Q: Hi, Wondering if someone can advise me, please! What is the commission to be paid on a furnished villa when the rent is 66,000?

Q: Hello, Our contract for our villa expires this Thursday, 30th April. Due to the coronavirus lockdown, we had not been able to leave our home to view other villas until the lockdown got lifted on Friday, 24th April. This gives us only a week to view properties and move. We asked our landlord for up to a few more weeks here to give us a bit more time. In the meantime, I will let people see the villa and show them around whilst he also tries to find new tenants. He declined and said that we can stay for another month if we pay the same rent pro-rata for a month. We explained that we cannot afford that; it is the reason why we are moving to find a cheaper place. We offered 15,000 instead of 25,000 for one extra month and I will be happy for people to view whilst we are in it, but he also declined that offer. He has not shown any consideration for us, we find it difficult to move over the lockdown. What is our position if we stay a few weeks beyond our contract expiry date?

Q: Dear Sir/ Mam, I am staying in Sharjah. We stayed in the same flat for the last 2 years. Our contract is ended on May 5th. But as we are migrating to another country we requested our landlord to stay here till June end 2 months back. He agreed to the same at that time. Now he is asking to give 3 months more rent from June as a penalty to settle the things. Our contract already finished now. Please advice what to do as we are not in a good financial position to give 3-month rent without staying.

س: السلام عليكم، يحين موعد تجديد عقد الإيجار لشقة في إمارة دبي قريبًا. وصلني إشعار مكتوب من مكتب العقارات أرسلوه مع حارس العقار مفاده: "ينتهي عقد الإيجار بتاريخ ١/٦، وعليه تكون قيمة الإيجار للسنة القادمة بناءً على ما يحدده مؤشر مؤسسة التنظيم العقاري في دبي". هكذا وبدون تحديد مبلغ محدد في الخطاب. هل هذا قانوني؟ وهل يعد هذا ضمن الإخطار القانوني قبل نهاية العقد بـ ٩٠ يومًا؟ مع العلم أن مؤشر التنظيم العقاري يقول أنه يمكن زيادة الإيجار حتى ٨٠٠٠ درهم.

Q: Here's my situation: 1. I have a tenancy for a villa that is coming up for renewal on the 1st of September 2. On the 28th of May, the landlord sent me an email stating that they want to increase the rent but did not state by how much. 3. On the 1st of June, the landlord's representative sent me an email with a "rental valuation certificate" stating that the valued rent of the property is AED 225,000 4. On the 1st of June, we checked the rental index and have found that it states that the rent for an individual five-bedroom villa is in the range of AED 231,000 to AED 260,000, whilst the rent for a complex in Jumeirah is in the range of AED 202,000 to AED 246,000 5. My tenancy for last year was AED 189,000 6. The landlord wants to increase the rent by 19% based on the valuation certificate 7. I've said to the landlord that “Decree No. 43 of 2013 Rent Increase for Real Property in the Emirates of Dubai” states that the maximum increase should be 5%. Is my understanding correct?

Q: Hello, I own an apartment in Dubai which is currently rented at AED 96000 per year. The rental evaluation says the current rent is AED 130,000 per year. The rental index is below the current rent. Can you please guide me on what is the maximum increase I can ask the tenant for the rent this year? Thanks in advance. Regards, A.

The relationship between tenants and landlords is regulated in Dubai by Law No. 33 of 2008 Concerning the Relationship Between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai. The arising rental disputes are referred to Rental Disputes Settlement Centre (“RDSC”) created by Decree No. 26 of 2013 to reconcile between the parties and reach an amicable settlement or seek a final judgment issued and enforced by the RDSC.

This Bylaw regulates the Real Estate Brokers Register in the Emirate of Dubai. No person may engage in real estate brokerage activities in Dubai unless he is licensed by the competent entities and entered in the register, which is maintained by Dubai Land Department.

By virtue of this Law, a public corporation named the “Real Estate Regulatory Agency” is established in the Emirate of Dubai. It is affiliated to Dubai Land Department. The objective of RERA is to regulate the real estate sector in the Emirate.

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.