Dubai: Tenant's woes continue in Discovery Gardens and this time it was the turn of residents in buildings 42 and 68 to survive without water for more than 24 hours.
The residents complained that their water had been disconnected on Sunday and their suffering continued until this report was filed yesterday night.
Nakheel Asset Management and Infrastructure, the developer of the community, had put up a notice in these buildings, asking the owners to clear their building service charges and also warned them of disruption in services in case of failure to do so.
"From yesterday [Sunday] evening there is no water. My flat owner says he has paid Nakheel, and Nakheel, on the other hand, say they have not received the dues due to which Dewa has disconnected the water supply. We do not know who is to be blamed, but it is we who are suffering.
‘Dishes pile up'
"I took a shower this morning in the gym and we have been using mineral water for washing and cleaning. It is very difficult with children and families," a resident in building 42, who lives with his family, said.
When contacted, Nakheel refused to comment. During the evening, worried residents were trying to make calls to Nakheel, Dewa and real estate companies, but in vain.
"I called Nakheel, Dewa, and our real estate company. No one is giving us a clear picture. It is very unfair on their part to make us suffer this way. Even if there is a problem of non-payment of dues, those who are residing in these buildings should at least have been warned. For no fault of ours, we are facing this inconvenience," another resident from building 68 said.
Another resident, who stays in a studio apartment in one of these buildings, said: "I cannot afford to buy water to have a shower and clean the house. I got some water from the mosque. My house is dirty, the dishes and laundry are not done. I do not have any relatives to whom I can go until the water supply is resumed. We have paid the rent, why are they punishing us like this?"
One of the residents said he had contacted Nakheel and was told that it was Dewa which had disconnected the service. "They are going on blaming each other. That does not solve our problem. Since yesterday, I have spent at least Dh50 on water. I don't know how long we can continue like this."
Suppliers of drinking water said the demand had increased from inmates of these buildings.
Amid all the confusion, hassled tenants said they fear their electricity supply might also be disconnected. "We never know, it seems they are not bothered. After water, the next thing may be electricity."
Fear of losing tenants
An apartment owner told Gulf News: "I paid around Dh18,000 as my building service charge. Now, my tenant is suffering and I fear the rentals might decline further.
"Maintenance is already an issue in this community. I may not be able to get a good tenant."
Nakheel first issued a notice in December 2011 in which the developer had listed names of defaulting owners of more than 60 apartments in building 42. As per the notice, the arrears amounted to over Dh915,000.
Nakheel's recent notice dated March 7 stated that regular payments made for building service charges had been handed over to the utility service provider. However, due to the accumulation of arrears, payment has not been made for utilities and services during certain billing periods, which may result in disruption of services.
Nakheel also wrote in the notice that failure to pay the building service charges on time was a violation of law due to which the owners were fully liable for consequences.
