RENT HIKED WITHOUT NOTICE?

TENANTS, KNOW YOUR OPTIONS

- BY MANOJ NAIR

Are you a tenant in Dubai with an upcoming rental renewal? Have you heard from the landlord within the last 90 days about a rent increase?

Many tenants in Dubai in such situations say they have not heard anything from landlords despite the Dubai Land Department newly updated rules expressly stating that this has to be done, within 90 days of the lease contract's renewal. This was done with the firm intent of stopping landlords hitting tenants with sudden — and above market average — rental demands.

WHAT TENANTS SAY

"My renewal was up in late April and I found out about a 5 per cent hike only after I turned up at the landlord's office for renewal," said a resident at one of the upscale communities in the city. "There are other tenants in a similar situation with 5 per cent hikes on renewal but were never told about it within those 90-day period.

"The most unfortunate part is that I renewed immediately, but the landlord registered a case with the Dubai Rental Disputes Court for being late in signing up."