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Defects Liability Period in Dubai: What the Law Covers
What the developer must still fix after handover, for how long, when the clock starts, and how to claim before it runs out.
On this page
- What the law covers
- When the period starts
- Your first year, month by month
- How to claim a defect
- After the period ends
- Defects liability period FAQs
Quoted after a short scope call, all costs listed upfront.
Get a quoteThe defects liability period in Dubai is the time after handover when the developer must still repair defects at its own cost. Under Dubai Law No. 6 of 2019, that's one year from handover for defective installations, and ten years for structural defects. In plain terms, that's the DLP meaning in Dubai.
Most owners know there's "a warranty" but not what it covers, when it starts or how to use it. This guide explains the defects liability period in Dubai in plain terms, with a coverage table, a first-year calendar and the steps to claim. It's written by the engineers at Property Snagging DXB, who log defects for owners during the first year.
General information, not legal advice. Your Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) may add cover, so read it alongside this guide.
What does the defects liability period in Dubai cover?
The law separates installations from structure. Your SPA may add cover for other items, but it can't take away what the law gives you.
| What | Examples | Period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defective installations | Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, sanitary and sewerage installations | 1 year | Handover |
| Structural defects | Defects in the building's structural parts | 10 years | The project's completion certificate |
| Finishes | Tiles, paint, sealant, joinery | Check your SPA | As set out in your contract |
The developer can't contract out of these legal protections: an agreement that removes them isn't valid. Additional warranties in your SPA, or from suppliers of appliances and equipment, sit on top.
Installation or structural: how do you tell?
Most first-year defects are installation issues: a leaking pipe joint, a faulty socket, an AC unit that doesn't cool, a blocked drain. Structural defects are rarer and more serious, such as cracks in beams, columns or slabs rather than in plaster. A fine crack in new plaster is usually a finishing issue, not a structural one.
The difference matters because the periods are so different. If you're not sure which category a defect falls into, have an engineer look at it and describe it in a dated report before the first year ends, so it's recorded either way.
When does the defects liability period start?
The one-year installation period normally runs from the day the unit is handed over to you, not the day you move in or rent it out. If an owner never takes possession, it can run from the project's completion certificate instead. The ten-year structural period runs from the completion certificate.
That's why your handover date matters. Keep the signed handover certificate with your snag list and photos, so you always know when the first year ends. For how handover itself works, see how handover works, step by step.
What should you do in your first year?
A simple calendar keeps the one-year cover working for you.
- 01
Handover day
Sign only after your snag list is fixed or acknowledged in writing. Note the date.
- 02
Months 1 to 9
Report any new fault in writing as soon as it appears, with a photo, location and date. Don't wait to collect a list.
- 03
Months 10 to 11
Walk the whole home again, or book an inspection, and send a final written list of everything still open.
- 04
Before the anniversary
Make sure the developer has acknowledged the final list in writing before the year runs out.
How do you claim a defect under the DLP?
Claims are won on records. For each defect:
- Write to the developer's customer-care or handover contact, with your unit number.
- Describe the defect, where it is and when you found it.
- Attach dated photos, and a numbered inspection report if you have one.
- Ask for written acknowledgement and a repair date.
- Keep every reply, and check the repair when it's done.
If the developer doesn't act, you can file a complaint with RERA, the regulator within the Dubai Land Department, through the DLD website or the Dubai REST app. A dated technical report helps show what the defect is and whether it's an installation or structural issue.
What happens after the defects liability period ends?
Once the one-year installation period ends, repairs to installations are generally the owner's responsibility, unless your SPA or a supplier warranty says otherwise. Structural defects remain the developer's responsibility for the full ten years.
A defect you reported in writing before the year ended is on record as reported in time, which is what you'll rely on if repairs are still outstanding. That's the value of a final inspection in month 10 or 11, and of our handover snagging service records: they show what was reported and when.
Defects liability period Dubai: FAQs
Can defects still be reported after handover?
Yes. Under Dubai Law No. 6 of 2019, the developer must fix defective electrical, mechanical and plumbing installations for one year from handover, and structural defects for ten years. Report each defect in writing as soon as it appears, with photos, the location and the date you found it.
What protections continue after handover?
The one-year cover for defective installations and the ten-year cover for structural defects both continue after you sign. Your SPA may add more, and appliances often carry their own supplier warranties. Keep your handover certificate, snag list and photos together as proof of dates.
When exactly does the DLP start?
For installations, it normally starts on the day the unit is handed over to you. If an owner never takes possession, it can run from the project's completion certificate instead. The ten-year structural period runs from the completion certificate. Check your handover certificate for your exact date.
Are paint, tiles and finishes covered?
The law's one-year period is written around installations, and its ten-year period around structure. Cover for finishes such as tiles, paint and sealant depends on your SPA, so check its defects clause and report finishing issues in writing early, ideally before you sign the handover certificate.
Is your first year running out?
Book a check before the anniversary of your handover, so every defect is logged in time. To arrange it, talk to an engineer. Inspections are quoted after a short scope call, with all costs listed upfront.
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