Home solution gone wrong

Dubai: When Ravi P. moved to Dubai two years ago, he found it extremely difficult to find an affordable one-bedroom apartment. There was only one solution in sight for the Australian expatriate - shared accommodation.

Working as a quantity surveyor, Ravi said: "I decided to acquire a villa with the help of my bank and then sublet it to other working professionals."

A villa in Mirdiff cost about Dh185,000 per annum and suited the requirements of three other tenants - it was perfect. Ravi said: "I took a loan of Dh100,000 for the first six months to pay for the villa, hoping that the people I sublet it to would be able to help me repay it soon."

However, everything went downhill for Ravi when a tenant moved out and refused to pay for the five months she lived in the villa. Ravi said he is finding it difficult to manage payment for the house. There is now a very real possibility of him facing eviction. Ravi said: "I am just trying to find a decent place to live and earn, but I have realised it is not so simple."