My Dubai landlord wants me to pay for painting before I move out - is this fair?

This is one of the most common move-out disputes in Dubai and the answer depends on two things: the condition of the walls when you moved in and how long you have lived there.

Under UAE tenancy law, landlords cannot deduct costs for fair wear and tear from a tenant's deposit. Paint naturally fades, scuffs, and marks with normal day-to-day living. After three years of tenancy, scuffed and marked paint on walls is entirely normal and cannot be charged to the tenant. The paint has effectively reached the end of its useful life.

Your landlord can legitimately charge for painting only if: you painted the walls a different colour without permission, you caused damage significantly beyond normal wear and tear (large holes, deep gouges, significant staining), or you smoked indoors leaving nicotine staining.

The practical steps: first, check your move-in condition report. If the walls were listed as freshly painted at move-in and your tenancy has been relatively short, there is more of an argument for the landlord. After three or more years, there is not.

If you believe the deduction is unfair, file a dispute with the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre via the Dubai REST app. The fee is 3.5% of annual rent (minimum AED 500, maximum AED 20,000). The process is straightforward and designed for exactly these situations.

BidMyJob.ae connects you with professional painters in Dubai if you decide it is easier to repaint before moving out.