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19 March 2024

Sharjah residents say rent hiked 80%

Published
By Sneha May Francis

Much like the rest of the UAE, Sharjah rents are reportedly rising, with some residents claiming an 80 per cent increase over what they paid last year.

Many residents in Rolla, one of the busiest areas in the emirate, observe that every month, rents go up by Dh1,000-Dh2,000.

Talking to Emirates24|7, Nitin S, a resident of Rolla, informs that his landlord has increased his rent by 80 per cent.

“It is not like our salaries are going to go up by 80 per cent,” he says, adding that last year he paid Dh16,000 for his one-bedroom apartment, but this year he has been asked to pay Dh29,000.

Nitin, who lives with his wife and one-year-old child, says it would’ve been manageable if the increase was 20-25 per cent.

Sharjah residents have their annual rent locked in for three years, after which landlords are allowed to increase it.

However, there is no legal ceiling on that increase.

Classified adverts show that one-bedroom apartments in Rolla cost anywhere between Dh26,000 and Dh30,000, annually.

Nitin claims that earlier, when demand was low and apartments were lying vacant, landlords were willing to negotiate, but not anymore.

With his work place close by, he will have to cough up the amount. “The traffic is so bad. I’d rather stay close to work than move further away.”

He adds that his landlord did offer to reduce the rent by Dh1,000, but “when the hike is Dh13,000, a Dh1,000 reduction is marginal”.

Other residents in the area add that landlords are cashing in on the demand.

“If tenants are unwilling to pay up, they are asked to vacate. There’s no scope for negotiations,” informs another resident Babu.

“I had to shell out Dh13,000 more towards my rent this year.”

He adds that since the beginning of this year, landlords have been increasing rents by Dh1,000-Dh2,000.

“In January, they were asking for Dh24,000.

“In February, they asked for Dh26,000. In March, they were quoting Dh28,000 and now, in April, they have touched Dh29,000.”

Landlords are also closing the doors on bachelors, offering rental options only for families.

“Earlier, it was easy for bachelors to find accommodation here, but not anymore.”

According to the rent law in Sharjah, the Sharjah Dispute Committee can step in if there is a disagreement between landlord and tenant over the rent.