When it comes to renting in Dubai, the Real Estate Regulatory Authority has set some legal guidelines. Speaking of tenancy laws, registering your rental contract with Ejari is mandatory. Still, some tenants and landlords skip this process for different reasons. This raises the question – is it safe to rent an apartment in Dubai without Ejari?
It is illegal and unsafe to rent an apartment without Ejari since it protects your rights when renting a property in Dubai. Read on to find out more.
- A Quick Overview of Ejari
- Is It Safe to Rent an Apartment in Dubai Without Ejari?
- Why Some Tenants Choose to Rent Without Ejari?
- Ejari Vs Non-Ejari Rentals
- How to Convince a Landlord for Ejari Registration
- How to Register a Tenancy Contract With Ejari
- FAQs
A Quick Overview of Ejari
Under Law No. 33 of 2008, the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) established Ejari, an online system that authenticates tenancy contracts.
According to RERA rental property laws, Ejari registration is mandatory for every tenancy agreement. This not only protects tenant and landlord rights but also serves a variety of purposes.
Is It Safe to Rent an Apartment in Dubai Without Ejari?
Although Ejari registration is a legal requirement, some tenants overlook this process for different reasons. This is where the question comes in: is it safe to rent an apartment in Dubai without Ejari? Short and simple, the answer to this question is no.
Any tenancy contract exceeding one month must be registered with Ejari. It is not legally permitted to rent an apartment or any other property without Ejari registration. But why do tenants rent without Ejari and what are the associated risks? Let’s find out in detail.
Why Some Tenants Choose to Rent Without Ejari?
Do you know why some tenants rent an apartment in Dubai without Ejari? Here are some of the common reasons:
- Saving Cost: In some cases, landlords and tenants skip this process to save the Ejari registration fee.
- Privacy: Landlords and tenants may rent without Ejari to avoid registration of personal details in official records.
- Lack of Awareness: Most people are unaware of the legal processes and risks of non-Ejari rentals.
Ejari Vs Non-Ejari Rentals: Benefits and Risks
How do Ejari rentals differ from non-Ejari ones? What benefits Ejari registered tenancy contracts offer and what are the legal implications of renting an apartment in Dubai without Ejari? Let’s look at a comparison of Ejari vs non-Ejari rentals and answer all your questions:
1. Legal Protection
Registration with Ejari provides tenants and landlords legal protection in conflicts. This protects the interests of both parties by imposing RERA rental laws on them.
On the other hand, RERA does not recognise non-Ejari rentals. In the absence of rental laws, the tenants and landlords might create issues like:
- Unfair rent increase
- Eviction
- Security deposit refund
- Unpaid rent
- Property damage
2. Landlord-Tenant Relationship
Another benefit of Ejari rental is that it maintains a healthy landlord-tenant relationship. From enforcing necessary laws to avoiding risks, there is much that Ejari does. RERA has also established a Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDC) to resolve tenant-landlord disputes.
For non-Ejari rentals, resolving rental disputes in Dubai is challenging as RDC does not handle such cases. For this reason, landlords may evict a tenant without notice and tenants may also disregard the tenancy contract.
3. Utility Connections
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) provides basic utility services. Applying for these services is easy with an Ejari certificate. However, setting up utility connections is not possible for non-Ejari rentals.
4. Visa Renewal
Ejari registered tenancy contract is a mandatory requirement for self and family members’ visa renewals. Without Ejari, it is impossible to renew visas in Dubai which poses another risk.
How to Convince a Landlord for Ejari Registration
Some of the landlords refuse Ejari registration to avoid validating tenancy contracts. Tenants can take the following steps in such cases:
- Communicate with the landlord and try to resolve the issue. Let them know about the benefits of Ejari registration.
- If communication fails to resolve the issue, the tenant can seek legal advice.
- As a last resort, the tenant can file a complaint at RDC.
How to Register a Tenancy Contract With Ejari
Ejari registration in Dubai might seem daunting, but it is straightforward. Here are the details on how to register your tenancy contract with Ejari:
Required Documents
- Security deposit receipt
- Original signed tenancy contract
- Copy of tenant’s passport
- UAE residence visa copy
- Emirates ID
- Copy of landlord’s passport
- Power of Attorney (PoA)
- Copy of title deed
- Trade licence copy
Service Fee
- Online:
- Registration Fee: AED 100
- Knowledge Fee: AED 10
- Innovation Fee: AED 10
- Service Centres:
- Registration Fee: AED 120
- Service Partners’ Fee: AED 95
Process
Follow these steps to register your tenancy contract with Ejari:
- Visit your nearest typing centre or use the DLD website or Dubai REST mobile application.
- Fill out the application form, attach the required documents and pay the service fee.
- Receive your Ejari certificate in one to two days.
FAQs
Yes, it is mandatory to register tenancy contracts in Dubai with Ejari. It is a legal requirement that protects tenants’ and landlords’ rights.
Yes, an Ejari-registered tenancy contract is an important requirement when renewing visas in Dubai.
We must have answered your question: is it safe to rent an apartment in Dubai without Ejari? To sum up, Ejari registration is a legal requirement for renting in Dubai. It safeguards landlords’ and tenants’ rights by enforcing necessary tenancy laws. Register your tenancy contract with Ejari to avoid future conflicts.
Similarly, renewing Ejari is mandatory every time a tenancy contract is renewed in Dubai.
