Abu Dhabi: Residents of an 18-storey residential building, with its two elevators not working, say that they are starting to suffer from physical ailments due to climbing stairs multiple times in a day.
Mahimat Towers, located behind Ahlia Hospital on the capital’s Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Street, has had one elevator out of order for around seven months while the remaining one broke down last Saturday, residents said.
Although the elevator that recently broke down is being fixed, residents are not confident it will function for long, given the building management’s poor maintenance record.
“My three children have to climb down 14 flights of stairs every morning and evening during their way to and from school, which is over 280 steps, twice a day. I developed cramps and was unable to accompany them yesterday (Tuesday). It is impossible for elderly people to climb the stairs. We are fed up,” said A.L., who lives on the 14th floor.
Meanwhile, another 14th floor resident, Shamsiya, who has two children including a two-month-old, said she was unable to take her baby to the doctor for his persistent cough.
“I have also not sent my daughter to school since the elevator broke down on Saturday and only got around to do so today after my elderly father came to take her,” she added.
R.T. , a father of three who works for an investment entity in the capital, spoke of other issues that plague the building.
“In August this year, all the ACs in the building stopped working. Many families spent their evenings at malls to escape the heat. I am now in talks with my company to arrange for a new accommodation because I wouldn’t live here even if it were free,” he said.
For single men like N.E., who relies on food delivery services for his daily meals, the lack of functioning elevators means restaurants and grocery stores refuse to deliver goods.
“The situation is disastrous,” he said. “Last year, we had trouble with the AC for an entire month. The owner is always out of reach. The PRO/maintenance head comes around to collect rent cheques and leaves. We haven’t heard from him since the elevator broke down,” he added.
Many residents are moving out of the building but are worried about the remainder of their rent not being returned to them.
K.L., a mother of two, told Gulf News that the owner requires a one-time payment for rent. “The building’s central gas system has been disconnected for two years. We want to move out but we don’t want our rent to go to waste if we move out before our contract ends,” she said.
When contacted by Gulf News, the building’s owner said that the press does not have the right to go into her building to confirm the condition of the elevators. She also did not approve of tenants speaking to Gulf News without her approval.
Residents’ names have been changed to protect their identities.
