Documents Required to rent an apartment in Dubai
Documents required for Ejari Registration (Checklist)
- Copies of personal documents of tenant. This includes taking original and copies of Emirates ID, passport and valid residence visa
- Original Tenancy contract
- Recent DEWA bill (Green/electronic bill is acceptable)
- Copy of title deeds of the property (if company owned)
- Copies of personal documents of landlord (if individual)
- Trade license (if tenant is a company)
Documents required for DEWA connection
- DEWA number (found on the side on the property’s entrance)
- Copy of the tenant’s and landlord’s passport
- DEWA form
- Title deed (for freehold property or SPA if it has been bought from a reputable developer) or affection plan
Cost Estimation
- Agency fees: Usually 2 to 5% of the first annual rent
- Ejari fees: AED 195 for all types of properties
- Housing fee: 5% of annual rents added to DEWA bills
- Security deposit: 5% of the rent amount
Steps
1. Search apartment listing in websites
You can look for apartment listings in rental portals like KT buzzon, dubizzle, propertyfinder.ae, JustProperty.com, bayut etc. You can filter the listings based on your needs such as number of rooms, areas, rental amount, furnished/unfurnished, etc.
2. Shortlist few apartments that meets your requirement.
Shortlist the apartments and call up the contact person mentioned in the listing, who will either be the agent or landlord and discuss about the details of the apartment and fix a time to visit the place.
3. Visit the apartment
When you visit the apartment, a few points to keep in mind
- Access to public transport
- Security
- Proximity to your workplace
- Amenities
- Parking facilities
- If possible, interact with the neighbors to know if they face any challenges
4. Making an offer
In case you decide to take the apartment, you may want to negotiate on the rental amount. The most common way is to bargain on the number of cheques. Sometimes the landlord agrees to reduce the total rental amount if the number of cheques is reduced.
5. Reserve the apartment
If you want the landlord or agent to secure the apartment for you, you will be asked to pay a refundable security deposit. It is generally 5% of the rental amount.
Cash or cheque can be paid to the landlord but is held by the agent until the deal has been finalised. Make sure that you are given a receipt for the deposit.
The following documents needs to be provided to the agent
- Copy of your Passport
- Residence visa copy (or an original letter from your sponsor/company stating that your visa is under process)
6. Drafting the rental contract
The Tenancy Contract will include all the information regarding the rental (including any special conditions agreed by both tenant and landlord). The contract must comply with the tenancy laws in Dubai .
7. Signing the contract
After you are convinced about the contract, you may sign and submit, and hand over the rent cheques and the agency commission. Make sure you receive invoices for the same.
8. Connecting DEWA
The tenant will need to submit the following documents to DEWA (Dubai Electricity & Water Authority):
- DEWA number (found on the side on the property’s entrance)
- Copy of the tenant’s and landlord’s passport
- DEWA form
- Title deed (for freehold property or SPA if it has been bought from a reputable developer) or affection plan
Supply is activated within 24 hours of registration and payment of security deposit.
9. Ejari Registration
The following documents are required for Ejari Registration
- Copies of personal documents of tenant. This includes taking original and copies of Emirates ID, passport and valid residence visa
- Original Tenancy contract
- Recent DEWA bill (Green/electronic bill is acceptable)
- Copy of title deeds of the property (if company owned)
- Copies of personal documents of landlord (if individual)
- Trade license (if tenant is a company)
10. Move-in
Some landlords need the tenants to submit the NOC before they move into the apartment. The following documents are required:
- EJARI Certificate
- Passport and visa copy of the tenant
- Copy of the Tenancy Contract
List all the important aspects to be looked into, in the contract. I will share the standard tenancy agreement copy tomorrow.
