Q: Hi, My rent renewal is due at the end of May. My landlord wants to increase my rent by 35% while the RERA Index is stating a 0% increase because I am within the average rental rate. The land-lord's management keeps responding back to me with the "valuation" report for an apartment that is vacant, not the apartment I am living in. I keep responding to them that the RERA Index states otherwise and that I am entitled to a 0% increase. What should I do?

Q: My landlord is trying to increase my rent outside of the RERA Index, using a DLD valuation as the basis. The sequence of events: 1. 90 days before my renewal, the landlord offered me a new lease with a 10% increase on my current rental 2. I challenged this by sharing the RERA rental index result, which stated there is no increase in the rental value 3. landlord decided at this point to do a DLD rental valuation 4. Last Friday, 49 days before my current lease expires, the landlord shared the valuation, which showed an increase of 21% on the rent (or looking at it another way, my current rent is 17.5% less than this current valuation) Can the landlord do that, and what is he legally allowed to increase my rent by in this scenario?

Q: Dear All, My rent renewal is due in April 2023 and currently paying AED 143000. The RERA Rental Index calculation shows an increase of 10%. The landlord sent a letter (90 days prior) along with a DLD valuation certificate attached stating that the rent will be increased to AED 220,000 (a 50%+ increase) based on the assessment of the property. Are there any options available to be able to contest this sizeable increase? (RDC will state that the landlord can use the valuation certificate to increase the rent now). Many thanks for your help.

Q: Hi, Our landlord increased the rent by 10% from last year. We moved in last September 2022, and our landlord took checks from ABC for a 2BHK at xxxxx Courtyard for 66,000. This year, he opened a new company (CDF), and we all tenants received new contracts with a 10% rent increase. Is this allowed? Can the company name be changed and the rent increased by 10%? I believe that the rent should not increase for the first two years, or that the rent should remain the same for the first year in the new company. I need your help and advice, as 10% is too high for anyone. Sincerely, JL

Q: My landlord sent me an email to renew the current office contract with a 19% rent increase. Our office is in Business Bay and he mentioned in the email that the price is still reasonable knowing that the offices in the same building with the same area size are more expensive. My question: Is that legal to increase the rent by more than 10%?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, Can I add a minimum yearly rent increase to my tenancy contract in Dubai, even if the RERA increase is lower, as long as the tenant agrees and signs?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to seek your advice regarding a potential rent increase for my tenancy located in Free Zone Dubai. On February 5, my landlord informed me via WhatsApp about a possible rent increase. However, this notification came before the 90-day window. I responded by providing the landlord with the RERA Index information dated Feb-05-2024, which indicated no change in rental rates for similar properties at that time. On March 13, 2024, the RERA Index was apparently updated, reflecting an increase in rental rates. My landlord then sent another WhatsApp message on the same date, citing this update as a justification for raising the rent. As per RERA regulations, any notification regarding a rent increase should be delivered within the designated 90-day window before the lease renewal date. Since the landlord's latest message falls outside this timeframe, with only 53 days remaining before the potential renewal, I am unsure whether I am obligated to accept the proposed rent increase.

Q: Hi, I am a tenant living in the same apartment for the last 5 years. My tenancy contract is expiring in the month of May 2025. I want to renew my contract this time but only for 3 months until August. I communicated the same to my owner through the real estate who is handling the property. Initially, they said that it would be possible but the current market rent would apply. When I checked, I found they could not increase my rent as per the rental index and I told them this. After that, they said that they would not renew the contract for 3 months. If I want, I can renew for the entire year and then vacate when I want by paying the penalty of 2 months. In this scenario, I want to know if it is legally correct on their part to refuse to renew my contract for 3 months. Can you please guide me?

Q: I am residing in Al Nahda 2 area, and the real estate company is asking me for a 10% rent increase from last year. However, checking RERA, there is no increase in the rates in my area as checked today. Once I told my real estate the same, they said it had to be checked 3 months ago from now. Also, the area they have shown in their RERA is Al Nahda 1, while I reside in Al Nahda 2.

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.

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 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.