Is My Rental Agreement Fair?
RERA protects tenants in Dubai, but landlords often include clauses that exceed RERA limits. Early termination penalties of 3+ months, maintenance responsibilities that should be the landlord's, and security deposit traps are all common. Your rights exist — but only if you know about them.
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Upload your rental agreement. Our AI checks every clause against RERA regulations and flags exactly what exceeds legal limits.
Upload My Rental Contract for AI Analysis6 Warning Signs Your Rental Agreement Is Unfair
Early termination penalty exceeding 2 months
RERA standard is 2 months rent. If your contract says 3 months or more, the landlord is overreaching.
Auto-renewal with unreasonable notice period
Some contracts require 90 days written notice to avoid automatic renewal. Miss it by one day and you're locked in.
Maintenance shifted entirely to tenant
RERA says landlords handle structural repairs. If your contract makes you responsible for AC, plumbing, and repainting, that's unfair.
Security deposit return conditions hidden in schedule
The main text says 'refundable deposit' but a separate schedule lists impossible conditions for getting it back.
Rent increase above RERA calculator limits
Dubai has a rental increase calculator. Your contract cannot override RERA limits on annual increases.
Dispute resolution pushed to private arbitration
Some landlords redirect disputes away from RERA's Rental Disputes Centre to expensive private arbitration.
The Fastest Way to Know
Every rental contract in Dubai is slightly different. Standard RERA templates get customised by landlords and agencies. The devil is in the details.
TenderScan reads your actual rental agreement and compares every clause against RERA regulations. You get a clear report showing what's standard, what's aggressive, and what's potentially illegal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does RERA actually protect me from?
RERA sets limits on rent increases, requires landlords to maintain the property, establishes rules for eviction notices (12 months written notice), and provides a Rental Disputes Centre for affordable dispute resolution. However, RERA cannot override every term you voluntarily signed.
Can my landlord evict me if I pay rent on time?
Only under specific conditions: the landlord needs the property for personal use, wants to demolish or renovate it, or wants to sell. Even then, 12 months written notice is required via notary public or registered mail. Your contract cannot shorten this period.
Is my rental contract valid if it's only in English?
The contract is valid between the parties, but in a court dispute, only the Arabic version is legally binding. If you only have an English version and a dispute arises, you may need to get an official Arabic translation — and the translation may not perfectly match your intent.
Related Pages
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