Residents decry continued rent increase in Al Ain
Rents have been showing no sign of easing down even as the number of vacant flats and villas has continuously been increasing in the oasis city.
Al Ain: Rents have been showing no sign of easing down even as the number of vacant flats and villas has continuously been increasing in the oasis city.
Real estate agents said the city is still saturated with people who have moved here from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Buraimi, a neighbouring Omani town.
The decline in Dubai rents has been encouraging people to move to Dubai but their movement is slow thus having no impact on the overall rental situation.
Finding an affordable accommodation is still a major problem and residents have been accusing landlords and real estate agents of exploiting the situation. High rents and annual five per cent increase has besieged private sector employees largely with static salaries.
Exploitation
Asking authorises to intervene and put an end to the exploitation, the residents asked for allowing five per cent hike after every three years at least.
"If they can defend the landlords' interest they should also help us by introducing a similar salary increase [for] private sector employees," said Vija Kumar, an Al Ain resident.
Under existing salary scales, many expatriates are unable to pay the additional rents. The situation has taken away decent accommodations out of the private sector employees.
"I have been living in sub-divided villa with a temporary asbestos roof for the last two years," he said.
Mahmoud Ali, another private sector employee, said rents have doubled and people who refuse to pay are asked to vacate the flats or villas.
The violation of the existing rent cap is rampant and tenants are helpless, he added.
He said many people have sent their families back to their home countries as they cannot afford the rents.
"We request the government to rationalise the rents or force private sector companies to increase the accommodation allowances, at least, in which people could get a decent home," he said.
The city's earlier peaceful life was dented by the rising inflation, recession, and the staggering rental hike in Abu Dhabi.
One bedroom flat : Dh40,000 - Dh 50,000 p/a
Two-bedroom flat : Dh55,000 - Dh70,000 p/a
Villa/three bedroom flat: Dh80,000 - 120,000 p/a
Old buildings
Single room: Dh1,000 - Dh1,500 p/m
Two rooms: Dh3,000 - Dh3,500 p/m
Rates: New buildings
