Are you new to Dubai and looking to rent your first home?
Or, simply seeking to relocate or upgrade?
Dubai offers residents a plethora of choices that appeal to every lifestyle, from super luxury villas and penthouses to affordable studios and townhouses, ultimately it comes down to your budget that will determine where and what type of property you will be looking at.
Factors that influence the price of rent in Dubai:
Understanding your budget
Housing, is typically largest monthly expense for a person or family. As a general rule of thumb, no more than 30% of your salary should be spent on housing.
For example, on a salary of AED20,000 per month, AED6,000, or less, per month should be allocated toward housing, equating to AED72,000 per year.
However, everyone’s financial situation is different. If you don’t spend much on transportation or entertainment, you may have more room to move with your housing budget.
If you are relocating for business purposes, it is always a good idea to ask the company who is employing you if there is a build-in “living out allowance” in the contract, and look to work within that budget.
Costs associated with renting in Dubai
To be legally binding, all Tenancy Contracts must be registered with the Ejari system, a contract registration platform administered by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) to authenticate rental contracts and agreements between tenants and landlords.
Chiller Fees – Comprised of [Consumption Charge + Demand Charge + Fuel Surcharge]. District cooling deposits and connection fees vary according to the provider and size of the property.
District cooling, chiller, or air conditioning, is an essential requirement given the climate in Dubai. Emicool and Empower are the main providers.
Fuel Surcharge; due to increases in global fuel prices, a fuel surcharge will be included in your bill. DEWA will calculate this charge on a transparent basis and it will be passed on in your monthly bill
Documents required to lease a property in Dubai
To prepare a tenancy contract:
(Remember, before signing a contract, you should thoroughly read through each clause, making a note of anything you do not fully understand. Never leave room for ambiguity, as this means a clause may be open to interpretation later down the line, and potentially not in your favour)
Upon signing your tenancy contract:
(Ensure you receive a receipt of payment for the agency fee, as well as copies of each rent cheque)
For registering your tenancy contract with Ejari:
Additional information
Where can I find an Ejari Typing Center?
Other than the online registration, tenants and landlords can also visit the designated Ejari typing centers in Dubai along with the relevant documents.
Approved Ejari centers are located in
Ejari typing centers operate Saturday to Thursday and follow general working hours. Ejari desk timings: 08:00 am to 08:00 pm | Saturdays 09:00 am to 02:00 pm. Some Ejari center locations may have different business hours. It’s always better to confirm the timings prior to your intended visit.
NOTE: Ensure previous Ejari is cancelled, Ejari certificates must be cancelled by either the former tenant, the landlord, real estate agency or property management company. They do not cancel automatically on tenancy expiry. If this has not been done, it will prevent and delay your registration and certificate.
DEWA connection
Once registration is complete, you will receive the official Ejari contract which includes a unique Ejari ID number. This number is used to register for your DEWA account, which you can now conveniently complete online.
Newly integrated systems between Ejari and DEWA mean you will receive a DEWA connection process electronically once your Ejari contract has been registered.
Once received, here’s the next steps:
Download the DEWA Smart Application and follow the prompts to apply for a new connection
Provide your Ejari contract number, Emirates ID and passport copy
Make payment of the refundable DEWA deposit amount through the online payment gateway
Make payment of the non-refundable connection fee through the online payment gateway
TIP: Be aware of pending DEWA payments
In some cases, previous renters may not have settled their DEWA bill before leaving the premises, meaning you will be unable to obtain your connection until the outstanding payment is settled.
Connecting district cooling
Move-in form
Some popular communities in Dubai, such as Downtown Dubai, Arabian Ranches, The Springs, The Meadows and Dubai Marina, require tenants to produce a move-in permit before they occupy an apartment or villa.
Check with the real estate agent or landlord whether this is a prerequisite of your area, and where to obtain the necessary forms – typically, they will be available on the developer’s website.
Cheques
Before you finalise and sign your tenancy contract, you need to agree on the frequency of rental repayments, commonly referred to as number of cheques. Most landlords will accept two to four cheques. Typically, less cheques come with the bargaining power of negotiating lower rent.
Gas supply
Depending on the community you choose to live in, you might require a gas connection for the use of the oven. Some communities have a set gas supplier, whereby the gas is piped into the property and there is a set deposit and connection fee which will apply.
Older communities generally have a gas bottle system, you will be required to order a gas bottle from your preferred supplier and it will delivered to your door.
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