Long term leasing – Housess Real Estate

For landlords, and for tenants

The first six blocks are what we do for an owner letting a property. The last two are what we do for someone looking for one.

Rental valuation

A rent figure supported by comparable lets in the same building or community, with the reasoning shown, not a number picked to win the instruction.
Marketing and viewings

Photography, a Trakheesi permit for every advert, listings on the major portals and accompanied viewings with feedback after each one.
Tenant screening

Identity, residency, employment and rental history checked before an offer reaches you.
Offer and negotiation

Rent, number of cheques, start date and any conditions agreed in writing before the contract is drawn up.
Contract, Ejari and handover

The unified tenancy contract, Ejari registration, the deposit held correctly, and a photographed inventory on the day.
Renewals

Notice served inside the 90-day window and any increase checked against the RERA rental index. Or, if you would rather not deal with the tenancy at all, full property management.
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Tenants: finding the right home

A shortlist built from what you actually need, accompanied viewings, and an honest read on the building, the landlord and the service charges.
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Tenants: contract to keys

The offer, the contract, Ejari, DEWA connection and the move-in permit, explained before you sign and handled after.
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What a Dubai tenancy actually involves

The mechanics are the same in every community, and getting them right at the start avoids most of the arguments at the end.

Cheques. Annual rent is usually paid by post-dated cheque, in one to four instalments. Fewer cheques generally means a lower rent, and the number of cheques is negotiated alongside the figure.
Deposit. A security deposit is standard, by convention around 5% of the annual rent for an unfurnished unit and 10% for a furnished one. It is refundable at the end of the tenancy less the documented cost of any damage beyond normal wear.
Ejari. Every tenancy contract must be registered with the Dubai Land Department through Ejari. The tenant needs the certificate to connect DEWA and for residency visas, and neither side can bring a dispute without it.
DEWA and chiller. DEWA takes a refundable connection deposit, typically AED 2,000 for an apartment and AED 4,000 for a villa. Many towers have district cooling billed separately, and whether the chiller is included in the rent is one of the first things to confirm.
Move-in permit. Most managed buildings and communities require a move-in permit or NOC from the owners’ association before furniture can be brought in.
Notice. Any change to the terms at renewal, including the rent, requires at least 90 days’ written notice before the contract expires. To recover the property for sale or personal use, the landlord must give 12 months’ notice through a notary public or by registered post.

For landlords

A letting fee is charged once, when the tenant signs, and is agreed in writing before marketing starts. If you would rather not deal with the tenancy after that, full management carries on from the same contract with no second onboarding.

Every advert we place carries a Trakheesi permit, which the Real Estate Regulatory Agency requires for any property advertised in Dubai. A listing without one can be removed by the portal and fined, and it is a fair test of any agent you are considering.

For tenants

As is standard in Dubai, the tenant pays an agency commission when the contract is signed. The market convention is 5% of the annual rent, and the exact amount is confirmed in writing before you make an offer. To move quickly when the right unit appears, have a passport copy, visa or entry stamp, Emirates ID and a chequebook ready; landlords in the more sought-after buildings rarely hold a unit while paperwork is arranged.

The tenants guide walks through the process step by step, from budgeting the cheques to the snagging list in the first week.

Letting a property, step by step

Valuation

We inspect the unit and recommend a rent supported by comparable lets, with the reasoning.
Prepare and permit

Photography, floor plan and a Trakheesi permit, so the listing is live and compliant on day one.
Market and show

Listings on the major portals, accompanied viewings, and feedback after each one.
Qualify and negotiate

Applicants are screened, and rent, cheques, start date and conditions are agreed in writing.
Contract and move-in

Unified tenancy contract, Ejari, deposit, cheques and a photographed inventory at handover.
Renew or re-let

Notice served on time and the rent checked against the index, or the unit re-marketed before the tenant leaves.

Frequently asked questions

How many cheques should I ask for?

One to four is the norm. A single cheque usually earns a lower rent; four cheques suits tenants paid monthly and widens the pool of applicants. We advise on the balance for your unit and community.

What deposit is normal?

By convention around 5% of the annual rent for an unfurnished property and 10% for a furnished one. It is held for the length of the tenancy and refunded less the documented cost of any damage beyond normal wear.

Who pays for Ejari?

In practice the tenant pays the registration fee, which is a fixed amount of under AED 250, and either party or the agent can complete the registration online. The contract should say who does it.

Can the rent be increased at renewal?

Only within the RERA rental index, and only with at least 90 days' written notice before the contract expires. If the current rent is within 10% of the market average for similar units, no increase is allowed at all.

How much notice does a tenant have to give to leave?

The contract sets the notice for non-renewal, commonly 60 to 90 days. Leaving before the end of the term is a breach unless the contract has an early termination clause, which usually carries a penalty of one to two months' rent.

What is a Trakheesi permit?

A permit issued by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency for each property advert. Every listing in Dubai must carry one, and the permit number appears on the advert. It confirms the agent is licensed and has the owner's authority to market the property.

Can a tenant sublet, or list the unit on Airbnb?

Not without the landlord's written consent. Short-stay letting also needs a holiday home permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism, which is granted to a tenant only with the landlord's no-objection letter.

What documents does a tenant need?

A passport copy, a visa or entry stamp, Emirates ID, and post-dated cheques for the rent and the deposit. Companies renting for staff also provide a trade licence and an authorised signatory letter.