Dubai launches online tenancy registration

Dubai The pressure of coming up with one cheque to pay your annual rent could soon be over with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority's (Rera) newly-created online registration of tenancy contracts in Dubai, analysts say.

Rera recently urged tenants and landlords through an advertisement campaign to register tenancy contracts online from January 1, 2009, to develop a comprehensive rental index that will help it to evaluate and regulate the market better, with a Dh100 fee.

The online registration spells the end of landlord-tenant disputes and will help Rera gauge the rental market in Dubai fully.

"About six months ago, people were paying rent in one or two or maximum four cheques. Given today's financial situation, these [payment plans] will be more flexible. And if Rera can gather the information through this, then they can also give more guidance," Elaine Jones, chief executive officer of Asteco, told Gulf News.

Additional fees may well not be an option, as house fees are included in the annual Dubai Electricity and Water Authority bills, although many areas in Dubai still do not receive these.

Rera said earlier this year that they wanted to have zones within Dubai where an average rent rate would be given for each zone. This appears to be the first step on that road. Marwan Bin Galita, chief executive officer of Rera, wasn't available for comment.

Do you think there are enough incentives to encourage tenants to register their contracts? What other measures should be taken to safeguard the rights of tenants?

This is a very good decision taken by the authorities. They have brought transparency in the system using technology. Thank you for the initiative.
Shiva Kumar Alkod
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 15:15

This is a good move. It can reduce the rent rates.
Anil Nair
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 13:09

I think this would be a waste of time and money.
Jam
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 11:14

This is a very good initiative but hopefully Rera would stamp the contracts to make sure the landlords would not increase the rents when they are not supposed to.
Razia
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 10:38

This is good news but what about the rents that are already too high? what about tenants who will abuse such rights to their benefit ? what about landlords who may resort to high or hard handedness ?
Peeku Punjabi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 10:25

It is a welcome one and most probably all will accept it.
Venkat
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 10:14

I think this would be a good initiative and could be a chance to end disputes between landlords and tenants.
Yed Yousuf
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 10:08

Its a good step taken by Rera.
Abrar Khan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 10:07

This is great! Count me in.
Sahar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 10:07

Please confirm that the tenants can register their tenancy contracts which gives provision to show previous and new rent differences.
Raj
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 09:49

How can we as tenants make sure there are no extra fees and charges than the alleged fees?
Mona
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 09:41

I think this will give Landlords more excuses to increase the rents.
Ehtesham Anwar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 09:35

It is a very positive step by the authorities and people would appreciate it.
Ali
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 09:34

This will really solve most of the problems every tanent is facing.
Nasser Gilani
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 09:28

I think each tenancy contract should be registered so that no landlord can break the rent cap law.
Sheraz Tarar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 09:28

I hope a similar rule would be implemented in Sharjah.
Danish Jafri
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 09:12

This is a good rule which should be implemented all over the UAE.
Ashok Kumar
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 08:48

This must me applied to Abu Dhabi too.
Charlie
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 08:43

These steps should also be taken by Sharjah and there should be zones with average rents.
Niran
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 08:07

This is a good thing. My rent was increased last year more than the five per cent increase.
Vinita Praveen
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 08:03

This is a good step to eliminate problems related to tenancy.
Mohammad Ihsan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 07:53

I think it is unfair that we are charged these fees for the service.
A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 24, 2008, 01:54