UAE | Housing & Property

Sharjah tenants refuse to pay increased rents

Thirteen families, residing for at least three years at a building near Government Square, face eviction after having refused to pay rents that were increased for the fifth consecutive time.

  • By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:25 October 5, 2008
  • Gulf News

Sharjah: Thirteen families, residing for at least three years at a building near Government Square, face eviction after having refused to pay rents that were increased for the fifth consecutive time.

New tenants, however, have been spared an eviction notice.

The old tenants are being evicted because of their refusal to accept a 53 per cent hike in rent. They are currently paying a rent of Dh36,000 per year for the 15-year-old building.

"I have been living here for 11 years and this is my home. My children have been raised here. I am willing to pay up to Dh44,000 as rent, but the management refused the offer," said Puthan Pradeep, who was set a September 30 deadline for eviction.

The families residing in the building have been served with eviction notices with different deadlines. Some have been given a December deadline.

The rent for this building was raised by 11.5 per cent in 2004, 20 per cent in 2005, 37.5 per cent in 2006 and 9 per cent in 2007, according to Pradeep's tenancy contract, attested by Sharjah Municipality.

Against rules

Since 2004, tenants have been paying an annual increase in rent, which is against existing rent rules in Sharjah. Current rule states that landlords can only increase the rent once after the first three years since the signing of the first tenancy contract. Moreover, any subsequent increase can only be imposed once at the end of every two years.

There is no rent cap in Sharjah, though.

"Most of us are living here for the last 11-12 years. Maintenance is almost nil in this building, though we still have to pay for maintenance," complained Pradeep.

When contacted by Gulf News, Ali Al Kindi, Head of Sharjah Rent Dispute Arbitration Committee, at Sharjah Municipality, said: "The landlord is only allowed to increase rents every two years. The tenants can lodge a case against the landlord at the Rent Dispute Committee regarding the eviction notice as well."

An official from the building's management office said eviction notices were served to selective tenants since some of the flats needed repair.

The recent decision by Dubai Municipality to impose the 'one-villa-one family' rule has also forced many families to look for accommodation in Sharjah as an alternative.

Dispute: Row over licence

More than 250 tenants in Sharjah have been issued eviction notices as the landlord looks to convert the property into hotel apartments.

Families at a residential tower in Al Nahda have been given two months' time to vacate the 25-storey building.

One of the affected tenants, who had moved into the building six months ago, said: "I requested the landlord's representative to show me the license for the hotel apartments, but he refused. The copy of the license and the eviction notice should be pasted on the walls for all of us to see.

"The garbage chute is not working and we have problems with the lift. I think the landlord is doing everything he can to evict us," he added.

A senior official at Sharjah Municipality said tenants were within their rights to be shown the licence for the hotel apartments.

"The Rent Dispute Committee is currently investigating the case and the tenancy contract of each tenant will be individually looked into," said Ali Al Kindi, Head of Sharjah Rent Dispute Arbitration Committee.

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