Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
8 available 8 • View allThe landlord wants to increase the rent while the tenant refuses. What to do?
1
Q: Dear questioner,
I don't want to renew the contract of my tenant and he doesn't want to move. What do I do?
I have sent him a notice of rent increase 90 days before the end of the tenancy contract.
I told him in an email that the rent will be 55000 AED and he wants to pay 48K only.

Jul 5, 2022
1144
Tenant is not agreeing to increased rent as per the RERA guideline. What to do?
2
Q: I bought a villa without viewing it on 30-12-2022. It was rented at AED 75,000/year (contract expiry 23-03-2022).
The previous landlord served an eviction notice (Sale) in September 2021 to the tenant for 12 months.
He also sent an email 90 days before the expiry of the tenancy agreement to the tenant informing him that "the rent increase will be as per RERA guidelines and by him or the new owner if he managed to sell the villa before March 23, 2022".
Last week, the tenant sent an email requesting to renew the contract and then on WhatsApp chat he agreed to a rent renewal at AED 100,000. When I sent the tenancy contract to him on WhatsApp, his lawyer sent me a legal notice:
1. Forcing me to renew the contract with AED 75,000 and not as per the RERA increase which will be almost 95,000. The current market is AED 125,000
2. Not allowing me to inspect/view the villa and if I insist, then he will take legal action against me
What should I do?

Mar 22, 2022
788
Right of tenant to refuse rent increase after serving a legal notice
2
Q: When there were more than 90 days, I sent an email to the tenant that I want to increase the rent which was higher than what was mentioned in the rental index.
The tenant replied to me saying they don't want to renew the rental contract. Now when there is less than a month left in contract expiration, I got an email from them that the contract will renew at the same rate.
Can the tenants change their minds even after giving notice to not renew the rental contract?
Additionally, I got a rental appraisal certificate and it shows the rental is 13% more than the amount of current rental value.
So can I increase rent to the amount mentioned in the certificate or I can increase only 5%?

Feb 22, 2022
823
What is the maximum rent increase the landlord can request from the tenant?




0
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.





Dec 19, 2022
185
Can I send my tenants eviction notices if they did not agree on the rent increase?

2
Q: My tenants wish to renew their contracts but unfortunately, we are unable to agree on the increased rental price to reflect the significant changes in the market over the past year.
Instead, they quote that the RERA rental price index suggests that no increase is in fact allowed despite the fact that no property can be found at that price in the same area.
Given the fact we are unable to agree, am I correct in my understanding that now I must give them a new contract upon the expiry of the old one at below market rates?
Also, can I invoke the 12-month notice period to vacate, as stated in their current contract (I could have done this before now but chose not to), via email?
Thank you in advance for your responses.


May 16, 2023
108
A tenant refuses to renew the tenancy contract with new conditions. What to do?

1
Q: Dear Sir/Madam,
I sent a renewal notice to my Dubai tenant with more than 3 months advance.
In the renewal, I adjusted the rental increase as per RERA of 5% and requested a change in payment conditions from 4 to 2 cheques.
The tenant agreed to the new amount but did not agree to the new payment conditions because, according to him, the provisions to change the terms in the contract allowed by RERA were only suggestions and not enforceable.
Therefore, the contract renewal has not yet gone forward because we do not agree with his interpretation.
While consulting our options, RERA updated the rental increase for the area from 5% to 15% since the tenant is paying well below market price.
We sent the tenant a new proposal with the updated RERA-allowed increase of 15%, offering back payments of 4 cheques.
The tenant refused again, arguing that the new proposal is not applicable since we are now out of the 90-day previous notification window required.
Please advise our options!


Jul 26, 2023
600
Raising the rent because the tenant is modifying the original payment terms




1
Q: Dear Sir/Madam,
I have issued a tenant renewal notice with the same rent as the tenant is not eligible for a rent increase. However, the tenant is requesting to modify the payment terms from 4 cheques to 6 cheques.
In this scenario, can I increase the rent since the tenant is altering the original payment terms of the contract?





Nov 28, 2023
310
Tenant received renewal notice, rejected proposed rent on renewal day. What next?




2
Q: Hi,
We sent a renewal notice to our Dubai-based tenant 84 days before his contract renewal, with a 10% increase in rent.
The tenant neither agreed nor disagreed with the proposed rent and replied on the day of renewal that he wouldn't be paying the proposed rent.
Due to the argument, the landlord decided to reduce the rent, but the tenant has not yet renewed his contract. It has been 12 days since his contract expired.
Kindly suggest what could be done in this matter.





+1
Mar 12, 2024
283
Legal blog
2 available 2 • View allWhat You Should Know While Renting a Property in the UAE 5
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.
Feb 24, 2020
3932
Procedures of the Rental Dispute Settlement Center in Dubai 21
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.
Oct 20, 2018
21361
Laws & Regulations
3 available 3 • View allLaw No. (26) of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai 12
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.
Nov 26, 2007
24288
Decree No. (26) of 2013 Concerning the Rent Disputes Settlement Centre in the Emirate of Dubai 0
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.
Sep 18, 2013
7292
Law No. (33) of 2008 Amending Law No. (26) of 2007 Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in the Emirate of Dubai 8
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.
Dec 1, 2008
24950

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I signed a Form F with a buyer for the sale of my house as we were planning to leave the country. The contract was signed about a month ago, but the handover is not until August.
Due to personal circumstances changing, we are no longer leaving Dubai and would like to cancel Form F.
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Can the landlord evict me from apartment for personal use if he lives in his own property? 0
The owner sent me a notice by email saying that he doesn't want to renew the contract for the purpose of personal use.
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Is it legal to evict me?
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View allCan a debt agency access AECB reports without consent for a 15-year-old closed case? 0
Dear Respected Lawyers,
Subject: Request for Legal Advice Regarding Unlawful Practices by a Debt Collection Agency
I would greatly appreciate your advice and guidance regarding a troubling issue my colleague is facing with a collection agency.
The company has been contacting the employer, urging them to ask my colleague to get in touch with them regarding a supposed liability.
This claim is related to a 15-year-old closed dispute with a bank credit card, and the issue seems to stem from outdated and inaccurate information on the AECB report.
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How is it possible for a third-party agency to openly access and track AECB reports, especially for a dispute that was resolved 15 years ago?
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I was evicted from my apartment to be sold but it was gifted and rented at a higher price. What can I do? 0
I was evicted from my apartment after living there for five years. My landlord informed me a year in advance that the lease would not be renewed because he intended to sell the property.
Prior to this, he attempted to impose a rent increase that was not compliant with RERA regulations, which I refused to accept. He then served me with an official Dubai Court eviction notice, citing the need to take back the property for sale.
Five months after I moved out, I discovered the property was rented out at a much higher price. Upon further investigation, I found that the ownership was transferred as a "Gift" rather than a sale.
This makes it seem like the eviction was only to raise the rent rather than a genuine need to sell.
Do I have a valid case for wrongful eviction against my landlord?
Also, under Dubai law, does transferring ownership as a "Gift" hold the same legal grounds as selling in justifying eviction?
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Can I file a case for cyberbullying or defamation after my ex-wife's abusive messages? 0
Hello,
My ex-wife has abused me in chat and called me the following: illiterate, beggar, and said that I don’t have [------].
She called me a bad parent and a bad son.
Can I file a cyberbullying, defamation, or abuse case against her? What are my options?
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Now he's giving back the money which I invested in business after 9 months. He's preparing a letter from a local lawyer to kick me out of the business. I do not have any other option than to take out at least my money.
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Please guide us on the steps to take for justice and compensation.
Dec 19, 2024
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