Rera to decide on Nakheel's beach access charge move

DUBAI: A controversial move by Nakheel to charge residents of Palm Jumeirah Shoreline apartments access fees to the beach has come to the attention of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Rera), XPRESS has learnt.

A decision on the contentious issue is expected soon after owners took the matter up with Rera. The charge, reportedly starting from Dh5,000, was due to be implemented on December 1, but Nakheel postponed the move.

Homeowners argued that they own the gyms, pools, beach and the beach club next to the posh apartments and consider them part of "common areas". Nakheel declined to comment on the move. "As for the Shoreline beach club [ownership], it is with Rera and we are not commenting at this stage," a spokesperson said.

Many landlords have ignored the payment of service charges, a fact the tenants themselves acknowledge. In late November, the Dubai Land Department asked owners to deposit outstanding service charges into an escrow account established by the authority, and not to Nakheel, pending a final decision over the ownership of Shoreline's common property.

Owners were given until December 14 to pay, while residents continued to have access to facilities. Residents, however, have nixed the idea of having to pay more for access to the facilities they had been using for free.

"Any extra charge is unfair to tenants. It's just fair for landlords to pay the maintenance fee. We were promised free access to a private beach when we first moved here," said Amy, a Canadian resident.

Other residents said if they are charged for beach access, they would consider paying for memberships in hotel beach clubs instead. "The way this is being implemented and communicated is wrong," said British resident John. He said short-term residents visiting Dubai may get the surprise of their lives when they find that their access cards no longer work.