Buyer rights
Defects Liability Period in Dubai: What Home Buyers Need to Know
The defects liability period is the time after handover during which a developer must fix defects in your new home. In Dubai, Law No. 6 of 2019 makes developers liable for installation defects for one year and for structural defects for ten years from the completion certificate. Your sale and purchase agreement sets out the details for your property.
By the ProSnagging inspection team · · 4 min read
Key takeaways
- Installation defects, such as electrical, electromechanical and plumbing works: one year under Dubai Law No. 6 of 2019.
- Structural defects: ten years from the date of the completion certificate.
- Your sale and purchase agreement may set out more specific terms; read it.
- Report defects promptly, in writing, with photos, and inspect again before the period ends.
What is the defects liability period?
A defects liability period, often shortened to DLP, is the period after completion during which the developer is responsible for putting right defects in the work it delivered. It is sometimes loosely called the developer's warranty. It does not cover everything that goes wrong in a home; it covers defects in how the property was built and finished.
What the law says in Dubai
Dubai Law No. 6 of 2019, which governs jointly owned property in the emirate, sets two key periods for developers:
- Ten years from the date of the completion certificate for defects in the structural parts of the property.
- One year for defects in electrical, electromechanical and plumbing works, the installations that make a home function.
This sits alongside the long-standing ten-year liability for structural defects under UAE civil law. Your sale and purchase agreement may also set out how and when defects should be reported and how long the developer has to respond, so keep it to hand. This article is general information, not legal advice; for a specific dispute, speak to a qualified property lawyer.
What is usually covered, and what is not
Typically covered, when reported within the relevant period:
- Faulty or poorly installed electrical points, lighting and distribution boards.
- Leaks, poor drainage and failed plumbing fittings.
- Air-conditioning installation defects.
- Cracking, failed finishes and workmanship defects that are not caused by use.
- Structural defects, for the longer ten-year period.
Usually not covered:
- Normal wear and tear.
- Damage caused by the owner, a tenant or movers.
- Problems caused by alterations or fit-out work carried out after handover.
- Routine maintenance, such as servicing air-conditioning or replacing consumables.
This is why it helps to have a documented snag list from handover: it shows which defects existed before you moved in.
How to make a claim during the defects liability period
- Record the defect: photographs, the room and location, and when you first noticed it.
- Report it in writing through the developer's official customer-care channel, and ask for a reference number.
- Keep copies of everything, including the original handover snag list and any replies.
- Agree access and a timeline for the repair in writing.
- Check the repair once it is done, and report again in writing if it has not resolved the problem.
If the developer does not respond, our guide on what to do when a developer won't fix snags covers escalation.
Why inspect before the period ends
Some defects only appear with time and use: cracks as the building settles, sealant that fails in the heat, air-conditioning that struggles in the first full summer, or slow leaks that show as stains. A warranty-end inspection a few weeks before the one-year installation period runs out records everything that has appeared since you moved in, while the developer is still responsible for it.
ProSnagging carries out warranty-end inspections with the same photographed, severity-rated report as a handover inspection. See home inspections in Dubai for the inspections we offer.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the defects liability period in Dubai?
Under Dubai Law No. 6 of 2019, developers are liable for defects in electrical, electromechanical and plumbing works for one year and for structural defects for ten years from the completion certificate. Your sale and purchase agreement may set out more specific terms.
Does the defects liability period start at handover?
The ten-year structural period runs from the date of the completion certificate. For other obligations, check your sale and purchase agreement, which sets out how the developer's defect responsibilities apply to your property.
Is wear and tear covered?
No. The defects liability period covers defects in construction and finishing, not normal wear and tear, damage caused by occupants, or problems caused by alterations made after handover.
What is a warranty-end inspection?
An inspection carried out shortly before the developer's defect obligations expire, to record any defects that have appeared since handover while the developer is still responsible for fixing them.