Name and shame campaign launched in Dubai tower

Dubai: Dozens of tenants at a Dubai Marina tower risk getting utility services cut off because of an outstanding Dh1-million bill owed by flat owners.

A name and shame campaign has been launched against the owners of 37 apartments in Dubai Marina's Horizon Tower. A list of the owners' names, which flat they own and how much they owe, has been put up inside the foyer of the 45-storey residential tower that overlooks Shaikh Zayed Road and the Marina.

Horizon Tower concierge staff said service charges included electricity, maintenance, cleaning, security and chiller services for all apartments, most of which had at least four tenants living in them.

The names can be seen by anyone who enters the foyer. A letter from the Horizon Tower management, posted this month on the notice board, threatens that services will be suspended unless balances are settled: "The following unit owners did not settle any amount of the service charges and chiller expenses for 2010... some of them have outstanding balances from previous years. Unit owners are requested to call Gulf General Investment Company (GGICO) to settle the outstanding balances. Otherwise GGICO will suspend your services,'' the letter adds, urging tenants to pay directly to GGICO. Signed by Horizon Tower management and stamped by GGICO, the July 2010 letter states Dh1.074 million in dues as of October this year.

Tenants said they were concerned that services may be cut. British tenant Adam Smith, who live with four others in a four-bedroom flat on the 41st floor, said he had never met the owner who has two flats in the tower.

Another owner is listed as owing Dh162,072 for six flats.

Tenant Jamie Letts from England said the apartment's pool and lifts will not be repaired until owners pay the fees. The pool has been out of use for over six months and lifts often don't function due to leaking waterpipes.

Twice in the last two months, three out of four lifts stopped working for two days, Letts said. "It's ridiculous... Horizon Tower... has one of the largest... pools in Marina and yet we haven't been able to use it in six months. And there is no reduction on rent charged at Dh130,000 plus a year. It's shocking," he adds.