A property contract contains many terms and conditions that are integral to the contract. A breach of contract occurs when a party to the agreement, either oral or written, fails to perform any of the contract’s terms.
General Requirements for a Breach of Property
A breach of contract suit must meet a few requirements before it will be upheld by a court, and they are as follows
- The contract must be valid. It must contain all essential contract elements as per law. A contract isn’t valid unless all essential elements are present, so without them, there can be no lawsuit.
- The party who’s suing for breach of contract must show that the defendant did indeed breach the property agreement’s terms.
- The party who is suing should notify the defendant of the breach before proceeding with filing a lawsuit. A notification made in writing is better than a verbal notification because it offers more substantial proof.
Some of the Common Reasons for the Breach of Property Contract
Fraud: Fraud is a misrepresentation of the truth or concealment of material facts in the contract to induce another to act to his or her detriment. When a defendant presents this defense, they’re saying that the contract isn’t valid because the plaintiff failed to disclose something important or because they made a false statement about material or important fact. The defendant must establish that the fraud was deliberate.
Undue influence: when one party had a power advantage over the other and that they used that advantage to force the other to sign the contract.
Mistake: An error committed by the defendant can’t invalidate a contract and take away a breach of contract case, but if the defendant can prove that both parties made a mistake about the subject matter, it might be enough to invalidate the contract and this would serve as a defense.
Time limitations: Many types of cases have time limits imposed by law, deadlines by which a case must be brought and filed. A breach of contract case can be void if the defendant can show that the statute of limitations has expired. The statute of limitations cases is based on time frames that are set by local laws.
Remedies for Breach of Property Contract
The most common remedy when one party is found to be breaching a contract is a monetary payment. Some other common remedies include:
Damages: Damages are amounts of money that compensate the victim for any actual loss suffered. Punitive damages involve extra money a court might tack on as a form of punishment if the breach of contract was particularly egregious and intentional.
Injunction: An injunction is an order by the court that requires the guilty party to stop doing whatever action is causing damage to the other.
Lawsuit: A court might also order the rescission of the contract. Sometimes the plaintiff has been so badly damaged by the breach that the injured party is allowed to rescind or terminate the deal.
Specific performance: specific performance is a decree by the court to compel a party to perform the contractual obligations. Such a remedy is sought where damages are not an adequate remedy.
As per law, specific performance will not be ordered if the contract requires performance or constant supervision over a period of time and the obligations in the contract are not clearly defined.
Property Lawyers in the UAE
Breach of property contracts can sometimes lead to significant losses for either party. You may need to hire a property attorney if you need assistance filing a claim for breach of contract. HHS lawyer can provide you with the legal expertise that you need to protect your interests. Contact us for further information
