Living in Dubai on rent is a regular affair. Working professionals who migrate from different parts of the world may find it convenient to lease out accommodation rather than invest in a new home. According to one’s preferences, budget, and family size, the renter may opt to rent a 2-3 bedroom apartment, a villa, or a studio, as per convenience.
In order to be legally eligible to stay on rent, the homeowner and resident needs to get into a mutually beneficial ‘tenancy contract’. This contract is usually for a period of 12 months or 1 year and needs to be renewed to continue the same arrangement. Tenancy renewals could get a little tiresome and tedious. Thus, in order to smoothen out loose ends and to make the process seamless, here are some points you need to keep in mind.
90-day notice
In order to change the terms & conditions of the existing content, the landlord needs to furbish a 90-day notice in written format or digitally. In case of increase in rent from the existing rate to a higher amount, the 90-day rule is applicable so that the renter is notified about the same well in advance. If no such contract is made, then the existing rental charges continue for the next 12 months. Also, if the tenancy agreement has to be canceled by either party, the same 90-day notice applies and either the landlord or the renter can request to terminate the same.
12-month notice intimation to Sell Property
If the landlord is planning to sell the property that is rented out, he or she needs to give a 12-month notice period by drafting an email/letter and sending It to you and the notary public office. Even if the property is not being sold, but the owner wants to use it himself, for private usage, then the same procedure needs to be followed. This is a non-negotiable request and the renter can’t go against the decision of the landlord.
Rent Payment
While paying rentals the landlord, you may have noticed that the renter does not prefer monthly payments and instead demands for multiple cheques at one time. This keeps the tenant bound, as he has already paid the rental amount and does not consider leaving the home before the contract ends. However, recently (July 2022) the Dubai Land Department (DLD) has introduced a new system that allows direct debit from a tenant’s bank account.
Rental Hike Dispute
Though the Dubai Land Department has set some stringent rules and laws in place to facilitate buyers and sellers, there may be some disputes which may arise against the clause mentioned in the contract. This is when you can file a rental dispute case in DLD’s Rent Disputes Settlement Centre for reasons that may include; failure of rent repayment, an unfair increase of rent by the landlord, resistance by the tenant to vacate the home, etc. The right to file the complaint lies with either party, the landlord, as well as the tenant.
Registered Contracts
When renting a property in Dubai, an Ejari certificate is a must and this document must be kept handy at all times. Ejari means ‘my rent’ and this system was introduced by Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera) the regulatory arm of the Dubai Land Department. Ejari facilitates transparency in operations between the landlord and the tenants.
