The ultimate landlord’s checklist for tenants in Dubai
Getting a perfect tenant is what a landlord dreams of. But how to find one? This guide provides a comprehensive tenant screening checklist covering credit checks, income verification and background checks. By checking off items on the landlord’s checklist for tenants, you can increase your chances of finding reliable renters and minimising potential issues.
What is a Tenant Screening Checklist
A tenant screening checklist is a valuable resource for landlords to assess prospective tenants and identify potential red flags. You can gather essential information and make informed decisions by ticking off items on the rental inspection checklist for landlords.
A Landlord’s Checklist For Tenants in Dubai
- Employment status
- Credit score
- Good conduct
- Number of occupants
- Presence of pets
- Social media
- Maintenance responsibilities
- Rental agreement
Wondering how to pick the right tenant in Dubai? Following are the key components of a tenant screening checklist.
Enquire About Your Tenant’s Employment Status
Verifying a tenant’s employment and income is critical to the landlord’s inspection checklist. This information helps landlords assess the tenant’s financial stability and the required income-to-rent ratio.
A general guideline suggests that a tenant’s income should be at least three times the rent amount. Also, employment verification can help prevent financial difficulties and reduce the risk of rental payment issues.
A Healthy Credit Score
Before finalising a tenant, it’s advisable to review their credit score. In the UAE, tenant consent is required to obtain a credit report, and they should be willing to provide supporting documents.
A higher credit score generally indicates responsible financial behaviour, including timely payments and effective debt management. The Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB) assigns credit scores between 300 and 900, with scores above 700 considered favourable.
A credit score below 600 may raise concerns, as it indicates the tenant struggles to make rental payments or manage rent increases. Continuity of such behaviour can even lead to rental disputes. In such cases, landlords, property managers and tenants can seek assistance from the Rental Dispute Settlement Centre (RDC) in Dubai.
Check Criminal Records and Ensure Good Conduct
To ensure the safety and security of their rental properties, landlords should conduct background checks on potential tenants. This includes investigating their conduct and police records.
Landlords can enquire about a tenant’s social behaviour and participation in the community. Additionally, requiring a Rental Good Conduct Certificate can provide further assurance of a tenant’s positive history.
Furthermore, to vet for criminal activity, landlords should request a police clearance certificate. It’s essential to avoid handing over house keys until these background checks are completed.
Another great way to vet a tenant in Dubai is to request a Police Clearance Certificate. This is also known as a Certificate of Good Conduct and is provided by the Dubai Police. Making the document a prerequisite is a good practice for selecting the right tenants for your property in Dubai.
Clarify Details About the Number of Occupants
Another thing to consider from the landlord’s checklist for choosing tenants is the number of occupants, which can impact maintenance needs. Landlords should enquire about the number of family members during the initial meeting to avoid potential issues related to overcrowding.
Find out if your tenant has pets
Pets can add to the maintenance and cleaning requirements of a rental property. Landlords who prefer to rent to tenants without pets should communicate this preference to potential renters.
Discuss maintenance responsibilities
To understand maintenance responsibilities clearly, landlords should discuss their expectations with potential tenants. In Dubai, property owners generally cover maintenance and restoration costs.
However, landlords can set spending caps for smaller, regular maintenance issues that tenants may be responsible for. This should be discussed and included in the rental agreement.
Signing a rental agreement
Once you have done your due diligence, you must sign a tenancy agreement with your renter. Make sure the tenancy agreement covers all the relevant points and states them clearly. You can check out our blog about tenancy agreements in Dubai to know more about the roles and obligations of both tenants and landlords in Dubai.
For more clarity, read up on RERA Dubai tenancy law.
FAQs About Rental Checklist for Landlords
How long should the tenant screening process take?
The length of the tenant screening process varies depending on factors like the number of applicants, response times for reference checks and the availability of required documents. Landlords should aim for a reasonable timeframe while conducting a thorough evaluation to respect applicants’ time.
What happens if I skip the tenant screening process?
Failing to screen tenants can result in problems and negative rental experiences. There’s a reason why this ‘landlord’s checklist for tenants’ is popular among the rental market. Properly conducting tenant screening in Dubai can result in a satisfactory rental journey.
Can a landlord make changes to a tenancy contract?
Landlords in Dubai can propose changes to a tenancy contract before renewal. According to RERA, landlords must provide at least three months’ notice via registered mail before the contract expires.
What if a tenant refuses to leave the house after the termination of the tenancy contract?
Landlords can seek help from RERA in the event of any issues with tenants. Are you wondering how to file a rental dispute in Dubai with RERA? Read the guide to learn complete details.
This concludes our guide on the landlord checklist for renting a house. While some points on this landlord’s checklist for choosing tenants can be quickly established, bear in mind that as the property owner, you are entitled to do your due diligence, even for sensitive subjects like finance.
Moreover, renting out your property in Dubai is a great way to accumulate a return on investment and earn passive income. But before you rent the property, ensure that you consider all the key elements of the process.
Furthermore, tenants who are confused about paying rent in Dubai can look at our guide. The post reveals different modes of rental payment available in the city.
Have you struggled to vet your tenants in Dubai? Let us know what other pointers you have for prospective landlords through our comments section, and we’ll incorporate them in the post!
Stay tuned to MyBayut and learn tips to build a good tenant-landlord relationship!
