Dubai Land Department’s ‘Offer and Deposit’ service – how to deposit your rent if you disagree with your landlord

You can challenge the change if your landlord raised your rent over the cap allowed by the rental index by submitting an “Offer and Deposit” motion with Dubai Land Department (DLD).

If the landlord refuses to take it directly, the tenant may deposit the rent through DLD by submitting an online “offer and deposit” motion, in accordance with the terms of the prior rental agreement. The case will then be reviewed by a court at DLD’s Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDSC), and if you win, DLD will send your rent to the landlord.

So, this is how you can contact DLD and use the “offer and deposit” service if you disagree with the rent increase your landlord enacted and he won’t take the rent you are paying.

The landlord must give a 90-day notice to increase the rent

First of all, the landlord must notify you of any rent increase at least 90 days before the agreement comes up for renewal.

According to Article 14 of the Dubai Tenancy Law, unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties, if the landlord desires to modify any of the lease’s terms or raise the rent, he must give the tenant notice of his intention to do so at least 90 days before the lease’s expiration date.

What is the ‘Offer and Deposit’ motion?

Using post-dated cheques, the tenant can deposit the rent, as specified in the prior rental agreement, under a legal motion known as “Offer and Deposit.” Additionally, the number of checks must match the previous rental agreement’s specifications.

If the landlord and the tenant are unable to come to an agreement regarding the rent increase, RDSC in Dubai has introduced the “Offer & Deposit” option, which allows the tenant to file a motion with the Judge of Urgent Matters to force the landlord to sign a new lease on the same terms as the old one.

Also Read: Are you looking for a new home? The following is how you can check the previous rents on a property in Dubai

How to use the ‘Offer and Deposit’ service

1. Check if the increase is permissible

The first thing to do if your landlord has told you that the rent will go up at renewal time is to check the rental index provided by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) to determine if the rise is within the calculator’s limits.

2. Notify your landlord through email

If the rent rise exceeds the maximum permitted by the rental index, you must email your landlord to let them know that this is the case and make clear that you will only pay the amount of rent specified in the lease agreement.

3. Get your documents in order

The documentation required to apply for the service must be in your possession before you start the “offer and deposit” procedure. El Motei states that the following papers must be submitted with the motion by the tenant:

• The previous lease
• The new lease offered by the tenant
• The cheques for the new lease along with the property’s keys,
• Relevant correspondences between the parties confirming the landlord’s stand (if any).

It is important to note that all documents must be submitted in or translated legally in Arabic.

4. File the ‘offer and deposit’ motion

Rent can be deposited through DLD in two different ways: through a Real Estate Services Trustee or online by setting up an account on the DLD website, dubailand.gov.ae.

Through a Real Estate Services Trustee

1. Visit one of the services centres of a Real Estate Services Trustee. You can find trustee centres registered with DLD by visiting this link: https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/real-estate-service-trustees-centers/properties-trustee/#/
2. Submit the necessary paperwork to the trustee’s office. The trustee will then confirm that the documents comply with the demands of the legal motion by checking them.
3. The application will then be submitted on your behalf by the trustee.
4. After that, you’ll have to pay the service price. Verify that you have the payment receipt.
5. DLD has now received the motion. The check will then be deposited to the landlord or returned to you after the RDC judge has examined the case, based on the judge’s ultimate determination.

Applying online individually

Here are the steps you should take if you decide to submit your own motion:

1. Go to the following website: dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/offer-and-deposit/#/ Then create a profile on the DLD website. You can either sign in using your UAE Pass or create an online account by entering your contact information and Emirates ID number.
2. The platform of the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre will be redirected to you. The “offer and deposit” option will subsequently be listed among the services you can apply for. Select the service.
3. After that, you will be prompted to upload the necessary files.
4. After that, you’ll have to pay the service price.
5. DLD has now received the motion. The check will then be deposited to the landlord or returned to you after the RDC judge has examined the case, based on the judge’s ultimate determination.

Cost

Online service:

• Dh50: Offer and Deposit Fee
• Dh52.50: Fast Track Notification
• Dh10: Knowledge fee
• Dh10: Innovation fee

Total: Dh122.50

In case you apply through Real Estate Services Trustees Centres, the fees will be Dh130.