UAE | Housing & Property
New law triggers demolition surge
Ever since a new property law was issued in Abu Dhabi, applications to demolish buildings have increased substantially, according to Khalfan Sultan Al Nuaimi, a building permit director at the municipality.
- By Samir Salama, Bureau Chief and Ahmed A. Elewa, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 March 10, 2007
Abu Dhabi: Ever since a new property law was issued in Abu Dhabi, applications to demolish buildings have increased substantially, according to Khalfan Sultan Al Nuaimi, a building permit director at the municipality.
With 32 applications to demolish property in the first two months of this year, Al Nuaimi anticipates that annual figures will increase significantly in comparison to 180 applications in 2006 and 189 applications in 2005.
Maintenance
"There are about 30,000 buildings in Abu Dhabi city - many are from the 1970s or 1980s - accordingly the percentage of the buildings subject to demolition is marginal," he said.
However, a source at the municipality explained that many of these buildings do not need maintenance. "The problem is that since the rent cap law was issued, we receive many claims for general maintenance work, a permit that entitles the landlord to evacuate the building, hence avoiding the three-year term for leases... and offering the property without the seven per cent cap restriction," he said.
"The average number of monthly demolition applications was 5 to 10 [buildings] before, but in recent months it surged to 15, especially after the introduction of the new law," the source added. With an extreme shortage of affordable housing in the short-term, increasing the number of demolitions adds to an already compromising situation for residents. However, contractors insist the mechanism is based on a free market approach.
"Any landlord can put in a request ... if he has no financial commitment to the Shaikh Khalifa Committee and given that he successfully evacuates the building from existing tenants," explained Mohammad Hussain, deputy general manager of Al Mansouri Contracting Company.
Residents
Meanwhile, low and middle-income households in Abu Dhabi are struggling to find affordable housing, as buildings are torn down. Residents believe that landlords are flouting the seven per cent rent cap, because new buildings are not covered by the law.
"Middle income families are facing a severe shortage of affordable flats and the problem is getting worse, with many buildings that are in good condition being demolished," said Mohammad Nasser, a sales executive.
He adds, "The only reason I can think of is an attempt on the part of landlords to charge tenants more and to flout the seven per cent rent cap rule," he said.
The law by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan capped rent increases in Abu Dhabi at seven per cent last November.
More than 2,000 vehicles seized in a month
More than 2,000 light vehicles were seized for violating traffic laws in February, or 75 vehicles every day. Police confiscated 47 motorbikes without number plates, 2,116 light vehicles and 62 trucks.
Plans to flush out illegal workers
Police discussed with the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department operations to flush out illegal workers in bachelors' accommodations. The director of Al Rifa'a police station met Colonel Obaid Al Muhairi, Deputy Director of DNRD.
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