RERA Rent Increase Calculator: How to Read the Result Correctly
The RERA rent index gives a number, but the number alone doesn't tell you if a rent hike is legal. Here's how to read the calculator like an RDSC judge would.
Every Dubai tenant who has faced a renewal hike knows the RERA rent calculator — but most read the result wrong. The calculator does not tell you whether your specific rent can be increased; it tells you the market benchmark. Combining the benchmark with Decree No. 43 of 2013 is what determines whether the increase your landlord is asking for is actually legal. This guide walks through both together, the way an RDSC judge would.
- Decree 43 sets five caps: 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% based on how far below market you are.
- The 90-day written notice rule applies regardless of the calculator result.
- Filing an RDSC case within 30 days of an illegal notice usually restores the cap.
- Recent renovations, sub-community mix-ups, and furnished vs unfurnished are the common calculator traps.
- A positive calculator result is a maximum increase — never a mandatory one.
1. What the calculator actually returns
The RERA rent index compares your current rent against the average rent for similar units in your area, calculated from real Ejari data over the last 12 months. The output is a percentage band — you are either at, below, or above the market average — expressed as one of these ranges.
- Your rent is within 10% of average → no increase allowed.
- Your rent is 11%–20% below average → maximum 5% increase.
- Your rent is 21%–30% below average → maximum 10% increase.
- Your rent is 31%–40% below average → maximum 15% increase.
- Your rent is more than 40% below average → maximum 20% increase.
2. The 90-day rule — the other half of a legal increase
A rent increase is only legal if the landlord notifies the tenant in writing at least 90 days before the tenancy renews. Miss the 90 days and the rent must renew at the current rate for another year — regardless of what the calculator says.
3. How to run the calculator yourself
- Open the Dubai REST app (or dubailand.gov.ae).
- Select 'Rental Increase Calculator'.
- Enter area, community, sub-community, number of bedrooms, and current annual rent.
- Read the output — the calculator gives you the benchmark rent and the maximum legal increase in AED.
4. Common mistakes when reading the result
- Ignoring the 90-day rule — a valid calculator result but a late notice = no legal increase.
- Comparing yourself to a different sub-community by mistake — Marina Promenade is not Marina Gate.
- Using furnished vs unfurnished benchmarks incorrectly.
- Assuming a positive calculator result means the landlord must increase — the cap is a maximum, not a mandate.
5. What to do if the landlord asks for more than the cap allows
Reply in writing citing the calculator result and Decree 43. Most landlords back down. If they don't, file an RDSC case within 30 days of the notice — the case fee is 3.5% of the annual rent (minimum AED 500, maximum AED 20,000), and RDSC almost always applies the cap.
6. What the calculator does not consider
- Recent renovations or upgrades to the unit (landlord can argue market rate has moved).
- New nearby developments driving rents in the area.
- Furnished vs unfurnished status if entered incorrectly.
- Utility inclusion (chiller, DEWA) — always compare like-for-like.
7. How TowerDesk removes the calculator argument entirely
In a TowerDesk building, every renewal notice ships with the RERA calculator result attached automatically — the tenant sees the benchmark, the cap, and the exact legal increase in AED before they even reply. Renewals close faster and RDSC cases from the tower drop to near zero.
Frequently asked questions
How much can my landlord increase rent in Dubai?
Zero if your rent is within 10% of the RERA index average, then 5% / 10% / 15% / 20% depending on how far below the market you are — set by Decree No. 43 of 2013.
What if the landlord doesn't give me 90 days notice?
The rent must renew at the current rate for another year. The 90-day rule applies regardless of the calculator result.
Where can I use the RERA rent calculator?
In the Dubai REST app or on dubailand.gov.ae under 'Rental Increase Calculator'.
Can I dispute a rent increase?
Yes — file at the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDSC) within 30 days of receiving the notice. The fee is 3.5% of annual rent (min AED 500, max AED 20,000).
Does the calculator account for upgrades?
No — the calculator uses area averages. A landlord can argue in an RDSC case that recent renovations justify moving to the top of the band, but they cannot override the cap.
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