There are several benefits of sharing accommodation in Dubai. Saving money on rent and utility bills is top on the list. However, there are a few rules for sharing accommodation in Dubai that you need to consider. As not following the rental laws and rules related to apartment sharing may lead to unavoidable consequences. Therefore, before subletting your rental space to others, it’s advisable that you go through the sharing accommodation rules in Dubai.
Though sharing room in Dubai with sub-tenants is legal and allowed, there are a few things that you need to consider, as per the laws stated.
We have compiled all the Dubai laws for sharing rooms or apartments. Let’s look at the do’s and don’ts stated in the laws.
WHAT ARE THE DUBAI LAWS FOR SHARING ROOMS?
Though renting with roommates in Dubai has its own advantages and disadvantages, it is mandatory to follow the rules for sharing accommodation in Dubai. The rules by the Emirate are discussed as under:
Article 24 of Law No. 26 of 2007 is about sub-leasing. The shared accommodation law in Dubai in conjunction with the RERA Tenancy laws, forms part of the broader Real Estate Law in Dubai.
Put simply, sharing accommodation in Dubai is not allowed unless approved by the unit’s landlord. According to Article 24, the tenant cannot sublet or sublease the property in which he/she resides without permission from the landlord. If it is specifically mentioned in the signed Dubai tenancy contract that subleasing is allowed, only then a separate permit is exempted.
As the law states, “Unless otherwise agreed in the tenancy contract, the tenant shall not assign benefit or sublease premises without obtaining the landlord’s approval.”
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE TENANT SUBLETS THE PROPERTY WITHOUT PROPER PERMISSION?
In case of violation of subleasing, the tenant may be asked to evacuate the property along with the sub-tenants regardless of the expiry of their tenancy period.
Article 25 of Law No. 33 of 2008 clearly states, in case a tenant does not take permission for subleasing and sublets the residential property, that:
“The landlord may demand the eviction of a tenant prior to the expiry of the tenancy period if the tenant subleases the property, or part thereof, without the landlord’s written approval and, in such a case, eviction shall be applicable to the tenant and the sub-tenant.”
RULES FOR SHARING ACCOMMODATION IN DUBAI
People living in Dubai who want to share houses or apartments, or even rooms with another person legally should follow the following rules at all costs:
- The first tenant must not lease or sublease any of the property premises without obtaining formal written approval from the landlord.
- All sub-tenants only have the rights on the leased premises till the validity of the original tenancy contract.
- A sub-lease contract should be used to determine the relationship between tenant and sub-tenant. However, regardless of their relationship, all rules and regulations of the first tenant towards the landlord will remain in effect as previously agreed.
- The number of the tenant(s) or sub-tenants who can accommodate an apartment or room depends on the area where the property is established. Therefore, you cannot determine the policy for one unit based on the statistics of another.
Besides, there are a few important things to consider when you are renting with friends in Dubai, other than stated rules and regulations.
THE LAW ON COHABITATION IN DUBAI
Another question on sharing accommodation rules in Dubai is about unmarried couples. People are often curious whether unmarried couples can legally cohabitate in the city.
Previously, it was illegal for unmarried couples to live together. It was also illegal for people of opposite genders, not related by blood, to live together in the same accommodation.
The revision of the Dubai Rental Law on shared accommodation has relaxed the rules and introduced a set of new personal and family laws for people in the UAE.
As per the revised Dubai laws for sharing rooms, two or more people can live together legally even if they are not married or related by blood. Thus, the sharing accommodation rules in Dubai are now flexible for married couples, families and bachelors. This new law applies to all sorts of accommodations, including hotel rooms, houses, apartments, and villas in the city.
SHARING ACCOMMODATION RULES IN DUBAI FOR BACHELORS
People often find renting accommodations individually a bit pricey for their budgets in Dubai. It is challenging to find a compatible accommodation for bachelors. Even though the new shared accommodation laws of cohabitation without a legal relationship have been passed, singles must abide by the Dubai Rental Law rules to avoid hefty fines.
Sharing accommodation rules in Dubai do not restrict single men and women, unmarried and unrelated, from sharing an apartment with their groups of friends. However, some landlords prefer not to rent out their properties to such groups of men and women, especially if their unit is in a family-friendly residential area.
The basic rule that we described earlier applies everywhere. Single men and women can share apartments in Dubai with the landlord’s permission. However, many homeowners are unwilling to sub-let their properties.
If you find a landlord willing to sublet his property to more than one tenant, you have to fulfill the requirements set by the Dubai Municipality. Only certain designated areas within Dubai allow shared accommodation for single women and bachelors.
A few areas in Dubai that are popular for bachelor accommodation are Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), Al Nahda, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Bur Dubai, Deira, International City, Discovery Gardens and Dubai Sports City.
It should be remembered that single men and women sharing accommodations can get evicted if they are found involved in antisocial and/or illegal activities, such as loud music, drug use, etc. The same applies to all the other tenants. Therefore, you have to be very careful when sharing accommodation in Dubai and also try to avoid these eight types of roommates.
WHAT FACILITIES CAN SUBTENANTS ENJOY IN SHARED ACCOMMODATIONS?
Subtenants and sub-leasers, in addition to residents, can live legally in any unit in Dubai and enjoy all available facilities. From using swimming pools, car parking areas to registering in clubs, using sports halls, and playgrounds; there are no restrictions once you have formally acquired landlord permission to live in.
However, if there are certain conditions or clauses on the agreement, the renting laws may vary per tenancy agreement. The abovementioned list of amenities can be shared in accordance with the Dubai Rental laws but there can also be some exceptions due to landlord preferences.
Hence, it is always better to first discuss it with your landlord before using the facilities.
Another important point to note for subtenants is that you must not disturb others while living in a shared setting or else you will be subjected to legal issues. As Article 24 of Law No. 27 of 2007 states, “Subject to the association constitution, unit owners and occupiers and their guest must use the common areas … in a way that does not compromise the rights of others to use those areas or disturb others or put their safety or the safety of the jointly owned property at risk.”
In case of genuine concerns such as disturbances, fellow residents must share it with the landlord. They can even approach the Dubai Municipality if they are not satisfied with the response.
THE EJARI REGISTRATION SYSTEM POLICY
All tenants and landlords must register the Tenancy Contract with Ejari. The regulating body is designed for monitoring rental contracts in Dubai for freehold and leasehold properties. The system allows a transparent relationship to be established between tenants and landlords while making it a legally binding part of the legal framework so that no issues in future arise.
For sub-tenants, Ejari policies are a tad bit different. The original registration is in the name of the tenant, but if the tenant sublets the accommodation without first seeking the landlord’s approval, any such subtenant will not be granted a form of support from the Ejari system.
All tenants, landlords, and real estate agents can register with Ejari online.
WHAT IS THE FINE FOR ILLEGALLY SHARING A FLAT IN DUBAI?
The fine for illegally sharing a rental flat in Dubai is between AED 200 to AED 20k. This is applicable to any tenant who is caught leasing their apartment to someone who does not have the Dubai Tourism permit or the approval of the landlord.
If the tenant is found guilty of the crime for a second time, they are bound to a fine as much as AED 100k.
With that, we conclude this guide to Dubai laws for sharing rooms in the hope that the information will be helpful for you. Although apartment sharing is usually a temporary arrangement for many, you cannot opt for early termination of the rental contract in Dubai. There are certain rules to abide by so that you can avoid the legal repercussions of evictions and also build a good tenant-landlord relationship.
Stay tuned to the leading property blog of the UAE for more on different property buying, selling and renting rules across all the Emirates.
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