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Abu Dhabi: Many residents share accommodation to make ends meet, but only to fall prey to landlords after losing protection of the rent cap rule, a Gulf News survey has revealed. Residents interviewed said they are not issued with tenancy contracts and so they cannot complain to the Rent Committee over illegal increases. "Although the rent increase in Abu Dhabi is capped at 7 per cent, I had my rent increased by 75 per cent, which is affecting my budget terribly," said Mohammad Sajid. Sajid, a resident for more than four years, said he was "planning to leave this great country because I cannot cope with this rent hike." Sajid, who is paying 55 per cent of his salary for accommodation, added his landlord had given a verbal notice in mid-December last year to vacate or accept an increase of 75 per cent in the rent.
"I had no choice but to accept as I do not have a written contract and are instead paying on a monthly basis." Sajid said he was forced to accept this offer also because of the severe shortage of affordable flats in Abu Dhabi. A. Abdul Qudoos, another resident, said people who have shared accommodation but have not signed contracts have no legal rights and have no where to complain to. Abdul Qudoos said one of the many ploys employed by middlemen is to ask the tenant to vacate the flat because the contract is not renewable or the building is to be refurbished or demolished. Another trick, he added, is that the landlord wants the building for his personal use. "After vacating all existing tenants, the landlords will rent these flats out to new tenants with a 50-100 per cent rent increase." Residents were unanimous that although the Shaikh Khalifa committee's flats are the best option in the capital city, which offers flats at affordable rents but noted that it was too difficult to get a flat considering the huge demand.
DISPUTES
Up to 35 cases a day, says official The Rent Disputes Committee in Abu Dhabi receives up to 35 complaints on a daily basis, an official at the committee said. The committee, the official said, has received around 1,200 complaints filed by tenants against their landlords since January 1. "In most of these cases, tenants complain that their landlords demanded that the rent be increased by 100 per cent to 150 per cent. Other tenants complain that they were asked to vacate so that their flats can be rented to other tenants at much higher rents," according to the official.
Your comments
I think the govenment, via the municipality, should set up a body charged with valuation and setting the maximum rents to be charged for all houses. This will atleast provide a guideline to the tenants as well as landlords. Moving from one house to another is very expensive since the tenants have to pay commission which is very costly just to get a house.
Jacob
Dubai,UAE
The Government has to take strict action against landlords and teachthem how to respect the law. This is acompletely violation of the law.
Murtaza
Dubai,UAE
Tie the rent of the flat as a fixed square metre price instead of to the contract, then there would be less problems and it would be easier to solve a dispute.
Maryam
Sharjah,UAE
The only solution to this is that the government should take the initiative and construct housing complexes on a major basis to cover the housing shortage. Only when the gap between demand and supply is brought to the minimum level this problem will cease.
Narendra
Dubai,UAE
This shows that landlords do not care what the government says. In other words, landlords are bypassing laws and making their own laws.
Shariq
Dubai,UAE
For heaven's sake, the government needs to be more strict with the landlords who want only money and have no mercy whatsoever for human beings.
Ibrahim
Dubai,UAE
In this context, how can we blame the country and its lawmakers? As usual the middlemen are invisible - the greedy ones who spoil the country's reputation.
A. Kutty
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Our landlord has kept a notice near the lift announcing that the rent has been increased by 10%, and if anybody has objections, they have to vacate within seven days. All maintenance expenses should also be borne by the tenants.
R. Sabu
Abu Dhabi,UAE
People should go to the rent committee, and if the landlord loses, he should be made to pay a big fine. I think that is the only way they would learn.
I. Das
Abu Dhabi,UAE
I had worked in saudi for six years then moved to Dubai, where I stayed for four years and noted that you cannot save anything. Your liabilities are more than your earnings.
Abdullaha
Jeddah,Saudi Arabia
Rent cap seems to be a failure. The landlords have somehow found alternative ways now to increase their income. I am living in a Bur Dubai apartment for the last seven years and the building always had parking facilities on a first come first basis. Last week, all the tenants received notice that they have to pay Dh 5,000 per year for reserved parking and it will no longer be on a first come first basis. This is very disappointing coming from such a reputed landlord.
Pete
Dubai,UAE
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