Adjust rental laws
It’s great that tenants have started to know their rights better, but there is a need for urgent adjustments to some of these laws that are largely being abused by landlords (‘Tenants playing ‘stabilising role in UAE rents’,’ Gulf News, September 16). There is a 12-month notice rule that is now the trend that every landlord uses if the tenant is not paying the increase they want, or insisting on removing illegal and unfair conditions imposed by the landlord on the contract. They will often serve 12-month notices to vacate with the excuse that they need to sell the property. The Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera) has set some conditions to use this notice; however the excuse of the will to sell the property is becoming popular.
Please Rera, set some more clear and binding rules associated with that. I personally have come across more than six cases in the past four months with friends and relatives being served such notices, including myself. So presumably, I will have to vacate the property.
From Mr Bods
Dubai
Website comment
Controlling rent increases
I definitely agree with Bods. Many landlords ask tenants to vacate giving them a 12-month notice with the pretext of selling or refurbishing the apartment or villa in cases where the tenants do not agree with the new rental increase. Another point in connection to rental increases for Rera to address would be that rents should only be allowed to be increased on a term of every three years. Currently, for the first three years, the rent is as per the amount agreed on. From the fourth year onwards, landlords increase the rent annually. I think that is wrong. Salaries are not being increased every year, so how will people cope with the annual rent increases?
From Mr H. D. M.
Dubai
Website comment
Increasing for commissions
Well, I am being told to leave the apartment with no prior notification or pay the market price, which is double what I paid last year. The authorities should control these real estate issues so that the price hikes aren’t being manipulated just to increase commissions.
From Mr Shakeel Manan
Dubai
Facebook comment
Go to authorities!
I don’t understand, there is a set law regarding rent increases. If landlords are overriding that law, why don’t people go to the law enforcement authorities? Dubai wants to set a system for stability and gain people’s confidence for which all the authorities are set up to do. If people don’t approach them, what can they do?
From Mr Osama Shombay
Dubai
Facebook comment
Experiencing Dubai
Being a visitor to Dubai is a pleasure and a joy. The projects and the amazing architecture take us sky high. Walking around Dubai mall inspires us to indulge in shopping sprees. There are hundreds of automobiles: so many posh cars flying past on Shaikh Zayed Road. I love the musical fountain beside the Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower the world has ever seen. The city is made up of disciplined people of all nationalities, who are actively pursuing their business. There are eateries satisfying the palate of different nationalities from all around the world, with mouthwatering delicious dishes. Dubai deserves much praise for its tolerance.
From Ms Y.V. Visveshwaran
Coimbatore, India
Accurate list of items
I love that Gulf News did a story on things that you can buy for one dirham (‘One dirham pleasures,’ Gulf News, September 16)! There are so many things that are still available for one dirham. So many choices! My favourite Dh1 item is the ice cream. Yes, I always keep change to buy this ice cream, without fail. After shopping, or after a heavy meal it is great as a light dessert. If you’re dieting and have a sweet craving, sometimes just going out and only having this ice cream at midnight is perfect.
From Ms Archana Sen
Abu Dhabi
A blessing
One dirham is still worth a lot, even today where money has lost its value against goods and everything that has increased in price drastically. There are times when a dirham can be a blessing in disguise. However, one thing that I really miss is buying a bottle of mineral water for a dirham and a can of cola from the local stores. But my dirham is well spent on a lollipop. I still love lollipops and cannot resist them!
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Sharjah
Facebook comment
Thinking facetiously
It seems as if we need to have a similar arrangement, but for motorists in the UAE (‘China opens smartphone sidewalk lane,’ Gulf News, September 16). A separate lane should be provided for motorists using mobile phones while driving. Can you imagine how much easier and safer life would be for other motorists abiding proper traffic rules? This way the traffic police would have an easier time bringing down the accident rates due to mobile phones.
From Mr Rizwan Kazi
Dubai
Website comment
More transparency needed
What’s more worrying about the school stabbing is the fact that to date, the school has yet to provide an explanation and implement measures to assure parents that such violence will not recur (‘Parents express concern for students’ welfare,’ Gulf News, September 16). The fact that they have prohibited the students from talking about it and that they have not given much clarity on the situation is not responsible, nor is it the correct way to handle the situation. The management should own up to their mistakes.
From Ms A. Fer
Dubai
Website comment
Protecting Earth
As all of us know, ozone is a natural gas that is found in two different layers of the atmosphere. In the upper layer, ozone protects life on Earth by absorbing some of the sun’s UV rays. Too much UV rays can cause skin cancer and will also harm all plants and animals.
But the ozone layer is on the verge of being destroyed due to the excessive use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) and other chemicals. It’s not enough that the United Nations calls for action at a global level.
We need to think about how our actions can help in the preservation of this lifesaving layer, which indeed can be protected through small steps, but the general public needs to become aware of it.
If you stop using aerosols, hairsprays and refrigerator coolants containing CFCs, then the deterioration of our ozone can actually be avoided.
From Ms Maria Vincent
Dubai
Endangered tigers
One of India’s greatest leaders, Mahatma Gandhi said: “The greatness of nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
I would like to highlight the grave issue of the endangered tigers. Until the 20th century, there were nine tiger subspecies. With only five subspecies left, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has declared the tiger endangered. With all tiger subspecies grouped together, there is an estimated 3,200 remaining in the wild - mostly in isolated pockets spread across increasingly fragmented forests stretching from India, China, Russia and Indonesia.
Why should we care about tigers? A healthy tiger population means a healthy ecosystem. When animals at the top or bottom of the food chain start to decline in numbers, it’s a clear sign that the entire ecosystem is in trouble.
These ecosystems supply both Nature and people with fresh water, food, and many other vital resources. I believe that by saving the tiger, we are saving people, too.
These beautiful cats are threatened by growing human populations, loss of habitat, forest destruction, illegal hunting for their pelts, meat and body parts used in folk medicines. As individuals, I would implore you all to give a gift that will help protect the future of Nature. Adopt a tiger. Your symbolic adoption will support the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) global efforts to protect wild animals and their habitats.
I hope I have highlighted this grave issue to all and that we will do our utmost to help preserve this endangered and magnificent species.
From Mr Mehweesh T. Kadegaonkar
Sharjah
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