Five things you need to know when renting an apartment in UAE

The UAE is a popular place to live thanks to the many career and business opportunities it offers, and its safe environment. Here’s what you need to know when renting an apartment there.

Many people move to the UAE to settle and work but have difficulties finding a place to live or renting an apartment. The high cost of living and unique rental rules can make the moving process tricky if you are not aware of the property and rental laws.

So to help you, in this article we share five things you need to know when renting an apartment in UAE.

1) Your tenancy laws and rights

Before renting an apartment, it is important to make sure you are fully aware of the tenancy laws and rights. This will ensure your legal protection and improve your relationship with the property owner.

To start with, make sure you and the landlord agree to abide by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) Dubai Rental Dubai Law.

Some of the few important rights you should know are:

  • The property which is being rented to the tenant must be in good living condition. The landlord is supposed to make sure the apartment is safe and hygienic for the tenant to live in.
  • If the landlord requires the tenant to deposit a sum for the security deposit, they are supposed to refund the amount when the tenancy contract expires.
  • The landlord is entitled to raise the tenant’s rent only if they give 90 days prior notice.
  • If the ownership of the property is being transferred to a new owner, it does not affect the tenant’s right to continue occupying the property.

Go through the RERA tenancy laws to make sure you are aware of your rights.

2) The rental rules of your property

The tenant is required to abide by all the property rules laid down by the property owner or landlord. As Dubai real estate is known for its rigid property rental rules, don’t rent a property if you can’t adhere to the rules and regulations that come with it. This includes the rental payment structure as well.

Many property owners in Dubai might require you to pay one year’s rent upfront as it enables them to settle the rent payment quickly and serves as a guarantee. Two part payments are also a common practice where a single year’s rent is split into two.

If the tenant fails to provide sufficient funds for clearance, it will result in a cheque bounce in UAE. Depending upon the amount of the draft, the tenant can either be sentenced to jail or charged a fine.

Hiring a good property management company can help avoid such incidents as they have proper preventive measures set in place. BSO is one such company where tenants are screened and required to show their bank balance to avoid dishonouring drafts.

3) Registering your tenancy contract

As a tenant you should register for Ejari in order to exercise all your rights and legally protect all the parties involved in the contract. An Ejari registration is also necessary for the Dewa (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) registration.

You can register for Ejari online on the official website. A few of the documents you will need to upload include:

  • Emirates ID
  • UAE Visa
  • Passport
  • Tenancy agreement
  • Title Deed of rented property
  • Receipt of Dewa connection

4) Setting up your Dewa (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) account

In order to activate the water and electricity service you will need to set up your Dewa account. You can collect the application from local Dewa customer service centres or online from their website. A security deposit of AED 2000 has to be paid if you are renting a flat.

Some of the documents you will need include your Emirates ID, passport copy and a copy of your Ejari contract. The supply is usually activated within 15 hours of registration.

5) Conditions for eviction

A tenant can be evicted from the property for a few reasons, including:

  • Illegal use of property or breaching of public order.
  • Failure to pay the rent within 30 days of issue of the final payment notice.
  • Making changes to the property which renders it unsafe or impossible to restore it to its original state.
  • Failure to abide by the terms and conditions specified in the tenancy contract.

Make sure you know your rights and all regulations before renting a property in UAE

If you are unsure about your rights or the property rules you can contact your property manager or a professional who can guide you through the process. It will make the moving process – and your tenancy – much smoother and easier.