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 Sir/Madam, Would you clarify whether the Rent Valuation Certificate supersedes RERA's Index for the rent renewal contract process? My tenancy contract is dated 05.10.2023 for renewal. I agreed to increase the rent according to RERA's Index and sent him the RERA index calculation certificate, which shows a 5% increase. However, he replied that, according to Law 43 of the year 2013, the rental index is not the sole reference for the benchmark rent that you have shared. According to the law, he can request a rent evaluation certificate for this apartment, which is currently 20% higher than my rent. Therefore, the rent will now have to be according to the Rent Valuation Certificate. I proposed to him to increase the rent by 7.5% instead of the 5% calculated by the RERA calculator. However, he insists on a 20% increase.

Q: Hi, I am a landlord and getting 105k as rent. The renewal is coming and the RERA index shows no increase but I got RVC which says the rental value is AED 150k. How much can I ask for an increase from 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.

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.