Is my landlord responsible for appliances in my Dubai rental?
My landlord is saying that the washing machine and fridge that came with my Dubai apartment are not his responsibility to fix or replace when they break. He says appliances are 'white goods' and the tenant's problem. Is he right? Are landlords responsible for appliances in Dubai?
1 Answer
10 May 2026
Your landlord is wrong, and this is one of the most commonly misrepresented obligations in Dubai tenancy. Under UAE Law No. 26 of 2007, landlords are legally required to maintain all fixtures and fittings present at the start of the tenancy in good working order. This includes appliances.
The term 'white goods' has no special legal status in UAE tenancy law. A washing machine, fridge, oven, or dishwasher that was present when you moved in — or listed on your tenancy contract or inventory checklist — is the landlord's responsibility to repair or replace when it fails through normal use.
The landlord's claim only has any basis if the appliance failure was caused by tenant misuse or negligence — for example, overloading a washing machine repeatedly or misusing a fridge. Normal mechanical failure after years of use is entirely the landlord's cost.
What to do: check your tenancy contract — do the appliances appear in the inventory? Send your landlord a formal WhatsApp notice stating the appliance has failed through normal use and requesting repair or replacement within 7 days. If they refuse, file a maintenance complaint with RERA through the Dubai REST app. Keep all communication in writing.
— BidMyJob Advice Team | support@bidmyjob.ae