On this page
What the defect liability period is
The defect liability period, or DLP, is the window after handover during which the developer remains contractually obliged to correct defects at no cost to you. It exists precisely because not every fault shows up on day one: a hairline crack that opens under settlement, a seal that fails after a full season of heat, a pump that only reveals itself under load. This clause is what gives you recourse for those.
Its length and scope are set out in your sale and purchase agreement, so this guide describes common practice in Dubai rather than a fixed rule; check the exact wording for your own development.
The defect liability period is the developer's last obligation under the contract, and the last chance you have to use it.
What's typically covered
| Usually covered | Often excluded |
|---|---|
| Structural cracking and settlement | Wear from normal use |
| Waterproofing and leaks | Manufacturer-warrantied appliances |
| Fixed finishes: tiling, paint, joinery | Damage caused by the occupant |
| Electrical and plumbing installation faults | Cosmetic wear to fixtures |
Indicative only. Your own contract governs what applies to your unit.
Why month eleven is the moment to act
Most owners live in a property for months without noticing everything wrong with it, and a lot of what a snagging inspection catches only becomes visible under proper testing. Instructing an inspection near the end of the warranty period, rather than waiting for something to fail on its own, is the only way to use the full window the contract gives you. Miss the deadline and the same defect becomes a cost you carry alone.
Worth diarising
Set a reminder for month eleven the day you get your keys. It is the single easiest way to make sure the warranty period does not close unused.
How to raise a claim
Document each defect with a photograph, its location and a description, and submit it to the developer in writing, referencing the relevant clause of your contract. A numbered inspection report does this for you in one document, rather than a series of separate emails, and gives the developer a clear list to work through before the period closes. Our 11-month inspection is built for exactly this window.
Questions we're asked
Most Dubai developer contracts set it at around twelve months from handover for general finishes, sometimes with a longer period for structural items. The exact length is set out in your sale and purchase agreement, so check the clause for your own development.
Once the period closes, the developer's contractual obligation to correct defects free of charge typically ends with it. Anything not raised in time usually becomes a cost you bear yourself.
Often not, or only partially. Many appliances carry their own manufacturer warranty running on a separate clock. Check both your sale contract and the appliance documentation left at handover.
Yes, and it is worth doing so. A short check shortly after moving in and a fuller inspection near month eleven, before the window closes, between them catch most defects while there is still time to act.
Written by the Kensington Inspection Co team
Reviewed for technical accuracy by our technical director, a qualified surveyor. Kensington Inspection Co carries out independent property inspections in Dubai, benchmarked to British surveying standards.
Keep reading
Related guides
Book your 11-month inspection
Instructed while your warranty period is still open, with the report the developer works from.