Renting a property for yourself and/or your loved ones, or  leasing it out to someone can be an experience that is unique for everyone. Especially in Dubai, where rental homes are a huge hit, tenants and landlords have to interact continuously. If you’ve dealt plenty in real estate before, then you probably know that it can be quite a hassle sometimes, interacting with new people, moving into a new place, negotiating the rent and deposits, or handing over your property to someone, can all be almost nerve wrecking, but we are here to help! Here is a brief guide on how to maintain a healthy tenant- landlord relationship, that also ensures your well being as well as that of your property.

THE ROLE OF A LANDLORD:

Individuals who wish to lease out their property in Dubai, must always comply with the rules and guidelines issued by competent authorities, i.ee. Government bodies and organizations like Dubai land department, Tawtheeq, Abu Dhabi etc. It is essential that landlords comply with these rules to ensure they do not infringe on the rights of the tenants, while also securing their own rights. This is crucial to maintain a healthy tenant landlord relationship. Some of the regulations that landlords must adhere to are:

• Ensuring that the property is in a decent condition, without any breakage or leakage, and is safe to reside in.
• Always comply with the guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures issued by the Municipal Cooperation and other relevant authorities.
• Ensure that all services they claim to offer are in working condition.

THE ROLE OF A TENANT

Obviously, it is not just the landlord who is responsible for maintaining a healthy tenant- landlord relationship, the tenant is also equally responsible to maintain their end of the bargain well. There are certain rules that they must adhere to,, and certain responsibilities that they must undertake with sincerity and seriousness. Spoke of them are:

• Paying their rent and other bills timely, to avoid any dues from accumulating that might become a source of problems in the future. 
• Avoid any deliberate or intentional damage to the property.
• Use the property only for the purpose that you have informed the landlord of. 
• Comply with all the rules of the rental agreement that you have made with your landlord.

HOW TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY LANDLORD TENANT RELATIONSHIP: 

Besides both parties holding up their ends of the bargain, here are some tips to ensure a wonderful tenant- landlord relationship.

Clear, Meaningful Communication: 

It is important that both- the landlord and the tenant convey their queries/concerns/demand openly to each other, and in due time, to avoid any confusion or disagreement later.

A Proper Tour of the Property :

The tenant should be given a detailed tour of the property, and should be made familiar with all rooms, balconies, washrooms, lobbies and open spaces in the property so they can make an informed decision about renting it later. 

Proper Documentation:

This is a crucial step and it is essential that all agreements, promises and discussions between the tenant and landlord are properly and timely documented. All identity proofs, proof of previous residence and other documents required to prove the identity of the tenant should be collected by the landlord.

Respecting the Tenant’s Privacy :

It is incredibly important to remember that after you’ve rented out your property to your tenant, 

It is their own personal space, and the landlord must respect their privacy. Unnecessary invasion of privacy of the tenant, and interfering in their life and home too much may lead to a strained tenant- landlord relationship.

Empathy and Kindness:

In addition to proper and legitimate documentation, it is crucial that both parties deal with each other with empathy and kindness. The landlord must try to resolve any issues or concerns raised by the tenant and ensure that they do not face unnecessary difficulties due to the condition of the property. The tenant must also make an effort to understand the demands and reasons of actions by the landlord.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TENANT- LANDLORD RELATIONSHIP: 

• What is Ejari and how can I register at EJARI online? 

Ans. Ejari is a government funded organization which has been vested with the responsibility of regulating and supervising all tenancy contracts happening within the territory of Dubai. One may register online with the organization via their official website, which is always open for registrations.

•  Where are tenancy contracts registered in Abu Dhabi?

Ans. All tenancy contracts are registered in Abu Dhabi via the means of Tawtheeq, the regulatory authority responsible for all rental and tenancy contracts within Dubai. There is a provision that the registration can happen online as well as offline. Online, property owners are free to register via the official website. Alternatively, they may also visit one of the Tawtheeq Centres, (under the aegis of Abu Dhabi Municipality) and register in person.

• How to get tenancy contracts in Sharjah registered?

Ans: The Sharjah Municipality has been vested with the responsibility of attesting all tenancy and rental contacts within the Sharjah emirate. However, the Regulation Department is also responsible for some of the leasing and renting activities in Sharjah, and queries and concerns can also be directed to them.

IN CONCLUSION: 

Buying or renting property is never an easy task, and tenant relations are difficult to navigate. But it is important to respect boundaries, maintain courtesy and comply with rules while entering into a tenant- landlord relationship to ensure that both parties get the best out of the deal. By keeping certain points mentioned in our post, we hope you got a better insight into how one can navigate through the spectrum of paperwork, social courtesy and financial agreements in a tenant- landlord relationship.