Q: I have notified my tenant of the rent increase 90 days in advance of the expiry date of the tenancy contract via a WhatsApp message. I understand that WhatsApp is an eligible medium for the said notice, as per the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2002 No. 25 of 2002. Please confirm whether my understanding is correct or not!

Q: I am a landlord. Can the rent increase notice be sent by email to the tenant? If the tenant does not agree to the rent increase, will this notice be enough to file in RERA?

Q: Hello, My tenant refused a legal rent increase according to RERA rental increase calculator and asked me to find a new tenant. After a couple of weeks, he changed his mind and didn't want to move out and didn't accept the increase saying that it is now less than 90 days to the end of the contract and I didn't send him notice through a notary. If I file a case at RDC, who pays for all the RDC fees and lawyer fees? Does he have to pay for RDC fees and my lawyer fees as I have to pay RDC fees first in order for the process to start?

Q: I am a landlord who sent a notarized legal notice to my tenant for a 10% rent increase in accordance with RERA calculations. The notice was sent to the tenant residence address via ARAMEX 4 months before the contract expiry date. I have a receipt for the delivery. Is my action legally sound and do I need to do anything else?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I want to rent an apartment in JVC, and the real estate managing the building sent me the contract. After reading it, I noticed there is a clause stating that pets are not allowed. There is no clause about maintenance fees and whether they are covered (although the agent mentioned cats are allowed and maintenance is free). Also, there is no clause stating that the rent increase follows RERA guidelines. When I went to negotiate, the manager said we cannot change the contract but offered to send an official email stating that cats are allowed, maintenance is free, and the rent increase complies with RERA. I haven’t signed the contract and want to know if the email is legitimate and if I can use it as proof if needed for dispute resolution. Thanks in advance!

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I have been a tenant in a residential unit since 2023. The real estate representative of the landlord sent a WhatsApp message stating that my rent is finalized at 24,200 AED, up from the previous contract amount of 22,000 AED, without any prior notice or email from the landlord. Kindly guide me!

An interview-format article covering the topic of residential retail properties pertaining to the liability for property maintenance and the repercussions of defaulting on rent payments in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

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

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.

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.