Every year in Dubai, the same argument repeats in thousands of apartments: the tenant says the flat was left “as good as we found it,” the landlord points at the walls, and part of the deposit quietly disappears. Most of the time, neither side is dishonest — they just see different flats. The landlord sees marks, holes and tired paint through the eyes of the next viewing. Work through this checklist before your handover and you remove most of the argument in advance.
Start With the Contract, Not the Paint
Read your tenancy contract’s handover clause first. Many Dubai contracts expect the property returned repainted or in original condition, fair wear and tear aside. Knowing exactly what yours says tells you how much of this list is obligation and how much is just smart. Also check your building’s rules: towers often require a move-out NOC, booked service elevators, and set hours for any work or moving.
The Walls: What Actually Gets Checked
- Scuffs and marks at sofa height, around light switches, and in the corridor where furniture passed
- Nail and screw holes from pictures, shelves and TVs — unfilled holes are the single most photographed item in handover inspections
- Damp or bubbling patches, usually in bathrooms and around AC units — these need the cause fixed, not just paint
- Colour differences — a room repainted a different shade, or one “touched up” wall that now shows as a patch in daylight
- Children’s and pet evidence — crayon, stickers and scratches at low level get noticed
The reliable fix for most of this is simpler than people expect: fill the holes, sand them smooth, and repaint the affected walls fully in the original shade. Spot touch-ups almost always show; a full wall rarely does.
Beyond the Walls
- Doors and skirting: chips and shoe marks cleaned or repainted
- Silicone in the bathroom and kitchen: blackened, peeling sealant reads as “poorly kept” even when everything works — replacing it is quick and changes how the whole bathroom looks
- AC vents and filters: dusty vents in the handover photos suggest neglect; a clean and filter wash fixes the impression and the air
- Small repairs: the loose handle, the drifting cupboard door, the dripping tap — a landlord’s agent will list every one; a handyman visit clears the list in one go
Order of Work (This Sequence Saves Money)
- Repairs first — holes, cracks, small plumbing and electrical fixes
- Bathroom and kitchen silicone and deep clean of tiles
- AC service and vent clean
- Painting, wall by wall, original shade
- Final clean, then your own dated photos of every room
Do it in this order and nobody paints a wall that a repair then ruins. Book the work early enough that paint is fully dry before the inspection — fresh-paint smell at a handover starts the conversation badly.
Do It Yourself or Hire It Out?
A studio with a few holes is a realistic weekend job. A family apartment with a full repaint, silicone, AC service and a snag list is usually cheaper — in time, stress and deposit — handled by one team in a planned visit. Send photos of each room on WhatsApp and get the exact price for the whole list before deciding; then compare it honestly with your weekend and your deposit.
Moving out soon? Send your room photos to BAKTH Technical Service on WhatsApp — 056 360 4092 — and we will confirm one exact price for the painting and repairs before the visit, timed to finish before your handover.
Want the whole list handled in one visit? Our Apartment Painting in Dubai page covers move-out repaints and how to get your exact price.