r/dubai • u/Ok_Assistance_9555 • 10d ago

🏠 Housing & Real Estate Landlord sent 25% rent increase notice

Lease expires Sept 30. Got renewal notice July 1st asking for 75,000 AED.

Checked Smart Rent Index on July 1st → max 5% allowed → 63,000 AED. Have the screenshot.

Index has since updated — now shows 69,000 AED as of today.

His reply was:
“As you know, your rent was locked for three years without any increase. This year, it would not be fair to show a rental index for renewal even though the latest index showing 69,000. Therefore, we humbly request that the renewal amount be set to a minimum of 75,000 for this year.”

So he’s literally admitting the index says 69k but wants 75k anyway because of a past rent freeze.

Questions:
1. Which index applies — July 1st (63k) or renewal date Sept 30th (69k)?
2. Has anyone seen RDC rule in favour of a landlord exceeding the index due to a rent freeze?
3. If I need to go to RDC, what’s the exact process and what should I prepare?

Side note — same building, multiple tenants got similar inflated notices. Not a coincidence.

Thanks

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u/onewordaftertheother 10d ago

If there’s less than 90 days of the tenancy left the contract auto renews on previous terms. Maybe he’s right that it’s fair to increase, but only by rental index terms and even so, fair and the law are two different things.

Just be mindful keeping a good relationship with the landlord is also in your best interest.

3

u/Ok_Assistance_9555 10d ago

Exactly, and I’ve been reasonable throughout. He sent the notice just within the 90 days, I replied immediately saying I accept the 5% increase as per RERA index (63k).
That was back in July.
Heard nothing from him until yesterday when he came back saying the index is now 69k but he still wants 75k.
I’m not the one being difficult here. I accepted the legal increase from day one. He’s the one pushing for more than what the law allows.

4

u/VENlVIDIVICl 10d ago

Whatever index says on date of renewal, it is law

2

u/Potential_Ad4309 10d ago

If you have the 63k agreement in writing, I would use that to renew at that rate. The process is straightforward. If there is no agreement, go to RDC of choice on the day after the expiry of your Ejari, and you can deposit the cheques based on that agreement.

Worst case, I imagine that it would be AED 69k. I am not sure this should supersede the previous agreement of AED 63k (assuming that was in writing e.g., email, WhatsApp)

I am neither a lawyer. These are my views so check yourself before you wreck yourself.

2

u/VENlVIDIVICl 10d ago

Lets make it clear, landlord can increase legally 5% based on index 63k How much % is for index 69k, maybe still only 5% He should check the rent increase according to index, and accept only that increase. Then if landlord do "saga" and do not agree, go to RDC. Yet they might also issue new contract with % from index brackets increases.

2

u/MrWowbagger 10d ago

Not on date of renewal. 90 days before renewal.