Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I purchased a property in December 2022 and served the eviction notice on January 9, 2023. The current tenancy agreement is set to expire on June 30, 2023. I want to modify the payment terms for the new contract, effective from July 1, 2023, to January 8, 2024 (the end of the eviction notice), changing from 12 checks to 1 for the six-month period. Additionally, I intend to increase the rent by 20% as I believe the existing tenant is paying 60% less than the current market rate. The tenant refuses to accept these changes and wishes to renew the lease with no alterations. Where do I stand in this situation? RERA provides varying information each time I seek clarity.

Q: Hello, I hope you can advise me, please! I'm a tenant in Dubai. The owner/agency didn't send me the rent increase notice 90 days in advance. It was sent to me on Thu, 18 Apr, 22:16. My lease expires on June 24, 2024. So it's 78 days instead of 90. But they claim that in the signed contract there is a statement: "In the event that the tenant wishes to renew the lease at the end of the tenancy, they should notify the landlord in writing 90 days prior to the expiry date of the rental contract." Since I didn't do this, they demand to increase my rent by the maximum amount possible as per RERA. As far as I can understand, according to the law, if no one notifies anyone before 90 days, the default is to extend the lease. So there is no increase. What is more important according to law, the signed contract, or UAE laws in this case? Thank you very much, hope you can advise and help me!

Q: Hi, The real estate agency that leased me the apartment included: "Tenant confirmed that they will vacate the property after the end of the contract" under additional terms in my Ejari without consulting me. They wanted me to vacate last year or increase the rent way above the RERA recommended increase. Can I renew my tenancy contract as per RERA guidelines this year? I haven't received any DLD or other notice from my landlord.

س: سيدي/سيدتي، "هذا العقد غير قابل للتجديد". يرجى توضيح مدى قابلية تنفيذ هذا البند في عقد الإيجار إذا اضطررنا إلى التوقيع عليه كمستأجرين. علاوة على ذلك، نود أن نعرف ما إذا كان يمكن الطعن في هذا البند إذا تقدم المالك بطلب إخلاء إلى هيئة التنظيم العقاري.

مقال في صورة مقابلة يتناول موضوع العقارات السكنية المُباعة بالتجزئة فيما يتعلق بالمسؤولية عن صيانة الممتلكات العقارية وتداعيات التخلُّف عن سداد الإيجار في الإمارات العربية المتحدة. مقتبس من المدونة الصوتية القانونية للمحامية لودميلا يامالوفا، مؤسسة مشروع لوجيكال مع لايلو.

تخضع العلاقة بين المستأجرين ومالكي العقارات في دبي للقانون رقم 33 لعام 2008 بشأن العلاقة بين مالكي ومستأجري العقارات في إمارة دبي. تتم إحالة منازعات الإيجار الناتجة إلى مركز فض المنازعات الإيجارية ("RDSC") الذي تم إنشاؤه بموجب المرسوم رقم 26 لعام 2013 للتوفيق بين الأطراف والوصول إلى حل ودي أو طلب إصدار حكم نهائي وإنفاذه من خلال مركز فض المنازعات الإيجارية.

Provisions of this Law supersede articles (2), (3), (4), (9), (13), (14), (15), (25), (26), (29), and (36) of Law No. (26) of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai. 

The provisions of this Law apply to real property leased out in the Emirate of Dubai, including vacant and agricultural lands, but excluding hotel establishments and real property provided by natural or legal persons as accommodation to their employees at no charge.

This Decree establishes a specialised judicial system to hear rent disputes and develops the procedure for determination of such disputes through an expeditious and simple process for the purpose of realising social and economic stability for all persons involved with the real property rental and other related sectors.

This Decree determines the maximum percentage of rent increase for real property in the Emirate of Dubai when renewing lease contracts.