Think of others
In such cases, the building’s owners might be comfortably sleeping in their homes with the air conditioner on, while others are going through this ordeal in the summer (‘Tenants forced to sleep in cars as landlord refuses to repair central AC,’ Gulf News, June 1). Gulf News is doing very good work, by shedding light on these errors and I would request the Abu Dhabi authorities to take action so that these people can continue to live their lives and work hard.
From Mr Qazi Sehba Hussain
Ajman
Website comment
Need for rules
The authorities should punish the developers who are not maintaining the buildings or following the rules. There are certain rules for all property owners, but this kind of behaviour is just too much. They need to be penalised appropriately.
From Ms Ashly Thomas
Dubai
Website comment
Take action
In my opinion, the authorities should take action and the real estate authorities should fine the property owner.
From Mr Hamad
Dubai
Website comment
Causing trouble
Several building owners often don’t care whether the tenant suffers, as long as they have received the payment. Most tenants are scared to complain about this. Since it is difficult to get an apartment nowadays, because of the sudden increase in rent, property owners are trying to get rid of older agreements so that they can sign in new ones who are ready to pay the present increased rent rate.
From Mr Sanju
Dubai
Website comment
Inconsistencies
Some property developers tend to think that all rent money should be for themselves and this leaves nothing for maintenance. Some of them acknowledge in the contract that maintenance will be done by them, but when it is requested, they refuse to do it.
From Mr Atif Masroor
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Apathy prevails
I can’t forget the times when people asked only for what they required. As new generations replace older ones, greed and inhumanity seems to be taking over. Just to get higher rent, people who are born and raised in apartments are evicted, with no consideration for the emotional attachment the tenant would have toward their childhood home. How did people become so apathetic? Isn’t the secret of success, for every industry and economy, related to the happiness of the stakeholders and the people involved? Aren’t there any steps that can be taken to control mindless hikes in rent? I have so many questions and struggle every day to keep a roof over my head and maintain the basic necessities of life.
From Mr Mike
Dubai
Name withheld by request
Similar story
The same thing happened to me. When I complained to my building owner about leakage in my washroom, he asked when my renewal month was. When I told him the month, he asked me to please leave! I am now searching for another apartment, as he wants 20 per cent more than what I’m paying now.
From Mr Mehdiyah Miftah
UAE
Facebook comment
Previous tenant
I was also a tenant in the same building last year. The same problem occurred in the past year. This is the main reason I moved to another place with my family.
From Mr Sajeev
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Checklists
Are there no rules to keep the developers in check? We are paying so much money per month and in return, we are not given any maintenance. There should be some checklists that the authorities should expect from landlords, so that these kinds of issues will not arise.
From Ms Anitha
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Proper checks
I had the same incident when I was living in another development in Dubai. My air conditioner stopped working in the last month of my tenancy contract and I was not willing to renew my lease as the management was very irresponsible. The owner gave me a tough time for a whole year and he lived outside the UAE. The agent who sounded very helpful at the time of receiving commissions, wasn’t taking my calls at all. When I called the technician, he gave me an estimate of Dh2,000, which was a very high price to pay for a month. It was a hopeless situation at that point of time and we used to open our main door when sleeping, in order to get cooler air from the lobby for our six-month-old son. There should be a proper complaint centre for such violations and a strict redressal system.
From Mr Faisal
Dubai
Website comment
Editor’s note: The Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera) in Dubai offers residents a platform to raise their rental disputes. The Dubai Rental Disputes Settlement Centre can be reached at 600 555 556.
Recurring problem
The air conditioner problem is a recurring one in this building and many others. The developer will usually take his time, if he does anything meaningful at all. At the same time, the new rent rule helps him raise his income. The municipal authorities can’t do anything in this situation, but they could fine the suffering tenants for installing their own air conditioners.
From Mr Ahmad
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Hard to cope
We are facing this same problem in Musaffah, Abu Dhabi. Nobody listens. However, rent is getting higher and maintenance is practically zero. In our building, the air conditioner, which is a shared one and 20 years old, is not working at all. With children, it’s very hard to live like this.
From Ms Sumbul
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
No refund
As long as the developer has got his money, why would he care? He most likely isn’t going to refund for any damages or inconveniences caused, rather would be sure to deduct from the tenants’ security deposit should something go wrong, even if it’s damage caused by the heat.
From Ms Naz
UAE
Full name withheld by request
No plan B
Today is World Environment Day (WED), a day recognised by United Nations, and this year’s theme is ‘Raise your voice, not the sea level’. Using Gulf News as a medium, I would like to request all readers to change their habits and adopt sustainability in their daily lives. Think of the environment before doing anything. Plastic bags that we use, end up in the garbage and add to the landfills or end up in the oceans, where they are eaten by marine life. So we should start using reusable bags. Try to find alternative water sources to avoid plastic bottles. If you have to use plastic, make sure you reuse or recycle. By switching to compact fluorescent or light-emitting diode (LED) lights, biking or walking, using public transport or carpooling, we reduce fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. These are the greatest sources of carbon dioxide output. We must make eco-friendly choices that are good for the planet, as we have only one and there is no plan B. Think more carefully about how the decisions we make impact our one and only planet Earth. Let’s make a pledge today on this Environment Day to protect and save Mother Earth.
From Ms Arushi Madan
UAE
Small things, big differences
It’s that time of the year when we’re once again reminded that we ought to actually do our bit for the environment. But an occasional indulgence doesn’t form a habit, it’s the tireless enthusiasm and efforts that gradually develop into a practice.
A designated day is a starting point where we can assess our actions over the past and determine how we have scored on the environmental checklist. Have we been conscientious about our responsibilities or have we been slack and careless? I think for most of us, there are areas where we could be more responsible. It could be the more mundane tasks such as saving energy and water, recycling or using sustainable modes of transport. These things may not seem to be of much consequence whether we unplug our appliances, cut down on meat consumption, switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs or run the washing machine on full load. But that is where we need to realise that many little acts like these have their own impact on reducing our carbon footprint and thereby help save the environment. What we need to remember is that ultimately, it’s the small things that make a big difference. So let us go ahead and do our bit.
From Ms Lisa Jacob
Dubai
Call to action
This environment day, we will read the same reports talking about green initiatives, the state of the environment and how it deteriorates daily. We will see the same cries to go green and hear the same slogans to be eco-friendly. But what speaks through all of this, and what most of us choose to ignore is the soft yet resounding call to action. The call to pick up the trash when no one is around, the call to minimise unnecessary usage of water, the call to turn off electrical appliances when they’re not in use. Beneath all the hue and cry that is made from well-meaning environmental activists, this message clearly shines through.
Going green is not an passing fad that can be followed only by a select few; it is the duty and obligation of us as human beings and citizens of the world. It is only through the continued implementation of environment friendly practices that we can leave an Earth that is fit for the generations to come to inhabit. And so as we go about our activities, let us take up the cause of the environment in its true spirit, not just on World Environment Day, but throughout the year.
From Ms Aasha Eapen
Sharjah
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