Most tenants begin packing a week before the move and then discover the paperwork, the repairs and the cleaning all need time too. Four weeks is a comfortable window.
Check your notice period. It's in your tenancy contract. In Dubai, the landlord or tenant normally needs to give formal notice before the contract ends, so don't rely on a verbal message or a WhatsApp.
Read the handover clause. It tells you what condition the landlord expects. Some want a repaint, others accept normal wear.
Book your mover early if you're leaving at the end of the month, because those dates fill quickly.
Walk through with the move-in photos. If you took photos or a condition report when you arrived, compare. Anything that was already damaged is not yours to fix.
Fix the small stuff. Nail holes, scuffed walls, loose door handles, broken blinds, a cracked socket cover. Small repairs add up to a big deduction if the landlord does them.
Book painting or touch-ups if the walls need it, and a handyman for anything else.
Clean properly. A deep clean is worth it. Oven, fridge, bathroom grout, balcony and windows are the spots landlords check.
Service the AC. A clean filter and a working unit avoid an argument. Many contracts require AC maintenance on handover.
Arrange the utility close-out. Contact DEWA to close your account and settle the final bill, and cancel internet and TV subscriptions. Keep the receipts.
Take your own photos of every room once it's empty and clean. Date them if you can.
Return all keys, access cards and parking permits, and ask for a written acknowledgement.
Do the inspection with the landlord or agent present, and don't sign anything you disagree with.
Ask in writing how long the refund will take, and keep every message. If there's a dispute over deductions, your photos and the move-in report are your evidence.
Painting, deep cleaning, AC servicing, handyman repairs. Tell us your move-out date and we'll line up the people you need.
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