Mario Volpi: Abu Dhabi renter is confused whether animals are allowed on property

Pet owners looking to rent an apartment must seek approval from the landlord and the owner's association or building manager.

Whether a cat or dog is allowed in an apartment is the call of the landlord and building management company. Courtesy Jennifer Stewart

Are pets allowed in apartment blocks in Abu Dhabi? I've viewed apartments in a particular tower with three agents and each gives me a different answer as to whether I am allowed my pet. Finally, one of them told me to go to the head manager and said it would probably be "my own responsibility". What does that mean? I've seen many people with their dogs. RH, Abu Dhabi

Any pet owners wishing to rent an apartment must initially seek the approval of their landlord to see if he or she will allow cats/dogs etc to live in their property. After obtaining this approval, a tenant or apartment owner must then seek the approval of the owner’s association or building managers, who in turn take their lead directly from the municipality.

Pet ownership while living in an apartment can be stressful because rules and regulations can change, so even if approvals for pets are given, these could easily be revoked if different regulations are brought in at a later date.

My husband and I were about to rent a villa in Dubai owned by an Egyptian gentleman who I was told "travels a lot" and therefore would not be available to sign a rental agreement, so he has given Power of Attorney (PoA) to a Lebanese lady who lives in Sharjah. They have given me a copy of the PoA, which is in Arabic. The rental agency appears to be professional but did not tell me about the PoA until I was about to sign. The rent (it's a brand new property) is 20 per cent below the market rate. Should we be worried? Is there anything that could go wrong? MK Dubai

As with any tenancy, it is important that you do your due diligence. Certainly a property being let for much less than the market rate can seem suspicious, but if you take the following steps you should be OK.

Firstly you need to verify who the owner is, therefore you need to see the title deed. Double check that the name on this document marries up with the name on the passport. As there is a PoA, this also needs to be thoroughly checked. Does it have all the correct details and do these check out with passport copies? Has it been verified by the Dubai Courts with a stamp? Is it still valid? Do not be afraid to ask questions.

Lastly and most importantly, only write the rental cheque(s) in the name that is on the title deed. Do not be persuaded to write the cheque in the name of the PoA. This is your only form of protection against possible fraud. If the PoA insists that the cheque should be in her name, then walk away from the deal.

I rented a short-term shared bedroom apartment on a monthly basis. The landlord never said how much notice I had to give to leave. When I cancelled with a week's notice, he said that the policy is 10 days. So now I won't get my deposit back. But that was never discussed or agreed or signed. I've lost my deposit and I can't afford that. Besides WhatsApp conversations, there are no formal agreements. What would be the right steps to take here? KH, Dubai

Given that there are no written agreements in place (contract), you are really at the mercy of future mutual negotiations and understanding between the landlord and yourself. At this stage, there is little that can be done other than to medi­ate further with the landlord. Even though I do not know how much the deposit is, I can imagine it is not an amount that can be wasted, but getting a deposit back by legal means can be time-consuming and expensive. This has to be taken into account before taking matters further. While I’m not certain they can help, I suggest you also speak to the police.

Mario Volpi is the chief sales officer for Kensington Exclusive Properties and has worked in the property industry for over 30 years in London and Dubai. The opinions expressed do not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Please send any questions to [e-mail].

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