When a British national moves to Dubai, the question of housing (mostly renting) is always first on the agenda. Finding a new home in a foreign country can be difficult, and while there are many similarities between renting in dubai properties and renting in the United Kingdom, there are also many differences that must be considered in order to fully comprehend the process. The following are some pointers that a prospective tenant may be aware of:

The Real Estate Broker

Make certain that the agency and the individual are both registered with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency when contacting an agent to register for a required property (RERA). This will not only ensure that the firm or individual is of a high professional standard, but it will also assist you in the event that an issue arises in the future. Do not make the mistake of calling the agent too early in the process of your search. After finding a suitable property, the renting process in the UK will take several weeks since credit checks and other references, such as past landlord references, must be completed. This process is much faster in Dubai because no references are required and no credit checks are performed. The reason for this is that rent is paid in one or more checks, each of which is handed to the landlord in advance.

Within days of the initial viewing, a tenant will be transferred into the property. When viewing a home, it's not uncommon for the agent to send you alone, and you shouldn't be surprised if the property door is open. Because it is fairly common for the same property to be listed with a large number of agents, this allows for optimum exposure and eliminates the need for keys. However, an increasing number of agents will accompany the viewing, as this is a big turnoff for landlords when asked about the level of service provided by their agent.

2. Charges

In contrast to the United Kingdom, the tenant in Dubai pays the agent's commission. This is usually about 5% of the annual rental amount or up to one month's rent. It's also worth noting that there will be a minimum fee of AED 5,000, whichever is higher.

3. Deposit

The deposit is now 5% and is paid to the landlord/owner; however, if the rented Property Developers in Dubai is completely furnished, the deposit may be higher. The deposit (or return of) is the most common source of conflict between landlords and tenants. The deposit is provided in Dubai as a guarantee or assurance against property damage and to ensure that the property is returned in the same condition as it was given. As a result, after a tenant has vacated, the landlord may use some or all of the deposit to re-paint and/or clean the property.

In the United Kingdom, this is more tightly controlled since the deposit is held in a government-approved scheme and can only be used in certain situations, with the remainder (or all) of the money returned 100% of the time.