Homeowners are diligently working to restore services for their tenants and return their properties to the level they were before the flood.
Companies and landlords are offering protection from significant losses to numerous tenants in Dubai and Sharjah affected by the recent extreme weather, which caused water accumulation. Nonetheless, tenants experiencing minor damages are opting to engage maintenance companies for repairs.
Emaar Properties, MAG, Damac Properties, Nakheel, Dubai Holding, Union Properties, and Dubai Investment Park, among Dubai’s leading developers, have extended complimentary services to tenants impacted by the storm.
Residents living in prominent freehold areas in Dubai, such as Business Bay, Downtown, Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), Jumeirah Lake Towers, International City, Palm Jumeirah, Damac Hills, Dubai Marina, Mudon, Discovery Gardens, Remraam, Arabian Ranches, and others, will reap the rewards of initiatives spearheaded by both the government and private developers.
According to the law, property owners must ensure maintenance for their properties unless specified otherwise in the tenancy contract.
In Sharjah, Arada, a leading developer, has also unveiled significant initiatives aimed at assisting the residents of the city.
Arada has collaborated with the Sharjah Social Services Department to offer accommodation for up to 3,000 individuals impacted by the flooding, who will be accommodated in the Nest complex within Aljada. Priority is being accorded to the most vulnerable segments of society, particularly children, the elderly, and individuals with special needs. The relocation process is being conducted progressively, with the initial families set to move in on Monday, April 22nd.
Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, stated, “As a vital contributor in the private sector, our dedication remains unwavering in extending crucial assistance to as many individuals as possible during these trying times for the Sharjah community. We have activated several of our departments and will unveil additional initiatives in the days ahead.”
On April 16, the UAE experienced the heaviest rainfall in 75 years, leading to flooding in numerous areas spanning Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman. Consequently, numerous tenants found themselves without access to electricity and water.
Landlords to help
Real estate industry executives predict that landlords in Dubai and Sharjah will bear the brunt of maintenance costs for properties following the floods caused by record rainfall last week.
Currently, landlords are actively engaged in restoring services and returning their properties to their pre-flood condition.
“Essentially, landlords have faced substantial expenses due to the resulting damages, which may or may not be covered by insurance. Many landlords are focused on reinstating services such as electricity and lifts, which were impacted by the rain, in order to minimize inconvenience for tenants. If basement parking areas are flooded, they are making every effort to promptly remove the water,” stated Niral Jhaveri, Director of Property Management at Betterhomes.
As reported by Khaleej Times, insurance companies are witnessing a surge in claims following the unprecedented rainfall.
Jhaveri mentioned they were fortunate that none of their managed units sustained significant damage in the rainfall, though there was water clogging in the basement, which has since been resolved.
Pro-active tenants
Svetlana Vasilieva, the head of secondary sales at Metropolitan Homes, noted that tenants who suffered damage, but were not severely impacted, were engaging maintenance companies for repairs.
“The responsibility for covering these repairs will be subject to negotiation between landlord and tenant unless there are explicit clauses addressing the matter,” Vasilieva explained. She added that whether landlords offer relief to tenants through rent-free months will hinge on their generosity, insurance coverage, and the rapport with the tenant.
Record maintenance
Anisha Sagar, overseeing property management at Allsopp & Allsopp Group, reported a surge in maintenance requests, with landlords actively collaborating to address the damages.
“Many tenants recognize the unforeseen nature of these incidents, acknowledging that they are beyond the control of property owners. Landlords are demonstrating readiness to address any arising issues and are closely coordinating with us to resolve them.”
Sagar emphasized that the events of last week presented an extraordinary challenge for landlords, tenants, and management companies alike.
“Some landlords have incurred greater damage to their properties than others, and they have collaborated with us to address that damage promptly, ensuring the swift restoration of water and electricity for their tenants,” she elaborated.
Sagar reiterated that the foremost objective is to restore all properties to their original condition as swiftly as possible.
