Extended FAQ for Landlords
We’ve created below Frequently Asked Questions for Landlords page to keep our Landlords well educated and up-to-date about rules, regulations and procedures when it comes to short-term management of their properties.
DTCM Permits & Related
Copy of individual owner’s passport or UAE ID for individual owners or tenants (if the property owner is a company, the owner or one of the company’s partners’ passport or UAE ID copy should be included, alongside license documents or the company’s articles of association)
Submission of proof of authorisation to use the Unit:
Copy of property Title Deed;
Authorisation from the owner, using the approved form from DTCM (if the property owner is a legal person, i.e. a company, an authorised signatory can sign the form on the condition that proof of his authorisation is also submitted)
A bill issued for the Unit by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority that is no less than three months old as of the date of the application, and in the name of the owner or the Licensee (or tenant) of the Unit.
No. Hotel and hotel apartments have a different classification. Only units which have RESIDENTIAL classification can be licensed as a holiday home.
As a tenant you can sub-let one property only, subject to:
- Having written approval from your Landlord authorizing you to sub-let the unit as a holiday home.
- You should have valid tenancy contract and Ejari.
You can either submit a statement of account from DEWA or log in to your DEWA account and take a screenshot of the account profile. The screenshot must show the account owner and DEWA account number.
- That there is no title deed for this unit
- If the unit is still on a payment plan, mention that the unit is on a payment plan and there is no outstanding dues
- Mention that the unit is residential
Permits registered by us (the Operator) can be cancelled only by us upon termination of our Vacation Rentals Management Agreement and completion of responsibilities by both parties.
Note: A Permit may not be cancelled for a Unit that a Guest is staying in.
Owner Stay
You can book an owner stay anytime when your property is vacant (and there is no pending or confirmed reservation) by providing us at least 72-hours notice.
Note that sometimes we have reservations pending payment (for example guest transferred the funds and property has pending/tentative reservation already) thus every before every such stay a manual approval from us is a must.
You can book an owner stay via “Help & Contact” page contact form located in Landlord Portal (you have to be logged in first).
If you’re having any kind of trouble, then you can send an email to Dedicated Landlord email address mentioned in the portal.
As long as your property is licensed by DTCM as a holiday home, NO!
As per DTCM regulations Owner Stays are eligible for the Owner of the property and his/her direct family members only.
If friends or non-direct relatives are to stay in your property, we can still register them but as regular Guests. In that case, DTCM Tourism Dirham Fee has to be paid to government.
You need to provide:
- Check-in date and time
- Checkout date and time
- ID copies of all your family members residing with you.
- paying for utility bills on landlord’s behalf and recording the same in accounting systems;
- arranging maintenance repairs;
- conducting owner and visitor check-ins/outs and registration/deregistration of the same in DTCM portal;
- dealing with community management and/or DTCM systems;
- paying fixed fees to Property Management & Channel Manager systems for each property;
- keeping sufficient quotas in local portals such as Dubizzle/PropertyFinder;
- maintaining property and document records;
- being accountable for all staying guests in front of DTCM and Government of Dubai;
- maintaining listings in Online Travel Agencies such as Booking.com & AirBNB.com;
- continuing to provide Revenue Management services to keep the rates up-to-date, thus for any Owner Stay longer than 30-days we might charge the Owner a discounted yet fixed Management Fee based on market rental rates for the period of their stays to recover our costs.
Yes, we do charge a cleaning fee upon your departure to cover housekeeping costs.
Utilities & Utility Payments
- DEWA (electricity, water, sewerage)
- Hi-speed internet with cable channels
- AC / Chilled Water supply
- GAS (if the stove/oven runs on gas only)
By default it is the Landlord who settles the bills on monthly basis.
However we can settle them on your behalf without additional charges. To do that, we need to have clear written instructions from your that you want us to handle your utilities, along with all such account details to pay for.
By default we expect all properties to have already connected utilities. If they don’t, then we’ll go ahead and activate them in order to start renting your property.
Note that some services like DU or Etisalat (home internet with cable TV channels) might require us to subscribe to 12 or 24 months subscription in order to be activated and/or in order to save on monthly fees for you.
When it comes to disconnection, it is Landlord’s responsibility to handle by default.
Landlord Payouts
We’re sending payouts on or before 15th of every month for rental proceeds incurred during previous month period.
If 15th falls on Friday or Saturday, then the payout might be postponed to the next working day.
All statements (including Incomes/Expenses statements & transactions) are updated on or before 10th of each month, for previous month’s incurred transactions and available in Landlord Portal > Incomes & Expenses section.
Additionally you can find your current, previous month’s and upcoming balance as well as list of payouts as well as Audit Trail Report in Balance & Payouts section of your Landlord Portal.
Finally all reservation details are updated manually twice per week and are available in Reservations section of your Landlord Portal.
Visiting My Property
Bed Linen & Towels
Our recent purchasing standards are:
- Linen – 220-250 Thread Count
- Towels – 600 GSM
- Bath Math – 1000 GSM
Our general rule is to have all bed/linen set replaced at least once every year. However if during recent year specific property had too many check-ins and check-outs, then we might suggest that particular Landlord to have the sets replaced slightly earlier.
To preserve the life of the linen and to provide spotless services to our guests, we’re using Linencraft – one of the most reputable companies for all our laundry needs. Check them out at:
https://www.emiratesflightcatering.com/services/laundry/
LinenCraft is part of Emirates group.
DTCM Regulations Update
- The Licensee must receive the Guest, hand over the keys to the Unit, and ensure that the Guest is delivered the Unit in a clean and ready state.
- The Licensee must inform the guest of the terms and conditions, in addition to the internal rules that visitors must abide by.
- The building management may view the passport photos or the identity of the guests or take a copy only at the time the Guests are received and have completed check-in.
- The Licensee must check-in/check-out Guests in the Holiday Home System within a maximum of three (3) hours of entering the Holiday Home.
- Licensees must check in all Guests into the Holiday Home System.
- In case of any problems between the building management and the Holiday Home company/establishment/individual owner, the Guest must be admitted to the Unit without delay and the dispute should be resolved separately directly between the company and the building management or by making a complaint to DTCM.
- The Licensee must provide an alternative Unit of the same standards, size, and guest occupancy without the imposition of additional fees, if upon arrival the Guest discovers major damage that prevents staying at the Holiday Home, including but not limited to major damage to air conditioning, water leakage, or other similar circumstances.
- The building or residential complex management must facilitate and provide for the possibility of the free and unfettered access of the Licensee to the Holiday Home, in order to allow them to conduct the Activity without obstruction.
- The building or residential complex management must facilitate Guest entry to the Holiday Home authorised by DTCM, as well as providing them free and unfettered access without obstruction.
- The building or residential complex management may view the passports and ID cards of Guests and take copies thereof upon their arrival at the building or residential complex reception desk for check-in only when checking-in.
- The building or residential complex management must inform DTCM as soon as possible of any complaints it has against the Licensee, Guest, or visitor in order for DTCM to take the necessary action in this regard.
- In the case of any complaints being submitted by the building or residential complex management against the Licensee, if it appears to DTCM that such complaint against the Licensee constitutes a breach of the Decree, the Regulations or this Guide, DTCM may begin necessary procedures against the Licensee, including the imposition of fines, the suspension of activity, or the termination of the License or Permit.
- Tourism Dirham are charged per room per night regardless of the number of guests, based on the following category classifications: • Deluxe Holiday Home = AED 15 per room per night • Standard Holiday Home = AED 10 per room per night
- For long stays or more than 30 consecutive nights, Tourism Dirham will be calculated for the first 30 consecutive nights of the Check-In only.
- The Guest check-in document is valid for a maximum period of three (3) months, renewable for the same period, so long as it is renewed before expiry.
Activity Engaging, on a regular and ongoing basis, in leasing out Holiday Homes or taking lease of Holiday Homes for the purpose of subletting them to Guests.
Decree Decree No. 41 of 2013 Regulating the Activity of Leasing out Holiday Homes in the Emirate of Dubai.
DED The Department of Economic Development in Dubai
DTCM The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
Emirate The Emirate of Dubai
Establishment A corporation or company licensed to conduct the Activity in the Emirate.
Guest A natural person that stays in the Holiday Home in return for payment with the intention of using it as an overnight accommodation.
Holiday Homes Furnished Units designated for conducting the Activity in accordance with the conditions and criteria stipulated in this Guide.
Holiday Home Lease Contract An agreement concluded between an Establishment and a Guest, stipulating the
rights and obligations of the parties thereto, in accordance with the provisions of the Decree, the Regulation and this Guide.
Initial Approval The initial approval issued by DTCM to an applicant for a License to enable him to complete the License application procedures, in accordance with the requirements prescribed by the Regulation.
License A document issued by DTCM stating that DTCM authorises a Licensee to conduct the Activity in the Emirate after verifying that all conditions and requirements stipulated in the Regulation are met by the Licensee.
Licensee An individual or Establishment licensed to conduct the activity in the Emirate.
Permit A document issued by DTCM stating that DTCM approves a furnished Unit be designated as a Holiday Home, after verifying that all conditions and requirements stipulated in this Guide are met.
Regulation Administrative Decision No. 1 of 2020 issuing of the executive regulations of Decree No. 41 of 2013 Regulating the Activity of Leasing out Holiday Homes in the Emirate of Dubai State The State of the United Arab Emirates.
Units Real property units
