Ending a tenancy in Dubai — what to check and put right before handover to protect your deposit?
Coming to the end of a tenancy and I want to get the deposit back without a fight. I've heard landlords here can be strict about handover condition and AC servicing. What should I actually check, clean and repair before handing back, and how do I protect myself against deductions for things that were either normal wear or already there when I moved in? Trying to leave it in a state that gives them nothing to hold onto.
2 answers
Deposit disputes almost always come down to condition and evidence, so handle both. Hand the place back clean and in the state you took it, allowing for fair wear and tear (faded paint and minor marks are normal; holes, stains and broken fittings are chargeable); fix the small things you actually caused; and check your contract for an AC-servicing clause, many require a service certificate at handover. The protective half is documentation: do a final walk-through with dated photos mirroring your move-in ones, so anything pre-existing can't be pinned on you, this is exactly why the move-in inspection checklist matters at the start. Know the line between fair wear and damage, and don't over-repair, repainting a whole flat you only lived in a year is often unnecessary. If the contract demands an AC service, get it done and keep the certificate; the thread on what a proper AC service actually includes is a useful reference for what you're paying for. Clean condition plus a photo record is what leaves them nothing to hold onto. For the make-good list, a finishing and snagging team can patch, fill and repaint so the place hands back clean.
The AC-service certificate catches people out, ours was a contract requirement and they'd have deducted without it. And do keep your move-in photos, they're the whole game if there's a dispute over what was already marked.
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