Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The Dubai rental market presents a complex landscape in favor of owners and real estate agents, often to the detriment of tenants through inflexible payments, hidden costs and minimum protection of tenants, recently claims on Reddit.
In a position drawn up, the Redditor complained that unlike most world cities where rent is generally paid monthly, Dubai owners frequently demand that tenants pay in one, two or four checks for the whole year. This structure is poorly aligned with common income cycles, forcing tenants to manage substantial initial payments.
Dubai real estate agents play an important role in the rental market but often offer limited support for tenants. “Real estate agents in Dubai do not do much but collect heavy commissions (5% of the annual rent) while storing with owners. They go on properties, disappear after the agreement and ignore the concerns of tenants – leaving the tenants helpless in disputes,” read the Reddit Post.
Non -refundable security deposits are another disputed problem. The owners regularly require substantial deposits, but the post suggests that they have rarely returned in their entirety. “Minor wear? Deduated. Repainment? Dédé. In many cases, tenants never see this money again,” complained of the user.
The hidden fees still complicate the situation of the tenants. Tenants are often required to pay additional fees for EJARI registration and contract renewals. In addition, choosing to pay the rent monthly, as is standard elsewhere, causes additional costs, which makes flexibility an expensive option on this market.
The system is characterized by its real lack of alignment with the cycles of tenants’ income, creating financial pressures for many residents. Inflexible payment structures and additional administrative costs exacerbate the financial burden imposed on tenants, mainly immigrants. This system seems to be designed to benefit mainly to owners, with minimum protection of the tenants in place.
The Post Reddit sparked a long discussion with users mainly agree with the user. “It is absolutely ridiculous. Banks do not even give you a decent interest, but the owners have found a way to earn easy money. They take amounts of huge rents in advance, keep your money for months and act as if they do you service,” said a user.
“An option is to try to rent directly to real estate management companies. Dubai and water in general, is now intended for owners and not house tenants. The sooner you can go from the latter to the first, the more you are likely to extend your stay in Dubai,” shared another user.
