Landlords asking for tenants' nationality in Dubai

Tenants in Dubai are complaining that some owners of houses, particularly in the free zones, are setting their own terms for renting outside the terms of the contract, the Arabic newspaper ‘Al Bayan’ has reported.

They claim that some property owners enquire about the nationality of the tenant and the nature of his work, monthly income and the number of members in his family before agreeing to sign the rent contract.

They said some landlords insist on a personal interview with the tenant before agreeing to rent out their properties.

Tenant Shadi Al Saeed said he was surprised by house owners putting such conditions when he was searching for a flat in Dubai Sports City and Dubai Media City.

“The broker told me that it is difficult to find a flat in these areas because some landlords do not want Arabs,” Al Saeed said.

He added while some house owners want to know the tenant's profession and place of work, whether his job is permanent or temporary and whether the company which he is working for has a good reputation. He claimed some landlords also want a salary certificate and a bank statement for the past two months.

He said some landlords also insist on a personal interview at which he may accept or reject the tenant.

Tenant Mohamed Mabrouk said he had been rejected by some landlords in Dubai Sports City because of his Arab nationality.

Some landlords told Mabrouk that he would not be able to get a residence visa for his wife because the building is not registered. Some others insist that the number of family members should not be more than four.

Tenant Amr Hassan said he was surprised when the broker wanted to know his designation in the company and sought a salary certificate and a certificate that he had a permanent job  before meeting the landlord to sign the lease.

Ehsan Zain, an official of a real estate brokerage, justified the demands of some house owners, saying they are intended to ensure that the tenant meets his obligation to pay rent. Queries about the nature of the profession and salary give an indication to the owner whether the tenant’s cheques are likely to bounce or not.

The tough demands are usually the result of a bad experience with a previous tenant, Zain said.

He stressed that the law does not discriminate between nationalities and landlords do not have the right deny lease for certain nationalities.

Ra’ad Ramadan of Awadh Gargash Real Estate Company said the new laws give the tenant the right to continue to stay in the apartment and also gives him a deadline or grace period for leaving it.

He mentioned although the law protects both the house owner and the tenant but the slow legal process makes the owner to prefer to avoid legal problems with the tenant from the beginning. The lessor makes such demands to ensure that the tenant has the ability to pay rent.

He said some house owners prefer dealing with government employees or employees of large companies to make sure that the tenant is able to pay his monthly installments.

The normal demands from the tenant are copies of the passport and residence visa and cheques.

He said some landlords sought specific characteristics in the tenants so as not to affect the atmosphere inside the building and to avoid inconvenience for the rest of the occupants.

Mohammed bin Hamad, senior manager (real estate relations management) at Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera)  of Dubai Land Department, said the department is monitoring the market and following up on complaints and malpractices of some landlords in Dubai.

“Rera has sent a circular to all offices of realtors, warning them that anyone adding conditions to the official rent contract, particularly regarding nationality, will be fined Dh50,000,” he added.

In case of a repeat of this violation, the fine will be doubled to be Dh100,000  and if this happens for the third time, the realtor’s office will be shut down.

He stressed that the tenant has the right to complain in such cases and the department will take necessary action.

He added that tenants need to make sure the rent contract is registered with the Land Department in the Ijari system to safeguard their rights.

Mohammed bin Hamad said Law No. 26 of 2007 and Law No.33 of 2008 regulate the relationship between lessors and tenants of real estate.

He added  that the law allows the lessor and the lessee to agree on some additional conditions, provided they do not violate the laws or public morality.
 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.