For most UAE tenants, there's one dreaded period of the year: renewal time. Will the landlord quote market rent or cite a rate in line with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera) rental index?
An article in Khaleej Times advises people to go to the rental increase calculator in the Dubai Land Department page and do the math. It will mention whether you are paying above or below-par rents based on which area you live in.
Craig Plumb, head of research, JLL Mena, said: “Many landlords still ask for increases outside of those permitted on the basis that not all tenants will be sufficiently knowledgeable or motivated to challenge these excesses through the rental disputes centre.”
It’s a win-win scenario for tenants in case landlords seek rents in excess of the index. “There is absolutely no compulsion on tenants to pay rents above the index level as there is no action that the landlord can take to legally enforce such an increase,” suggests Plumb.