Tenancy Rights in UAE

Being a Landlord or tenant, is imperative to know the fundamental rules of tenancy laws to safeguard us. The tenancy privileges of landlords & tenants are provided here-below

TENANCY RIGHTS IN ABU DHABI

With rapid developments over the past decade approximately, the Abu Dhabi property market is zooming right to the highest within the region. The population is spoilt for choice when it involves renting an area to measure in Abu Dhabi. Apartments, villas, high-end or mid-market, islands or mainland – there’s something for everyone. However, what does it mean to be a tenant in Abu Dhabi?

If you’re a resident of the capital, here’s everything you would like to understand about Abu Dhabi tenant rights and therefore the tenancy law in Abu Dhabi.

ABU DHABI TENANCY LAW AMENDMENTS

Abu Dhabi Law, Law No. 20 of 2006, with respect to leases and relationship between landlords and tenants introduced
2010 Abu Dhabi Law No. 4 Landlords receive legal rights to ask tenants to vacate – 5% rent cap established with no notice period required
2011 Abu Dhabi council 2011 Rules, regulations & procedures of tenancy contract registration organized
2012 Administrative Resolution No 12 & 13 Regulations for residential unit occupancy
2012 Abu Dhabi Executive compulsorily 2 months’ notice period with 5% rent cap withdrew with a compulsory two months’ notice period
2016 Abu Dhabi Council Resolution Tenants ought to pay 3% housing fee to Municipality
2016 Abu Dhabi Executive Council No. 32 5% rent cap reinstated
2017 Tenancy Law Amendment on 20th November 2017 Regulations for rental disputes

The tenancy law ruling Abu Dhabi tenancy contracts was set forth as Law No. 20 of 2006 accompanied by a sequence of amendments that contemplate changing the market conditions. Law No. 20 of 2006 was passed to manage issues like rental price and eviction policies. Prior to amendments that came later, landlords couldn’t evict tenants upon expiration of the lease contract

RIGHTS OF TENANTS UNDER THE TENANCY LAW IN ABU DHABI

Here are some general guidelines to assist you understand tenant rights in Abu Dhabi.

Registration

The Abu Dhabi Executive Council No. 4 of 2011 demands landlords to record properties and effectual tenancy contracts with the Abu Dhabi Municipality (ADM). ADM uses a system called Tawtheeq to remain a record of tenancy contracts and data related to the property being leased. The Abu Dhabi tenancy contract registration ought to be in English and Arabic, otherwise only in Arabic for it to be accepted within the Tawtheeq registry.

The following Administrative Resolution No. 97 of 2012 additionally regulated the registration process of lease contracts. The above resolution commands Abu Dhabi Municipality to organize a chronicle of the Abu Dhabi tenancy contract registrations which must comprise data related to the property (residential or commercial), together with landlord and tenant data.

With respect to the tenancy law in Abu Dhabi, all the landlords are required to register their properties and consequent tenancy contracts with ADM. Tenants should ask to ascertain the property registration certificate when deciding to rent in Abu Dhabi.

ABU DHABI RENTAL PRICE CAP

The Abu Dhabi Tenancy Law glimpsed its First Amendment/revision in 2010 with Abu Dhabi Law No. 4. The Law limited or capped the yearly rental cost rises at 5% which intended that tenants can expect a maximum rent increase of up to 5% at the time of the renewal of their tenancy.

In 2012, the Abu Dhabi council issued law no. 32 which eliminated the rental price limitation and permitted the landlords to increase property prices as per the market rates. However, the decree required landlords to provide two months’ notice to tenants stating the altered price.

Effective 13th December 2016, the Abu Dhabi Council reinstated the five hundred rental cap on the lease agreement with Resolution No. 14 of 2016. Landlords and tenants can choose the rental price and enter a lease agreement. The landlord can increase the worth annually within the worth cap set by this resolution.

Presently, the Abu Dhabi laws state that a 5% rental cap/limitation applies to leased properties in Abu Dhabi. Landlords and property management companies can increase annual rent within this limit, provided they notify tenants a minimum of 2 months before contract renewal.

The 5% rental cap in Abu Dhabi ensures landlords and owners cannot charge the tenant above the market rate.

TENANT NOTICE PERIOD

Law No. 4 of 2010 empowers landlords to expel tenants once their tenancy contract runs out. This regulation of the Abu Dhabi rental law also permits the landlords to turn down, renewal of the tenancy contract if they desire to do so. “A landlord can evacuate the tenant by issuing 60 days’ notice before the end of the lease date. He/She has got to provide a reason for this eviction. Similarly, if a tenant not wishes to renew the lease, a 60 days’ notice has got to tend to the owner stating that the lease won’t be renewed. The Abu Dhabi Executive Council Law No. 32 supplemented to the Abu Dhabi rental law expresses that landlords need to issue an evacuation or tenant eviction notice two months before contract renewal. Ensuing the standard Abu Dhabi tenant eviction process, this notice and period has got to be served by both the parties. Under the Abu Dhabi property law concerning tenancy, landlords and property management companies within the capital need to give tenants 2 months’ notice for any amendments they want to make to the tenancy contract. This refers to rent rise, evacuation or changes into other tenancy contract terms.

OCCUPANCY IN ABU DHABI RENTAL PROPERTY

Administrative Resolution No. 12 of 2012 constituted certain instructions/guidelines for occupancy/inhabitation in Abu Dhabi housing units. Here are a number of the restrictions that Abu Dhabi tenants got to be mindful of:

The number of occupants is predicated on the entire area of the apartment or villa. The area allocated to every occupant should be no but 14 sq. m (excluding children and housemaids)
Occupants shouldn’t use halls and corridors in residential units as bedrooms
Landlords are not allowed to divide a residential/housing unit to rent our separately without proper authorization.
A single room within the residential property cannot have quite three occupants living simultaneously (excluding children and housemaids)
More than one family cannot share one residential unit
Families occupying one residential unit cannot share it with persons who aren’t associated with the family (children and housemaids excluded)

HOUSING FEES

Abu Dhabi tenants also pay a housing fee to ADM, consistent with Abu Dhabi Council Resolution No. 13 of 2016. The accommodation fee is a standard 3% of yearly rent and addressing to all/any housing units in Abu Dhabi. It is payable to the Municipality, not to the owners of the unit.

ABU DHABI RENT DISPUTE SETTLEMENT COMMITTEE

One of Abu Dhabi’s best tenant-convenient decisions is the establishment of a dispute settlement committee which that listens to discords emerging between tenants and landlords, as a result giving tenants an impartial right in case of any dispute. The committee listens to the disputes and the hearing.

Abu Dhabi tenancy law assures impartiality for tenants and landlords in the course of rental disputes.

request
a call back

What you need to know is that we’re always here for your legal needs, no matter what they are. But if you want a quick answer or have something pretty simple going on then just give us a call and one of our advisors will be happy to help out as soon as possible!