Renting with a company lease

How a company lease differs

In an ordinary lease you are the tenant. In a company lease, the employer is the tenant and you are the authorised occupant. The company signs, pays, and is responsible to the landlord for the contract. Many relocation packages and senior roles use this model, and some landlords prefer it because the counterparty is a business with a trade licence.

Documents usually needed

Landlords and Ejari registration typically ask for:

• a valid trade licence and establishment card
• the authorised signatory's ID and proof of authority
• the occupant's passport, visa and Emirates ID
• company cheques or a payment undertaking

Requirements change, so confirm the current list with DLD or the agent. See Ejari registration for tenants for the wider process.

Questions the employee should ask

• Who exactly is named as occupant, and can your family live there?
• Who pays DEWA, chiller and internet, and in whose name?
• Who handles maintenance requests, you or HR?
• What happens to the lease if you resign, are made redundant or are transferred?
• Can the lease be assigned to you personally if you want to stay?

Get the answers in writing from your employer before you move your family in.

If the job ends

Because the company is the tenant, the company decides what happens to the lease. It may terminate early under the contract's clause, transfer the lease to you with the landlord's agreement, or keep the unit for another employee. Your residence and visa position may change at the same time, so plan housing and visa timelines together. Our guide to early lease termination explains the contract mechanics.

Housing allowance versus company lease

Some employers pay a housing allowance instead, and you rent in your own name. That gives you control over the contract and continuity if you change jobs, but you carry the commitment, the cheques and the deposit. A company lease reduces your upfront cost and admin but ties your home to your employer. Weigh flexibility against convenience, especially for a long stay.

Moving in under a company lease

The practical steps are the same as any rental, but more people are involved. HR or a PRO may hold the Ejari certificate you need to activate DEWA, so ask for a copy before moving day. Do your own condition check with dated photos, even though the company paid the deposit; if damage is disputed later, your employer may pass the cost to you. Keep your own copy of the contract and the landlord's contact details.

Rent, renewals and the rules

The usual rules still apply. Increases at renewal are capped by the RERA index under Decree No. 43 of 2013, and the landlord must give 90 days' notice to change terms. Because the company receives the notices, ask HR to tell you about any renewal proposal promptly. The rent increase rules guide shows how to check a proposed figure.

For HR and relocation teams

Keep a register of every company lease with expiry dates, the 90-day renewal window, occupants and cheque schedules. Choose properties near the office and schools your staff need, and use a licensed agent who can handle viewings for people still overseas. Browse current rental listings or apartments for rent to set budgets.