Homeowners take problem to the Ruler of Dubai

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Yesterday they presented his office with a petition asking for a reduction in upcoming service and maintenance fees for their community.

The homeowners submitted the same document to Dubai's property market regulator, the Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera)Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera), late last month.

The petition was signed by about 90 people who own a combined 130 flats in the 26,000-unit community.

They said were spurred into action after receiving information that NakheelNakheel, Discovery Gardens's master developer, had recently asked ReraRera's permission to charge Dh21.85 a square foot in fees, which comes to more than Dh20,000 (US$5,445) for a typical one-bedroom flat.

Property owners have long been at odds with NakheelNakheel over such charges, as well as with what they say has been a failure by the developer to provide basic maintenance. Many complain they have had little help with broken air conditioners and clogged toilets, forcing some to use bathroom facilities at the nearby mall.

Michael Aldendorff, a property owner at Discovery Gardens, said he and four other homeowners were informed about NakheelNakheel's proposed fee structure during a meeting in August at the developer's Jebel Ali office.

They were told the amount had been approved by ReraRera, he said, though NakheelNakheel had yet to officially announce it.

Later that month Mr Aldendorff and a group of about four dozen Discovery Gardens homeowners organised a protest and started the petition.

They would like the Ruler's office to be "aware of the problems people are facing when they buy property here," said Mr Aldendorff, who assumed a leadership role in the group. "This is a way to highlight the frustrations of homeowners who are severely disappointed with their properties.

NakheelNakheel

ReraRera

NakheelNakheel also said it was not responsible for determining some of the disputed fees, and said they were calculated "to ensure that owners receive the best service for their fees. Any savings which can be made are then passed on to the owners."

In addition to protesting against fees, the homeowners' petition asked authorities to "implement an immediate freeze on any and all payments related to maintenance, community and cooling charges for the next financial year until a suitable and acceptable rate has been agreed between ReraRera, NakheelNakheel and the apartment owners".

Kishor Wagh, 49, an Indian national who signed the petition at the protest, accused NakheelNakheel of neglecting the community.

"After I rented it out in February, there was a problem of no power in the rooms," said Mr Wagh, who paid Dh1.25m for a one-bedroom flat in July 2008. "And then there was the problem of water leaking out all over the bathroom and kitchen."

When he called NakheelNakheel for help, he said, the response was "very bad. The maintenance is absolutely zero. When we call, we don't get a real response. It's always them telling us to call someone else to deal with it."

V Hariharam, 35, also from India, said he received similar responses regarding his broken bath tub and unpainted rooms.

"All I get from NakheelNakheel is that they've forwarded the complaint to the concerned person that was six months ago," said Mr Hariharam, who also attended the petition signing. He purchased his flat for Dh1.2m in May 2008.

There has also been confusion at Dicovery Gardens between the mortgage lender TamweelTamweel, NakheelNakheel and third-party companies that bought the buildings from the developer. Many flat owners, years after purchasing property there, say they still lack title deeds, the crucial documents that verify their ownership.

By Hugh Naylor