KT reader wants to know whether her/his landlord can charge her/him for cleaning, pest control treatment and painting costs upon moving out
What the source says
Move-out costs in Dubai: Are tenants liable for cleaning, repainting charges? | Khaleej Times
Transport Crime Education Legal Weather Emergencies Jobs KT Engage UAE Holidays Banking in UAE Visa & Immigration Living in the UAE Schools & Parents Ramadan 2026 Global Indians
Galadari BrothersPaid Program Innovation CityPaid Program Investing Real Estate Energy Aviation Leadership Lists KT Network
KT reader wants to know whether her/his landlord can charge her/him for cleaning, pest control treatment and painting costs upon moving out PUBLISHED: Sun 24 May 2026, 9:55 AM
Question: I am moving out of my Dubai apartment this month. However, the real estate agency has sent me an email saying that, during the pre-move-out inspection, they found that the unit requires cleaning, pest control treatment and painting or repainting, and that I have to pay for these. Is this legal? What are my rights in this situation?
Iran says will not take tolls on Hormuz, management belongs to ‘coastal countries’ Iranian officials in Qatar for talks to end war, release frozen funds Agreement may be cancelled due to US obstructing some clauses: Iran’s Tasnim UAE resident, 5-year-old daughter found dead in Sharjah’s Al Nahda UAE’s Eid Al Adha 2026 prayer timings: What you need to know
In the emirate of Dubai, it is the responsibility of a tenant to maintain a rented apartment in a good condition and should make any changes with the prior consent of a landlord. This is in accordance with Article 19 of the Law No. 26 of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlord and Tenants in Dubai (the ‘Dubai Rent Law’), which 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 obligations to carry out any restoration that is agreed upon or which is customary for tenants to undertake, the tenant may not make any changes to carry out any restoration or maintenance works in the real property without obtaining the permission of the landlord and the necessary licenses from the competent official entities.
Why this matters for Brics
The development described in “Move-out costs in Dubai: Are tenants liable for cleaning, repainting charges?” is relevant for Brics because it connects United Arab Emirates with a wider market update signal that may influence investor confidence, property demand, market access or cross-border strategy.
For Brics Real Estate readers, the value is not only the headline itself. The important question is how this development connects to cross-border capital, investor confidence, local demand, infrastructure, payment routes, regulation and the practical steps buyers need before entering a market.
Property and investment implications
For buyers and investors looking at United Arab Emirates, this update should be reviewed against location quality, developer credibility, liquidity, rental demand, ownership rules, financing conditions and exit strategy. A news signal becomes useful only when it is connected to real property fundamentals.
Brics member markets are increasingly linked by trade, travel, capital flows and policy decisions. That makes market intelligence more valuable for investors who compare multiple jurisdictions before choosing where to buy, hold or partner.
What to watch next
Before acting on this update, buyers should monitor implementation details, local market response, transaction costs, available property supply and any follow-up announcements from official or market sources.
Brics Real Estate can use this source as a starting point for a deeper market insight, adding local context, investor relevance and a clear next step for buyers or partners who want to compare opportunities across Brics markets.
Source: www.khaleejtimes.com
Why this is interesting for Brics readers
The development described in “Move-out costs in Dubai: Are tenants liable for cleaning, repainting charges?” is relevant for Brics because it connects United Arab Emirates with a wider market update signal that may influence investor confidence, property demand, market access or cross-border strategy.
For Brics Real Estate, this kind of source is useful because it can be translated into buyer questions: where demand may strengthen, which locations may benefit, what policy or infrastructure details matter, and how international investors should compare the market with other Brics member countries.
How to connect this signal to property decisions
A market update becomes actionable only when it is tested against property fundamentals. Buyers should look at ownership rules, transaction costs, rental demand, developer track record, liquidity, currency exposure, financing routes and the intended holding period before making a decision.
The Brics connection matters because member markets do not move in isolation. Trade relationships, payment infrastructure, travel flows, regulation and investor sentiment can make one market more attractive when compared with Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
