Rights and obligations of a tenant in Dubai

Most foreigners in Dubai are renters, so renting an apartment or apartment is quite a popular accommodation option. But renting a house here is quite difficult, you need to carefully choose landlords so as not to run into problems in the future. The City has taken significant steps to enforce strict regulations regarding tenants. If you are planning to rent a property in Dubai for the first time, then you may have related questions and difficulties. We recommend that you carefully study the law on rental housing in Dubai before signing the contract: then it will be very difficult to change the terms of the agreement. In this review, UAE Assets specialists will tell you about the rights and obligations of a tenant in Dubai, and touch on the laws of renting real estate in the UAE.

What you need to know when renting a property in Dubai

The UAE Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) has established laws governing the relationship between landlord and tenant of real estate in Dubai. Legislation clearly defines the division of duties in order to minimize disputes and misunderstandings. Under the UAE rental law, all tenants in Dubai must comply with certain legal obligations. If the tenant is planning to move into a new property, or vice versa, is going to move out, he must ensure that the obligations specified in Law No. (26) of 2007 are fulfilled. The law governing the relationship between landlords and tenants is known as the Dubai Tenancy Law. It establishes ways to resolve conflicts, as well as the rights and general obligations of tenants and homeowners in the UAE. The law applies to both residential and commercial assets.

Knowledge of laws and regulations will help minimize disputes and misunderstandings that may arise due to insufficient awareness of the responsibilities of both parties. Below we present a list in which we list the rights and obligations of a tenant in Dubai.

  Tenant rights in Dubai

• During the term of the contract, the landlord assumes full responsibility for the maintenance of his own property, including the repair of any defects and damage that may endanger the living conditions of the tenant;
• The landlord must not make any changes to the property that could interfere with the tenant's full use of the property. However, repairs may be made at the tenant's discretion, especially if they are intended to improve the rental property;
• If the tenant wants to make repairs, the landlord must provide permission. But repairs should not affect the structure of the house, if the tenant has the necessary permission;
• If the landlord decides to terminate the lease, the landlord must notify the tenant of his decision 12 months prior to the date of eviction. If the landlord decides to evict the tenant without formal notice, the tenant may file a claim with the rental dispute committee, providing supporting documents, for damages;
• Rent increase in Dubai is possible during the renewal of the contract. However, it must comply with the RERA guidelines as listed on the organization's website for various areas and types of properties.

Responsibilities of a tenant in Dubai

• The tenant must pay the agreed rent on time and maintain the property in the best possible condition;
• If the tenant wants to make any changes to the property, he must obtain permission from the landlord with prior approval from the competent authorities in Dubai;
• The landlord may require the tenant to provide a security deposit that guarantees the security of the leased property at the end of the lease term. The tenant may receive the full deposit or its balance upon mutually agreed termination or expiration of the lease agreement;
• At the end of the lease, the tenant must hand over to the landlord the property in good condition, except for normal wear and tear or damage due to unforeseen circumstances. In the event of a dispute between the landlord and the tenant, the issue must be referred to the court to resolve the situation;
• State fees and taxes for the use of the leased property are paid by the tenant. It also includes any fees or taxes levied on any subtenant.
• Unless otherwise agreed between the landlord and tenant, the tenant may not remove any rental property improvements made by the tenant upon vacating and releasing the rental property.
• Unless otherwise agreed between the landlord and the tenant, the tenant may not sublease the leased property to third parties without the written consent of the landlord.

The last three items in the list are relevant unless otherwise agreed between the landlord and the tenant.