Q: We received a letter (4 to 5 months before the contract ended) from the landlord showing the intention of rental increase as per the rental index along with admin charges. The letter didn't state the actual amount that would be increased (it's a physical letter given to us by building security). Now less than 60 days to the end of the contract we get a letter mentioning a 15% increase which is the max as per the index. My question here is whether the rent increase is valid as the actual increase was conveyed post the 90 days period? The second question, if we don't agree with the new rent, will my contract auto-renew as per old rent or new rent?

Q: Hi, My landlord asked for an increase in rent 77 days prior to the contract's end date. He also asked for more than the amount that is allowed by the RERA calculator. Since it is close to the limit of 90 days, if I go for the option of complaint via DLD/RDC, do I have a valid case for asking for the contract to be renewed under old terms? Or is there a chance that the court will allow the landlord to increase the rent by what is allowed for by the RERA calculator? Thank you

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: My landlord notified me of the intention to increase the rent 110 days before the lease expiry without specifying the amount of the increase. He now (we are 60 days until renewal) wants to have the valuation done, according to RERA, there is no increase. If he has a higher valuation, can he still ask for the increase or is it too late? If I do not accept the increase, is he obliged to ask for a judgment? If he wins, how much time do I have to vacate? Thanks

Q: Good afternoon, I have a Real Estate property management license in Dubai. I recently entered into a management agreement with a landlord of a fully occupied building. Now, I am dealing with a situation where I can't send rent increase notices 90 days prior because my company was not managing the building 90 days ago. If the previous real estate company did send these formal notices, can we consider those valid for us as well? In the worst case, where we cannot reach an agreement with the tenant and open a lawsuit in RDC, can we present the notices that were not made by us but were still made in compliance with the laws? As per RERA and UAE laws, can these formal notices for rental increases be sent via email to the tenant's registered email address? Or must it be a notarized rental increase notice from a notary public for the judge to approve the rental increase?

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 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. 

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