Your ultimate checklist for choosing the right tenant in Dubai
- Employment status
- Good conduct
- Number of occupants
- Presence of pets
- Maintenance responsibilities
- Dietary preferences
- Rental agreement
- FAQs
The prospect of earning sizeable returns is one of the many benefits of putting up an apartment or villa for rent in Dubai. However, it also comes with a few risks, most of which can be resolved by choosing the right tenants. If you are new to renting out your property in Dubai, we have put together a landlord’s checklist for choosing tenants in Dubai before finalising a tenancy agreement.
A landlord’s checklist to choose the right tenant in Dubai
Enquire about your Tenant’s Employment status
One of the things that landlords should clarify with their prospective tenants is information regarding their employment status. While landlords in the city rarely ask protective renters for details about their salary, it’s not uncommon for homeowners to casually discuss where their tenants are working to get more clarity about their financial stability. If you have employed a property management company to take care of your tenancy agreements, you can ensure that they gather the necessary details to tick this off your landlord’s checklist for choosing tenants.
Good conduct
Another great way to vet a tenant in Dubai is to request for a Police Clearance Certificate. This is also known as a Certificate of Good Conduct and is provided by the Dubai Police. Making the document a prerequisite is a good practice for selecting the right tenants for your property in Dubai.
Clarify details about the number of occupants
The number of occupants who are going to stay at a residential property can be a matter of concern for landlords in Dubai. Having too many occupants in a small space can mean a messy house that would need more maintenance over time. To avoid such issues, landlords can ask the tenant about the number of members in the family during the initial meeting.
Find out if your tenant has any pets
Similar to the challenges created by having too many people in a confined space, having tenants with furry or feathered friends can often come at the expense of cleanliness and hygiene of your home. House owners who do not want pets being kept in the homes they are renting out should mention it clearly to the potential home tenants.
Discuss maintenance responsibilities
People from different backgrounds may have a different understanding of maintenance responsibilities. In Dubai, maintenance and restoration services are usually covered by property owners. However, landlords can choose to create spending caps to ensure that some of the smaller regular, wear and tear issues are taken care of by the property occupants. You will need to discuss this matter with your tenant before finalising things and have this mentioned in your rental agreement as a part of your landlord’s checklist for choosing tenants.
Dietary preferences
Dubai is a diversely populated city where you will find a lot of people with eating preferences which are different from yours. If you have any concerns about the kind of food that will be cooked in your kitchen, it’s best to discuss this with your new tenant before they move in.
Signing a rental agreement
Once you have done your due diligence, you need to sign a tenancy agreement with your renter. Make sure the tenancy agreement covers all the relevant points and states them clearly. You can check out our blog about tenancy agreements in Dubai to know more about the roles and obligations of both tenants and landlords in Dubai.
FAQs
Can a landlord make changes to a tenancy contract?
Yes, landlords in Dubai can make changes to a tenancy contract before renewing it. As per Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), landlords have to give notice via registered mail at least three months before the expiry date of a contract to propose any changes in rent.
What if a tenant refuses to leave the house after the termination of tenancy contract?
Landlord and tenants can seek help from RERA in the event of any issues with tenants. Here is a complete guide about how to file a rental dispute in Dubai with RERA.
Are there any companies who can take care of the tenancy contracts and related processes?
Yes, property owners can easily find property management companies in Dubai that offer services for finding suitable tenants by checking their credibility, making rental agreements, ensuring timely rent payments and more.
This concludes our landlord’s checklist for choosing the right tenant in Dubai.
With the new amendments in personal and family freedom laws in the UAE, tenants who are not married or related to each other are allowed to legally live in the same property, with the consent of the landlord. This gives landlords greater flexibility when it comes to choosing the right tenants for a property.
While some of the points on this landlord’s checklist for choosing tenants can be easily established, bear in mind that as the owner of the property you are entitled to do your due diligence, even for more sensitive subjects like finance. Since the mode of paying rent in Dubai is usually through post-dated cheques, there is some amount of financial security for homeowners.
Have you struggled to vet your tenants in Dubai? Let us know what other pointers you have for prospective landlords through our comments section, and we will be sure to include it in the post!