Q: Hello Madame. My landlord sent me a notice to increase rent on the renewal of tenancy, 90 days in advance before the end of the contract. However, no rent increase is permitted as per RERA Rental Index, as such, I refused the increase and asked him to renew the tenancy at the same rent as last year. He refused and asked me to vacate upon tenancy completion which is on 14-Feb. Now, he is threatening to come to the house, and force me to vacate on 14-Feb. What are my legal options? I want to continue living in this house, and pay the same rent, as last year, as no increase is permitted as per RERA Rent Index.

Q: Dear sir/madam, My landlord is asking for a rent increase exceeding RERA rental index guidance, and less than 90 days from the end of the existing lease. I have stated that renewal should take place at existing rent and existing terms since renewal notice was not sent at least 90 days before the end of the current term, however, I have agreed to increase the rent as per the RERA index in good faith. However, the landlord's agent is stating that the landlord can pull out a valuation from RERA and get a 20% increase (instead of 10% as currently asked, and 5% as per the RERA Index). What are my options?

Q: Good afternoon, My tenancy contract is expiring on 31 May 2023 (90 days notice period starts 1st March 2023). My current rent is 175000/year. The RERA Rental Index is 150k - 190k for my townhouse. My landlord informed me a week ago that he wants to increase the rent to 240k as per ‘Market-value’, but as he is willing to negotiate he would accept 225k. My questions: 1) What are my options in this case? 2) What is the RERA ‘Offer and Deposit’ option? (Not sure what this is) 3) What can he do with a Rent Valuation Certificate? Thanks a lot!

Q: Dear Lawyers, My Dubai landlord is proposing a 9.52% rent increase, which I believe is unlawful. The current rent falls within the RERA rental index range, and no increase is permitted according to the index. The landlord’s representative has been uncooperative in providing proof of a Power of Attorney (POA) or any justification for the proposed increase. Questions: 1. Whose responsibility is it to submit a dispute to RERA/RDSC if the proposed rent increase is unlawful—the landlord's or the tenant's? 2. What evidence is required from the landlord (or their representative) to legally justify a rent increase that exceeds what RERA allows? 3. If the Ejari is not renewed due to a dispute at RDSC, will utilities (e.g., DEWA) and services be affected for the tenant?

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.

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