How much can a landlord increase my rent by in Dubai?

Rental calculator helps users to determine any increases before they negotiate a contract

APARTMENT PRICES: Downtown Dubai rose by 0.2 per cent month-on-month in March to Dh1,963 per square foot. Reuters

Jumeirah: Dh1,908 per square foot — up 2.7 per cent a month. The National

The Palm Jumeirah: Dh1,789 per square foot — down 2.7 per cent a month. Antonie Robertson / The National

DIFC: Dh1,589 per square foot — up 0.1 per cent a month. Jeff Topping / The National

Jumeirah Beach Residence: Dh1,508 per square foot — up 0.6 per cent a month. Photo: LuxuryProperty.com

Mohammed bin Rashid City: Dh1,435 per square foot — down 1 per cent a month. Satish Kumar / The National

Business Bay: Dh1,421 per square foot — up 0.4 per cent a month. Sarah Dea / The National

Dubai Hills: Dh1,415 per square foot — up 0.2 per cent a month. Photo: Emaar Malls Management

Dubai Marina: Dh1,391 per square foot — up 0.3 per cent a month. Victor Besa / The National

The Greens and The Views: Dh1,084 per square foot — up 1.7 per cent month. Sarah Dea / The National

Jumeirah Lakes Towers: Dh997 per square foot — no change. Antonie Robertson / The National

Damac Hills: Dh966 per square foot — up 1.1 per cent a month. Pawan Singh / The National

Jumeirah Village Circle: Dh885 per square foot — up 1.6 per cent a month. Razan Alzayani / The National

Town Square: Dh865 per square foot — down 1.8 per cent a month.

Motor City: Dh651 per square foot — up 1.3 per cent a month.

Dubai Silicon Oasis: Dh618 per square foot — up 1.4 per cent a month. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dubai Sports City: Dh592 per square foot — down 1.4 per cent a month. Reem Mohammed / The National

Discovery Gardens: Dh543 per square foot — up 2.5 per cent a month. Pawan Singh / The National

International City: Dh442 per square foot — up 0.5 per cent a month. Antonie Robertson / The National

It is a topic of discussion that's common as the weather — how much rent do you pay?

Each year, tenants in Dubai negotiate two key aspects when it comes to rent, they are how much you'll pay and how many cheques you will use to pay it.

While the number of cheques is up for negotiation, the issue of how much rent increases should be pretty clear-cut in most cases.

Dubai Land Department's Rental Index gives tenants and landlords data on residential, commercial and industrial properties in the emirate.

The index includes a calculator that helps users to determine the rental increase of any leased properties before they negotiate a contract.

First set up in 2009, the index helps landlords, agents and tenants map out maximum allowable rent increases on the expiry of a lease.

The index is also used as a reference in disputes between tenants and landlords over rental values.

How the rental increase calculator works

The rental increase calculator determines any changes in rent based on the average movement in the region's rental value, depending on the specifications of a property, including its use, location, number of rooms and other parameters.

In all cases, the increase is set at a maximum of 20 per cent and any changes are based on the market value of other properties in a given area.

• If the rent is 10 per cent less than the market value, there is no increase
• If the rent is 11 to 20 per cent lower than the market value, the maximum increase may be up to 5 per cent

• If the rent is 21 to 30 per cent lower than the market value, the maximum increase may be up to 10 per cent
• If the rent is 31 to 40 per cent lower than the market value, the maximum increase may be up to 15 per cent
• If the rent is lower than 40 per cent or more of the market value, the maximum increase may be up to 20 per cent

The rental increase calculator is available on the Dubai Land Department's website.

Contract changes

According to the DLD, landlords must provide 90 days' notice regarding any changes to the rent contract, such as breaking it or increasing the rent amount.

Tenants can legally refuse a rental amount increase if 90 days' notice was not provided by the landlord.

The tenant can file a case with the Rent Disputes Settlement Centre at the DLD upon refusing to agree to the new terms of the contract.

Anyone opening a case at the rental committee must pay 3.5 per cent of the rental amount.

The winning party usually has costs awarded to them, although this is not guaranteed.

Compensation awarded to a tenant against a landlord in breach of the rules can be as much as a year's rent.

Read more: Dubai property prices: where they are rising and falling