all you need to know when you rent an apartment.

all you need to know when you rent an apartment.

Budget and costs: Initial payments and security deposits

Once you have found the perfect property, there are some upfront costs you need to consider, apart from the annual rent.

For example, you would need to put in a security deposit with the landlord, which is normally five per cent of the rent, and pay for the lease registration. If you are in Dubai, this process is referred to as ‘Ejari’, in Abu Dhabi the registration process is called ‘Tawtheeq’. Regardless of which emirate you are living in, you would need to register the tenancy contract with the real estate regulatory authority in the emirate.

Extra costs to budget for

When applying for the electricity and water connection, a deposit is also needed for activating the connection with the electricity and water authority in your emirate.

If your area has a district cooling company overseeing the air-conditioning connection or ‘chiller service’, you will need to separately apply for that connection as well.

Do you know how to read your contract?

While many people rent apartments in the UAE, they may not be aware of all the details that are mentioned in the tenancy contract. Did you know that all your rights and