Dubai’s real estate market is vibrant and offers lucrative opportunities for Dubai landlords. As a new landlord in Dubai, it’s essential to understand your rights and responsibilities to navigate the market effectively. This guide provides an overview of what you need to know.

What is a Landlord

A landlord in Dubai is someone that owns a property and wants to rent it out to an individual or a company for one calendar year or more. Anything less than this is considered a short term tenancy and is subject to DTCM laws and regulations.

Once you have handover of your property and you want to rent it out, you must clean, paint and ensure that all services (DEWA, internet, air conditioning, swimming pool) and any other amenities are working properly before signing a rental agreement with a tenant. You must also ensure that there are no pending service fees, injunctions or penalities from the developer, Dubai Land Department, utilities provider or any other associated body on the property that may inhibit you to rent it out. Lastly, if there is more than one person on the title deed, all parties must sign the tenancy contract as the landlord or give power of attorney (POA) to one person in order for them to sign the tenancy contract. If the property is registered under a company name, the authorized representative of the company who has the legal authority to sign is the only one who can sign the tenancy contract.

Benefits of Being a Landlord in Dubai

1. High Rental Yields: Dubai offers some of the highest rental yields globally, averaging around 6-8% annually, making property investment highly attractive. This is significantly higher than yields in many other major cities, such as London or New York, where yields typically range between 3-5% .
2. Tax-Free Income: Rental income in Dubai is tax-free, providing a significant advantage compared to other global markets. This allows landlords to maximize their profits without the burden of paying income taxes on their rental earnings. Keep in mind landlords do have to the developer service fees in order to maintain the common areas / master community the property is located in.
3. Strong Market Demand: The city’s population is growing, driven by a booming economy and attractive expatriate lifestyle, ensuring consistent demand for rental properties. This demand is further bolstered by the city’s status as a global business hub and a popular tourist destination.

Responsibilities of a Dubai Landlord

1. Maintaining the Property: Landlords are responsible for maintaining their properties in good condition and ensure all the services within the property are run properly. This includes major repairs and ensuring all facilities, such as plumbing, electrical systems, and structural components are functional. Routine maintenance tasks, like servicing air conditioning units and pest control, are also crucial to uphold the property’s value and tenant satisfaction.
2. Legal Compliance: It is essential to comply with the rental laws governed by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) and the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). This includes registering tenancy contracts with Ejari, which standardizes rental agreements, registers the contract with the government and ensures legal protection for both landlords and tenants.
3. Respecting Tenant Rights: Landlords must respect tenant privacy, provide notice before property inspections, and adhere to agreed-upon terms in the rental contract. This fosters a positive landlord-tenant relationship and minimizes disputes.

Challenges of Being a Landlord in Dubai

1. Regulatory Changes: Dubai’s real estate regulations can change, requiring landlords to stay informed and compliant to avoid penalties. These changes can affect rental caps, maintenance obligations, and tenancy contract terms. The rental dispute committee is a special government body under RERA who oversee any landlord-tenant disputes. Landlords or tenants can register a case with the RDC in case of dispute and provide evidence to support their claims and wait for the judgement to be issued by the judges at the RDC. To register a complaint, a landlord will need to pay 3.5% of the annual rent, with a minimum fee of AED 500 and a maximum fee of AED 20,000.
2. Maintenance Costs: While rental yields are high, maintenance and repair costs can be significant, affecting overall profitability. Regular maintenance is crucial to prevent minor issues from escalating into costly repairs. This became evident when Dubai experienced it’s worst flooding in 75 years in April 2024 where landlords had to pay to repair their properties so that tenants could continue to stay in them.
3. Tenant Turnover: High turnover rates can lead to periods of vacancy, impacting rental income stability. Effective tenant management, offering competitive rental terms such as multiple cheques or extra days or months free and maintaining the property in good condition can mitigate this risk.

Key Landlord Rights

1. Rental Increases: Landlords have the right to increase rent within the guidelines set by RERA and the RDC, which stipulates the percentage increase based on current market rates and property location. These guidelines are designed to protect both landlords and tenants from unfair rent hikes or drops. The RERA rental calculator can be accessed online to understand how much landlords can increase rents legally.
2. Eviction Rights: Under specific conditions, such as non-payment or delayed payment of rent, bounced cheques, damages to the property or illegal activities, landlords can evict tenants following proper legal procedures. The Rental Dispute Settlement Center handles these cases, ensuring that evictions are carried out fairly and legally.
3. Security Deposits: Landlords can collect a security deposit from tenants, which can be used for any damages caused by the tenant during their stay. The amount is 5% of the rental amount, and it must be returned to the tenant at the end of the lease term, minus any deductions for repairs.

Conclusion

Being a landlord in Dubai offers numerous benefits, including high rental yields and tax-free income. However, it also comes with responsibilities and challenges that require careful management. Understanding your rights and staying informed about the regulatory environment will help ensure a successful and profitable experience as a Dubai landlord. As always, keep checking Viewit for the latest and most up to date real estate news and reviews Dubai has to offer!