Can the real estate agent increase the rent every year?

Dear Inquirer,

Thank you for your message.

In Dubai, rent increases are regulated by RERA's Rental Index and Decree No. 43 of 2013, which limits how much rent can be increased based on the current market rate compared to your existing rent.

A landlord or agent cannot increase rent arbitrarily every year—it must follow RERA’s guidelines, and any increase must be notified at least 90 days before the contract renewal.

If the proposed increase exceeds the legal limit, you may have grounds to challenge it.

For accurate legal advice or to take action, we recommend booking a consultation or authorizing Future Vision for Advocacy and Legal Consultancy to act on your behalf.

We are happy at Future Vision Law Advocates and Legal Consultancy to assist you and provide the best legal services that meet your needs.

To contact us, you can call or WhatsApp us.

Dear Maria,

Thank you for your question. In Dubai, there is no legal requirement that rent must be increased every year. Rent increases can only be applied once per year, at the time of tenancy contract renewal, and must be based on the RERA Rental Index.

If your current rent is within 10% of the average market rent in your area, then no increase is allowed. The landlord (or agent) must also give you at least 90 days’ notice before the contract expires if they intend to raise the rent.

Any increase must comply with the percentage limits shown in the RERA guidelines (5%, 10%, 15% or 20%, depending on how below market rent the current amount is).

If the agent or landlord tries to increase the rent beyond these limits or without proper notice, you can dispute it with the Rental Dispute Center.

Please let me know if you need help checking the allowed increase or handling this issue.

Best regards,

Dear Maria,

Thank you for your message.

Regarding your question, kindly note that under Dubai tenancy law, a landlord (or estate agent on their behalf) is not allowed to increase the rent arbitrarily every year.

Rent increases are strictly regulated by Decree No. 43 of 2013 and must align with the RERA Rental Index.

To summarize:

Rent can only be increased if your current rent is significantly below the average market rate, as determined by the official RERA calculator.

Even then, the maximum increase allowed is capped based on how far your rent is below the index.

Additionally, any proposed rent increase must be communicated in writing at least 90 days before the end of the lease contract.

There is no legal requirement for rent to increase every year—only when justified under RERA guidelines.

If last year the rent was increased by 5% based on the RERA index, any further increase this year would need to be justified by current index data and proper notice.

Should you wish, we can assist you in reviewing your lease, checking the RERA index, and advising on next steps if the proposed increase is not compliant.

Best regards,

Mohammed Salah

Legal Consultant

Rent cannot be increased every year unless justified by the RERA Rental Index, and any increase must follow legal limits with a 90-day notice. Agents cannot raise rent arbitrarily.

Dear Maria,

Thank you for your query regarding the proposed rent increase by your estate agent. Please note that under current UAE tenancy laws, specifically those enforced by RERA in Dubai, rent can only be increased once every 12 months, strictly at the time of lease renewal, and only if the landlord provides at least 90 days' written notice.

Moreover, any increase must comply with the percentage limits set by the RERA Smart Rental Index, which assesses how far your current rent is from the market average.

Importantly, there is no legal obligation for rent to increase annually. If proper notice has not been served or the proposed increase exceeds the legal cap, you are within your rights to challenge it.

We’d be happy to review your tenancy documents, assess the Smart Index result for your property, and guide you through the next steps, including formal dispute resolution if necessary.

Please let us know if you'd like to arrange a consultation to proceed.

Best regards,

You must follow the RERA index. If there is an increase, the owner must notify you three months in advance.

Dear Inquirer,

We are pleased to serve you and address your legal concerns.

To provide accurate guidance regarding rental increases and RERA regulations, we kindly suggest sharing your current tenancy contract and the rent increase notice.

This will allow us to assess whether the proposed increase is legally justified and if the agent is acting within the permitted limits.

Please contact us via email or WhatsApp.

You may also call our offices

Jasim Al Haddad Advocates & Legal Consultants

Yes, the real estate agent's rent does not include the new rent when renewing the lease.

However, according to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) law in Dubai, the increase must be in the RERA index and is subject to special conditions.

Contact us and send us the documents, and I will explain the matter to you in detail‬.

Dear questioner

The law only states that the landlord can raise the rent according to the RERA index and following the procedures of serving 90 90-day notice before renewal.

If these are complied then the landlord can increase or otherwise we can simply reject the increase.

If you need more details or assistance in your matter, kindly share your whatsapp number.

No, the landlord (or their agent) cannot increase the rent arbitrarily or annually unless permitted by RERA’s Rental Index.

For further assistance, please share your WhatsApp number.

Thank you for reaching out with your question. In Dubai, the ability of an estate agent or landlord to increase rent is governed by the RERA Rent Increase Calculator and the applicable rental laws under Law No. (26) of 2007 regulating the relationship between landlords and tenants.

Firstly, there is no legal requirement that rent must be increased every year. Rent increases are subject to the terms of the tenancy contract and must comply with the guidelines set by RERA. According to RERA’s rent increase index:

- If the current rent is within 5% above the average market rate, no increase is permitted.

- If the rent is between 5% and 10% above the market rate, the increase can be up to 5%.

- If it is between 11% and 20% above the market rate, the increase can be up to 10%.

- If it is between 21% and 30% above the market rate, the increase can be up to 15%.

- If it is more than 30% above the market rate, the increase can be up to 20%.

If your rent was increased last year by 5% in line with RERA’s index, any further increase this year must also comply with these limits and be justified based on the current market rate.

The estate agent cannot arbitrarily impose a significant increase if it is not supported by the RERA index and the tenancy agreement terms.

Also, landlords are required to give at least 90 days’ written notice before the renewal of the tenancy contract with any proposed increase.

If you believe the proposed increase is excessive or unlawful, I can assist you in reviewing your tenancy contract and negotiating or challenging the increase through RERA or the Rental Disputes Center to protect your rights.

Feel free to reach out to me directly on WhatsApp or by phone to discuss your situation in detail and how I can assist you with this matter.

I look forward to helping you achieve a fair resolution.

Best regards,

Suhail Rana