Can Landlords Charge Extra for Parking?

Can a Landlord Charge Extra for Garage Use After Rent Agreement?

On Dubai's dynamic real estate market, questions about modifying fees and terms often arise when renewing rental agreements. Recently, a tenant of a two-bedroom apartment questioned whether it is legal for a landlord to charge an additional fee for the previously free use of an underground garage, in addition to the increased rent.

This question affects not only individual cases but many tenants, making it worth examining what the law says in detail.

What is considered part of a rental agreement in Dubai?

In Dubai, Law No. 26/2007, which regulates the relationship between landlords and tenants, clearly states in Article 11:

"Unless otherwise agreed, the rent includes the use of facilities associated with the property, such as swimming pools, playgrounds, gyms, health clubs, parking, and other services."

This means that if the rental agreement previously included free garage usage, the landlord cannot retroactively charge extra for it—unless both parties specifically agree on this when renewing the contract.

What happens upon renewing a rental agreement?

During the renewal of a rental agreement, the landlord and tenant may discuss modifying the terms of the contract, including the rent amount. This is outlined by Articles 13 and 14 of Law No. 33/2008, which amends the earlier regulation.

According to the rules:

Either party may request a change in rent or other terms of the agreement.

If no agreement is reached, the Dubai Rental Dispute Centre (RDC) decides on the contentious matter.

The intention to modify must be communicated in writing to the other party at least 90 days before the lease expires, unless otherwise agreed.

In other words, if a landlord wants to introduce a new fee—for example, for garage usage—they can only do so legally if they notify the tenant in time and the tenant accepts the new terms.

What can a tenant do if they disagree with the new fee?

If the tenant disagrees with the new parking fee, they have the following options:

They can reference the relevant legislation in writing and demand that the landlord maintains the original terms.

If the landlord insists on the additional fee, a complaint can be filed with the Dubai Rental Dispute Centre.

The RDC is authorized to officially examine the case, considering the details of the existing rental agreement and applicable laws.

It's worth knowing that the Dubai Rental Dispute Centre offers an effective and rapid procedure for resolving disputes between tenants and landlords, so there's no need to fear lengthy legal processes.

Conclusion

Dubai's laws clearly protect tenants from sudden, unilateral fee increases. If garage usage was previously included in the rent, the landlord cannot unilaterally introduce a new fee when renewing the contract, unless both parties mutually agree. If no agreement is reached, the tenant can seek legal remedy through the Dubai Rental Dispute Centre.

(Source: Dubai Rental Dispute Centre (RDC))