Ras Al Khaimah puts on hold newly-introduced rent law

Ras Al Khaimah: The recently introduced rent law has been frozen on order of Ras Al Khaimah government. The previous rent law will be used until 1 October, while amendments are made.

A senior official said the controversial 2008 Law ‘No. 8' released on 26 May is vague and needed amendments.

The new law states that rent increases have been capped at 5 per cent for residential properties and 7 per cent for commercial properties.

The official said amendments will be made, particularly to article No. 24 of the new law, which could gives landlords the right to vacate their tenants.

The official stressed that people have been inundating the Rental Dispute Authority (RDA) and Court House with questions, enquiries and complaints.

The RDA has not implemented the new law in any disputed cases and has not accepted any rental dispute cases, because it is waiting for explanations from the Emiri Court.

The official said the freezing of the new law and re-imposing of the earlier law with a 15 per cent rent cap was aimed at protecting the rights of both the tenants and their landlords.

Since the new rent law was released, residents have said it is vague and unfair to tenants, as it gives the landlords the chance to vacate them and re-rent the properties for higher amounts.

The official stressed that this particular issue was the problematic article that fueled public suspicion. Scores of landlords, however, approached the Court House to file eviction cases; but these were put on hold until the decision was made to re-use the older law. The landlords have dropped their cases and claim they will wait for the new law No. 8 amendments for 2008.

The official assured the public that the RDA will use the old rent law in reviewing rental disputes and that the public do not have the right to choose one of these two laws, because the new law has been put on hold.