Ancillary Unit – Storage & Driver Rooms: Do You Need Ejari for Storage?

If the storage unit or driver room has a distinct Title Deed separate from your main apartment, you must register a separate Ejari for storage to legalize your usage. However, the accessory unit can be included as an amenity in your principal contract without a second registration if it is listed in the same Title Deed as your residential property. To ensure they have legal access to the building, the Ejari team recommends that tenants confirm the precise ownership status of certain auxiliary unit registration types before signing.

Extra room is a valuable item in many villa communities and high-rise structures. To tidy their homes, residents frequently rent extra basement cages or outside service quarters. However, the legal procedure for these tiny areas is usually disregarded. After assuming that a handshake agreement suffices, tenants discover that building security has disabled their access cards. The subtleties of storage Ejari are explained in this tutorial, which also teaches you how to protect your rights to these vital areas and when a separate contract is required.

Registering External Storage in Apartment Buildings

External storage cages are available at the parking floors of many contemporary buildings in Dubai. Tenants frequently believe these are included by default. However, you are officially going into a standalone storage rental contract if you are renting an additional cage that is not specified on the Title Deed for your particular apartment. For this transaction to be considered legitimate in the master developer’s view, it needs its own Ejari registration.

Your right to use the area might not be recognized by the building management system if you do not have this valid registration. Because the tenant name is not connected to the storage unit in the system, we have observed instances where security has refused key access. You can avoid future access issues by properly linking that particular basement unit to your Emirates ID by processing a suitable Ejari. 

Can I Link a Maid Room to the Main Villa Ejari?

Driver and maid apartments are frequently outside buildings for villa homeowners. You don’t need a separate Ejari for a storage or service room contract if these rooms are on the same plot as the main villa and have the same title deed. In the primary tenancy agreement, you merely provide the quantity of rooms and facilities.

However, when driver rooms are situated in a different building, issues can develop in shared living arrangements. The room is a separate legal entity in these situations. This necessitates a separate lease because it falls under the ancillary unit registration criteria. Since DEWA cannot be activated for the service room without its own valid Ejari certificate, disregarding this regulation frequently results in utility disconnection.

Commercial Storage vs Residential Usage

There is a significant legal difference between renting a basement locker for suitcases and signing a full warehouse lease for business stock. A current trade license is necessary to register for a warehouse lease, which is only for business usage.

Personal belongings are the only things stored in a residential Ejari. You run the risk of breaking your lease and getting fined by the city if you attempt to store business inventory using a personal storage contract. To prevent being categorized under commercial regulatory frameworks, always make sure your Ejari for storage explicitly specifies that it is being used for personal household goods.

Visiting the Ejari Office for Ancillary Units

Ancillary units are frequently difficult to register online due to system constraints. An error could occur if the digital portal does not identify a 50 square foot room as a unit that can be rented. To get the system to accept the little square footage in these situations, it is frequently required to visit an Ejari office.

To link the Ejari for a storage unit to your primary residence file, the Ejari office personnel can manually override the system settings. Your accessory apartment will correctly appear on your Dubai REST app profile thanks to this manual intervention, which verifies your legal tenancy.

The Importance of a Storage Rental Contract

Never purchase a storage room with cash if there is no paper trail. Your possessions are protected from theft and unauthorized eviction by a good storage leasing agreement. Your unregistered Ejari for storage puts you at risk of losing your space right away if the landlord decides to sell the property.

A written storage leasing agreement guarantees that the new owner will adhere to the terms of the lease. It gives the Ejari registration the legal foundation, which is the final evidence of your occupancy rights.

Why You Need Ejari for Storage Compliance

Practical convenience is more important than merely following the law when it comes to compliance. RERA databases are progressively being connected to contemporary building security systems. Your proximity card may not be able to open the service floor elevator or the basement entrance if your Ejari for storage is not in the system.

Getting a legitimate Ejari for storage is essential because of this integration. It guarantees that automated security procedures that exclude unregistered tenants won’t interfere with your day-to-day activities. Before moving any boxes in, the Ejari staff advises completing this step.

Warehouse Lease Considerations

If you are renting a very large storage unit that classifies as a warehouse lease, be aware that the registration costs are significantly higher than residential fees. Ensure you are not inadvertently signing a commercial contract for personal goods. A residential Ejari for storage is much cheaper and simpler to process.

Using the correct Ejari for storage format saves you money and prevents the need for unnecessary commercial documentation like civil defense approvals, which are mandatory for a warehouse lease.

Conclusion

Whether it is a small locker or a dedicated driver room, proper documentation is key to a hassle-free tenancy. A valid Ejari for storage guarantees your right to the space and ensures uninterrupted utility and security access.

Don’t treat these spaces as an afterthought. Ensure your storage rental contract is formalized and registered to protect your belongings and your peace of mind.

Need help linking a unit? Contact the team at Ejari to handle your ancillary registrations and secure your extra space today.

FAQs

How much does Ejari for storage cost? 

The government fees are typically the same as a standard registration, approximately AED 220, unless it is added as an amendment to an existing contract, which may be cheaper.

Can I register a storage unit if I live in a different building? 

Yes, you can register an Ejari for storage for a unit in a different building, provided you have a valid tenancy contract from the owner of that storage unit.

Is a separate DEWA bill needed for a driver room? 

If the room has its own meter and premise number, yes. You will need the registered Ejari to activate the separate DEWA account.

Can I use a storage unit as a living space? 

No. It is illegal to use a unit designated for storage as a living space. The Ejari system will register it as storage, and using it for accommodation violates municipal safety laws.