Dilapidations inspections in Dubai.
A formal record of a property's condition at the start and end of a lease, used to determine which party is responsible for damage and disrepair beyond fair wear and tear. Snagify produces RDC and court-valid dilapidations reports.
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Dilapidations is the legal term for damage and disrepair in a leased property attributable to the tenant. A schedule of dilapidations is the formal report identifying every item the tenant must restore at the end of the lease.
In Dubai, dilapidations are most commonly used in commercial leases (office, retail, warehouse) where the financial stakes are higher and the lease terms are more detailed. They're also used in high-value residential tenancies (luxury villas, branded residences) where landlords want strong contractual recourse.
Snagify produces dilapidations reports with the same evidentiary weight as a full RDC inspection: timestamped photos, AI-tagged damage, dual signatures, and SHA-256 verification. The PDF is structured to align with how Dubai courts evaluate dilapidations claims.
When you need it.
You're signing a commercial lease for office or retail space.
A pre-tenancy dilapidations report at handover sets the baseline. Without it, the landlord can claim almost any defect at end-of-lease was your responsibility, costing potentially hundreds of thousands of AED.
Your commercial lease is ending in 6 months.
Dilapidations claims often arrive in the final weeks, with little time to negotiate. Schedule an interim dilapidations inspection now, document the property's current state, and dispute any later claim with evidence.
You're a landlord with a high-value residential or commercial tenancy.
A formal dilapidations report at the start of the lease protects your asset and sets clear expectations. At the end, it's the document the courts use to assess your reinstatement claim.
The Snagify approach.
Step by step.
Pre-tenancy baseline (start of lease)
Detailed walk-through at handover. Every fixture, finish, and fitting documented. Both parties sign. The baseline document is the foundation of any later dilapidations claim or defense.
Optional mid-tenancy inspection
For commercial tenancies of 3+ years, an interim dilapidations review every 12-18 months catches issues early and gives the tenant time to remedy them.
End-of-tenancy walk-through
Dilapidations inspection 60-90 days before lease end (commercial) or 7-14 days before lease end (residential). Both parties review the property and the baseline together.
Schedule of dilapidations
AI compares to the baseline and lists every item that has changed. For each, the report records remedy required, indicative cost, and party responsible.
Negotiation period
Tenant has the documented period (per lease terms) to remedy listed items at their cost. Snagify can be used to verify each remedy as completed.
Final settlement
Final dilapidations report shows what was remedied, what wasn't, and what's still in dispute. Used as primary evidence in any court or RDC proceeding.
What you get at the end.
A schedule of dilapidations PDF including the original baseline, end-of-tenancy condition, side-by-side comparison, item-by-item damage classification, remedy recommendations with indicative costs, dual signatures, and SHA-256 verification. Aligned with Dubai court expectations for dilapidations claims.
Frequently asked.
Related but more formal. A check-out inspection is the everyday inspection at end of tenancy. A dilapidations report is the formal legal document used in commercial leases and high-value residential tenancies, usually with explicit reference in the lease contract. Snagify can produce both.
Usually no. A standard check-in and check-out is sufficient for most residential tenancies. Dilapidations is most relevant for commercial leases (where the figures are larger and the contracts more detailed) or for luxury residential tenancies where the landlord wants formal contractual recourse.
At handover, before the tenant takes possession. If you're already mid-tenancy without a baseline, an interim dilapidations report is still better than none, though its evidentiary weight is reduced compared to a true pre-tenancy baseline.
Commercial dilapidations are more thorough than residential check-outs. Plan for 90 to 180 minutes for a small office or retail unit, 3 to 5 hours for a larger commercial space.
Yes. The Dubai courts and RDC accept digitally signed documents with verifiable timestamps. The SHA-256 hash on every Snagify PDF is cryptographic proof the file wasn't tampered with. A signed dilapidations report has the same evidentiary weight as a full inspection report.