Decree Leaves Residents Wondering Whether Rent Will Be Raised Or Lowered

The new decree issued to curb the soaring rent in Dubai has caused some confusion among residents. Some Gulf News readers expressed their concerns about the law, as many of them do not understand the intricacies. Sumanta K. Banerjee, an Indian expatriate, thinks that this new decree would only add to the confusion. He said, "Many of us do not wish to get into a debate with the landlord and pay the rent without asking any questions. However, the statements issued by Dubai's Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Rera) and the landlord are completely different. Banerjee stated that he had many doubts and questions about the new law, which remain unanswered. He said, Some of us had to pay the rent for 2009 before December 31, 2008. In that case, the new law would not apply to us and many landlords have increased [the] rent already. Mary W. Nganga, a Kenyan expatriate, waits in anticipation for rent to decrease. She said:
The new decree states that the rent would not increase. However, what happens if the rent is above the average market rate? If the rent is not lowered, it would not be beneficial to the tenants. We require adequate information to avoid any inconvenience. Harry Maltby, a British expatriate, commends the decision and hopes to see it being followed rigorously. He said, This is a step that needed to be taken much earlier. A lot of people are leaving Dubai, since they cannot afford to stay. Landlords are left with no choice but to reduce rent, in order to provide an incentive to potential tenants. Nilmereneaus Maratas, a Filipino expatriate, believes the new law would be beneficial for the economy. He said, This matter does not affect an individual alone, but in fact has an impact on the economy, too.