Tenancy contract addendum explained

What an addendum is

Dubai uses a standard tenancy contract for residential lets, registered through Ejari. The standard form covers the essentials: parties, property, rent, term, payment method and deposit. Most lets need more detail than that, so the parties attach an addendum with additional terms.

Both landlord and tenant sign the addendum, and it is usually uploaded with the contract when the tenancy is registered. Our guides to Ejari for landlords and Ejari for tenants explain registration.

Clauses commonly added

• Maintenance: who handles minor repairs, and up to what level, versus major repairs.
• Early termination: notice and any compensation if the tenant leaves early; see early lease termination.
• Pets: permission and conditions; see pet-friendly communities.
• Furnishings: an inventory for furnished lets.
• Utilities and cooling: who pays DEWA and chiller accounts.
• Cheque arrangements and charges for returned cheques; see rent cheques in Dubai.
• Subletting and occupancy: who may live in the property.
• Condition at move-out: cleaning and repainting expectations.

Keep wording plain and specific. A vague clause is a future dispute.

What an addendum cannot do

An addendum cannot take away rights the law gives either party. For example, it cannot allow a landlord to raise rent beyond what Decree No. 43 of 2013 and the RERA rental index permit, remove the requirement for at least 90 days' notice before expiry to change terms, or replace the 12 months' notarised notice needed for eviction for sale or own use. Clauses that conflict with the law are unlikely to be upheld by the Rental Dispute Centre.

If you are unsure whether a clause is enforceable, take advice before signing. Our guides to rent increase rules and tenant rights summarise the main protections.

Negotiating an addendum

Tenants: read the addendum as carefully as the contract and ask for unclear clauses to be rewritten. Strike out anything you have not agreed before signing. Landlords: keep the addendum fair and consistent with the law, because an aggressive clause can put good tenants off and may not survive a dispute.

Agree everything before the first cheque is handed over. Changes after registration usually need both parties to sign a fresh document.

Where one side writes the addendum, the other should not feel rushed. Ask for a draft in advance, compare it with the standard contract, and keep email confirmation of any points agreed verbally. A property manager or agent acting for either side should explain each clause before signature.

Changing terms at renewal

If a landlord wants different terms at renewal, including a new addendum, they must give notice at least 90 days before expiry, as explained in our 90-day renewal notice guide. The renewed contract and any updated addendum should then be registered again. Read renewing a tenancy in Dubai for the full sequence.

Keeping records

Keep signed copies of the contract, addendum, Ejari certificate, inventory and move-in photos together. If a dispute reaches the Rental Dispute Centre, these are the documents that matter; see our Rental Dispute Centre guide.