The new landlord is increasing the rent and the tenancy contract is not registered in Ejari. What can be done?

Good afternoon,

Thank you for sharing your situation. From what you've explained, there are multiple legal aspects we can leverage in your favour, and it’s important to act promptly.

Firstly, under Dubai’s Tenancy Law (Law No. 26 of 2007, as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008), any change to the terms of the tenancy contract, including rent increase, must be notified in writing at least 90 days prior to the expiry of the current tenancy.

If this notice was not served, the current terms should automatically be renewed as-is for another year.

Secondly, although your building may not be reflected in the RERA Rental Index, this does not remove the obligation of the landlord to abide by the rental cap regulations if your property falls under the jurisdiction of the Dubai Land Department (DLD).

We can request clarification on the classification of your building, but until then, we will proceed based on the assumption that the general rental regulations apply.

Moreover, the absence of an Ejari registration is a serious issue, but it does not invalidate your tenancy rights. The responsibility to register the tenancy contract with Ejari lies with the landlord.

Your written tenancy agreement still holds legal value, and we can use it to assert your rights, especially since you've fulfilled your obligations as a tenant.

As for the added charges like commission, administrative fees, and security deposit, their legality depends on the contract terms and whether they are newly imposed or carried forward from your previous agreement.

These cannot be arbitrarily imposed without your written agreement.

I strongly advise initiating a formal legal response to the new landlord, asserting your rights under the law and requesting the renewal on the same terms, citing the failure to serve a 90-day notice.

If they insist on imposing the new terms, we can file a rental dispute case before the Dubai Rent Disputes Settlement Centre (RDC), and we have a solid legal position to defend your tenancy and block the unjustified increase.

I can represent you in this matter, initiate the legal notice, and handle all proceedings on your behalf.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly on WhatsApp or call to discuss your case in detail and proceed with the necessary steps.