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Everything you need to know about Dubai tenancy law

It is important to familiarise yourself with the RERA tenancy contract requirements before signing the dotted line of your rental contract in Dubai. RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Agency) governs tenant rights in Dubai, landlord duties, and the two parties’ entire relationship. Let’s delve deep to learn about Dubai tenancy laws, tenancy contract conditions, hikes in rent, and more.

Table of Contents

About Rera’s Tenancy Laws

The Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) was founded as a regulatory department of the Dubai Land Department to deal with Dubai’s tenancy rules for renting properties in Dubai. RERA is in charge of regulating the landlord-tenant relationship.

There are four key laws to keep in mind when it comes to RERA tenancy laws in Dubai:

Dubai Law No. (26) of 2007 governs the relationship between landlords and renters.

Law No. (33) of 2008 amends certain provisions of Law No.(26) of 2007 and controls the landlord-tenant relationship in Dubai.

The Rent Disputes Settlement Centre (RDSC) has been established by Decree No. (26) of 2013, which resolves all forms of rental disputes in Dubai.

Decree No. (43) of 2013: This law addresses rent hikes in Dubai clearly.

Let’s take a deeper look at Dubai’s tenancy laws. This course will essentially cover all you need to know about the RERA tenancy contract requirements imposed by Law No. (26) of 2007.

Amending the Terms of the Contract

If the landlord or tenant wants to alter the contract illnesses they must inform the other party at least 90 days before the contract’s expiration date, according to Article 14 of the Dubai Tenancy Law.

As a result, if the landlord or tenant selects to amend the rent amount or contract term, or include/exclude any provisions, they must do so three months before the contract ends.

Terminating Tenancy Contract in Dubai

Article 7 of Dubai’s RERA tenancy regulation states that permitted rental agreements cannot be unilaterally cancelled during their term by either the tenant or the landlord unless both parties agree.

The lease agreement does not end if the tenant or landlord dies, according to Article 27. In these cases, the tenancy relationship is transmitted to the party’s heirs, and the contract remains in effect unless they opt to end it. If they desire to terminate the agreement, the heirs must provide notice within 30 days of the contract’s expiration date, whichever comes first.

Vacating Notice to the Landlord

According to Law No. (33) of 2008, the renter does not have to offer any notice before quitting the property at the end of the contract. Law No. (33) of 2008 abolished the once necessary need for landlords in Dubai to provide a 90-day departing notice.

Priority is given to the conditions of your lease contract, which may demand a specified notice time in the event of non-renewal of the contract. If you do not follow this section in your contract, the landlord can seek pay as a penalty for failing to provide the appropriate notice.

When the renter vacates the property, the landlord must repay the security deposit to the tenant, either in full or the amount remaining after deductions.

Tenancy Law in Dubai Regarding Evications

Article 25 of Law No. (26) of 2007, as modified by Law No. (33) of 2008, defines that the landlord cn seek the removal of the tenant before the contract ends in the following circumstances:

The renter fails to pay the rent in 30 days after getting written notice from the landlord.

Without the tenant’s express permission, the renter sublets the property.

Tenant engages in or allows others to take part in immoral or criminal actions on the property.

Tenant causes or allows others to do damage or changes to the property that endangers its safety.

The renter uses the property for causes different than those for which it was rented.

The tenant fails to comply with any of the tenancy contract’s or the law’s provisions within 30 days after getting written notice from the landlord.

For commercial properties, a landlord may seek eviction if the tenant has ceased operations for 30 consecutive or 90 non-consecutive days without providing proper grounds.

If the emirate’s government entity for urban development requires the property to be destroyed.

The landlord can also file for eviction at the expiration of the rent term under RERA tenancy contract guidelines if:

The landlord wants to rebuild or eliminate the property.

The property requires extensive upkeep or repairs that cannot be completed while the renter is residing there.

The landlord want to sell of the property.

The landlord want to use the property for his own use or that of his first-degree relatives.

In such circumstances, the landlord must send the other party with written notice for 12 months via registered mail or public notary.

Rent Increase in Dubai

According to Article 9 of Law (26) of 2007, landlords and renters must indicate a mutually acceptable rent value in their lease setup. This rent cannot be increased before the end of a two-year period beginning on the initial agreement date.

As with all other tenancy contract revisions in Dubai, the landlord must notify tenants of any expected rent increase at least 90 days before the contract expires. If the renter refuses the increase, he or she must give at least 60 days’ notice before the renewal date. You can plan for leasing fees and other associated expenditures ahead of time.

If both parties are unable to reach an agreement, or if the tenant intends to protest an unjust rent rise, they can bring a rental dispute in Dubai with the Rent Dispute Settlement Centre.

All rent increases in Dubai must comply with Decree No. (43) of 2013. From the 21st of December 2013 until now, the increase is limited to a maximum of 20%. The maximum rent increase in Dubai is capped variably based on the present rent of the property, according to this rental regulation.

The Dubai tenancy laws, for example, stipulates that no rent increase is permitted if the present rent of the property is up to 10% less than the median rate of the same units, and a 5% increase is permitted if the current rent is 11% to 20% less than the average rent.

The Real Estate Regulatory Agency has sole authority in Dubai to set the rent increase percentage per Article 10 of Law (26) of 2007. Landlords and tenants can use the DLD’s official website’s RERA rental calculator for determining the percentage of rent increase they can apply for.

Responsibilities of Tenants and Landlords

General Obligations and Tenant rights in Dubai

Here are some RERA tenancy contract rules to keep in mind while shopping for housing to rent in Dubai:

Article 19: The renter has to make rental payments in Dubai on time. The renter is not permitted to do any repair, restoration, or changes to the property unless the landlord grants consent.

Article 21: At the end of the lease phrase, the renter is also required to return the property in the same condition, save for normal deterioration.

Article 22: Unless the landlord and tenant have agreed differently, the latter is responsible for paying any necessary taxes and fees to government offices.

Article 23: When giving up the property, the renter shall not remove the changes made unless the parties have agreed otherwise.

General Obligations of Landlords in Dubai

Landlords in Dubai have the following demands under the RERA property rent law.

Article 15: The landlord shall ensure that the property turned over is in good shape and that the renter has full use of it in line with the contract.

Article 16: Unless otherwise agreed, the landlord is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and restoration of any weaknesses defects, wear and tear caused to the property for the duration of the renting contract.