform, DDproperty, to highlight homes with green features such as solar panels and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Notably, 90% of Thai property seekers are interested in sustainable homes, while 93% are willing to pay a premium. Cécile Corda, PropertyGuru's Head of Sustainability, said, 'The demand for sustainable and inclusive housing is growing, and at PropertyGuru, we're responding with actionable solutions. By equipping property seekers and real estate stakeholders with the tools to make informed, sustainable choices, we're helping to build cities that are not only resilient but grounded in principles of inclusivity, driving meaningful change in the housing market.' /TISG Read also: PropertyGuru cuts 174 jobs and shuts down 3 business units ahead of March leadership change
