Is my Sharjah landlord allowed to refuse my rent payment?

No. A landlord cannot refuse a valid rent payment as a way to manufacture grounds for eviction or to force renegotiation. If the landlord refuses payment:

Step 1 — preserve evidence.

• Keep proof of payment attempts: bank-transfer screenshots, dated cheques, emails, WhatsApp messages.
• Avoid cash without a signed receipt.

Step 2 — formal escalation.

• Send a formal demand letter (email + registered post) requiring the landlord to provide bank details for transfer or accept the cheque.
• If still refused, place the rent in court escrow via the Sharjah Rent Disputes Center, or open a notarised cheque deposit at a Notary Public.

Step 3 — file a case.

• The Sharjah Rent Disputes Center handles disputes between landlords and tenants. File a case for refusal to accept rent and request that the court place rent in escrow until the dispute is resolved.
• Filing fees are modest. Decisions are enforceable.

What protects the tenant:

• A tenant who has documented, repeated attempts to pay cannot be evicted on grounds of "non-payment" — courts review the evidence carefully.
• Sharjah's framework (Law No. 2 of 2007 as amended) operates similarly to Dubai's; the same principles apply although procedural details differ.

For a complex dispute — particularly if the landlord is mixing claims (e.g., demanding extra payments, claiming damage, refusing rent) — consult a UAE-licensed real-estate lawyer.