Dubai: Worried tenants of a Discovery Gardens building are in limbo over a looming eviction after the Dubai Rents Committee told them to either vacate their flats or pay the real landlord, after the broker to whom they had given the rent disappeared.
Around 40 families and residents in Building 219 in the Mogul cluster received eviction letters a month ago, despite having paid a year's rent of Dh50,000. Many had taken bank loans to pay the rent in advance to an alleged rogue broker acting on behalf of landlord Meraas. The broker reportedly kept the money or deposited the cheques and vanished, leaving property owners Meraas unpaid.
A verdict from the Rents Committee, which rules on landlord-tenant disputes, is expected in three weeks time.
A tenancy contract, signed and stamped by the broker acting on behalf of Corporate Business Solutions (CBS) as the "landlord", has been seen by XPRESS.
‘Lives on hold'
Mahinour Ali Okda, an Egyptian who moved to the flat with her husband in August, said those threatened with eviction are having to put their lives on hold until the matter has been resolved.
She said: "I burst into tears when I read the eviction letter. We had so many plans for our future, we wanted to start a family, but not knowing where we will be living in a month's time is terrible. We haven't done anything wrong and yet are having to go through this nightmare." Many of the tenants moved in between July and August this year.
Her husband Yassin Al Moghazy said: "Meraas has been in contact with us and want to find a way out of the problem that may avoid us being kicked out onto the street."
He said Meraas will pursue the broker. Alternatively, he said they may draw up new contracts, but tenants will need to pay 20 to 30 per cent of the annual rent. Eviction is a last resort, he added.
Unbearable uncertainty
An Iraqi resident who moved to the apartment block with his wife and son in July said on condition of anonymity: "We signed the contract in good faith. We understand the situation Meraas is in because it is also a victim in this. The uncertainty is unbearable."
Mohammad Al Shaikh, Secre-tary General of the Dubai Rents Committee, said Meraas did not give the broker the right to sub-lease the property. "If residents want to stay, they have to deal with Meraas. If they want to complain against the broker they can come to us and file a complaint," he added.
CBS phone lines were constantly engaged and a mobile number used by the broker was switched off. No one was available to comment on behalf of Meraas Real Estate.
