Maintenance Charges & Basic Facilities in IC1

[zombie]

All of us are facing extremely high maintenance charges & also incomplete facilities. Let us discuss about it & plan on how will we get Nakheel to rationalise such huge charges, and to help make them more acceptable in the future. Remember in a years time we will have to make those payments again.

I am undergoing discussions with my building owner about the formation of building associations, which will lead to a proper managing committee to handle the day to day functions of IC once Nakheel has completed all sectors & their basic 1 year guarantees have run out

Also basic landscaping & finishing of pavements etc is still incomplete in sectors which have been handed over. So with other sectors approaching completion & handover, this problem will intensify.

[MarianL]

Hi, I've just found this forum and own (and live in) a one bed in China. I have to say that I was pretty horrified at the sudden increase in maintenance charges that I had to pay before getting my keys. I'm not exactly sure what we are pyaing for as like someone has said, there is no landscaping (and none even being started), no public facilities like a pool etc, no covered parking. The cleaner sits around all day on his phone and just sweeps the floor occasionally so I have no idea what I am paying 8500 dirhams a year for! Did this thread lead anywhere or is there another one around or are people really not bothered aout this?!

[beta_sweater]

Well, I guess as an owner of property in Dubai during the property boom, we all face ridiculous maintenance fees. When I was booking the apartment, I was informed that the rate would be around Dhs. 5-6 per sq.ft. However the current rate is around Dhs. 10.55. And while The Greens was launched with a maintenance of around Dhs. 6, it seems unjust that we should have to pay so much. However, it would seem justified because of the landscaping around the buildings. As yet, there is no landscaping done but I'm pretty sure that it will be taken care of pretty soon. As you did mention, the caretaker just lolls around for most of the day cleaning for maybe an hour or two. Yes, and if Nakheel takes up to Dhs. 8000 for a one bedroom unit and around Dhs. 4500 for a studio, they are really making a lot of money considering that each building has around 80 units! Do the math!

[wayneis]

Nakheel have made it clear they consider the charges fair and just. With out independent auditing we are all at the mercy of what can only be described as Day Light Robbery.

Previous justification from Nakheel were, Contribution to the master community service charge;
Repair and maintenance expenses;
Cost of labour, material equipment, third party hire and supplies;
Statutory rates, taxes and charges;
Expenses and charges for utilities and services;
Insurance premiums;
Landscaping expenses;
Administrative and professional expenses;
Management costs, and provision for future maintenance and repairs.

There is hope in the wings in the form of the upcoming Strata Title or Condominium Law. Recent Article in Gulf News

I am looking forward to that time in the future when building owners do not have any further input into the equation, given that the input so far has been non existent( my experience). Unfortunately they are required when and if you decide to sell your apartment.

Nakheel need to undertake damage control rather than sweep this under the carpet with out an out side audit.Given past response I don't suggest holding your breath!

[zombie]

i reckon what nakheel has done is to use the charges to basically provide a certain amount of landscaping in the near future, I hope, because there is none at the moment.

all the rest is nakheel's management fee in short, i recently had some discussion with my building owner, & he is of the opinion that in the future nakheel though not actively involved in managing the community, being master developer will take a certain percentage as fees just to maintain an office, after all for those people who really need a visa from nakheel that badly will go to them. & nakheel will take more money just to move their behinds

[eyeC]

you bought from them and now you paying rent to them
forever and ever which makes you the best tenant in the world