Dubai rent renewal: What can your landlord actually charge you?
Dubai: Renewing a tenancy in Dubai can come with questions over rent increases, agent charges and registration fees. But tenants are not required to accept every fee a landlord or property manager asks for. Here is what landlords and agents can and cannot charge when you renew your Dubai rental contract. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here. How much…
Dubai tenants renewing their leases should be aware of the legal limits on what their landlords can charge them. According to Dubai Decree No. 43 of 2013 and the relevant rental index, landlords can only increase rent by 0% to a maximum of 20% if the current rent is below the average market rate. Tenants must receive at least 90 days' written notice of any rent change before the contract expires.
Importantly, landlords cannot levy a fee for renewing a tenancy contract; the Dubai Rental Disputes Center (RDC) has ruled this illegal. Agents may have separate agreements with tenants, and if they provide specific services like renewal assistance, a service charge could be negotiated, but not an arbitrary rent hike. Ejari registration is a separate cost, currently set at Dh177.75 through the Dubai REST app or website.
Tenants should review their contracts, verify rent increases against the Rental Exchange Rate Agreement (RERA) index, and request a detailed breakdown of any additional charges before agreeing to renew their lease.
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