Tenant faces lockout if landlord is service-charge defaulter

If your landlord is a service charge defaulter in Discovery Gardens master community, ask him to pay up soon, or else you will not be able to access your apartment.

Nakheel, the master developer, has started issuing access cards for buildings in the master community from Monday. Though no date has been specified on when the cards will be activated, the deadline for collection is July 8.

Emirates 24/7 reported earlier that installation of the main access door systems was completed in April.

In a notice distributed to tenants, Nakheel Facilities and Owners Association Management, said: “This is a reminder for all those who did not pay their service charges towards their units to settle and clear outstanding service charges since access cards will not be released if the outstanding service charges are not cleared.”

Tenants and landlords have been asked to provide with the following documents: application form, a copy of the title deed, passport copy of unit owner/tenant; Ejari attested tenancy contract (for tenant) and authorization letter from owner (for tenant).

In the notice, Nakheel added: “This year (2013) witnessed considerable change for the benefit of the owners association of Discovery Gardens. It hosted its first meeting with the active Owners association interim board across Discovery Gardens, which is now steadily involving in common area upkeep and management, service charge budgets and wellbeing of the owners association of Discovery Gardens.”

Residents whose landlords are service charge defaulter will be left high and dry in the scorching heat.

Gauri Patil, a resident of building no 56, said: “I have informed my landlord to clear his outstanding service charges and to mail us an authorisation letter. We haven’t heard from him yet as his name was there on the last defaulter list.”

She asserts: “I hope my landlords does clear all the dues or else I will not get the access card and thus I will not be able to access to my apartment.”

For prospective tenants, Nakheel offers the facility to check on whether the landlord of the apartment is a service charge defaulter or not.

Industry sources say that almost 75 to 80 per cent of the over 25,000 apartments in the master community are occupied. Discovery Gardens consists of six themed communities inspired by garden living, and includes Zen, Mediterranean, Contemporary, Mogul, Mesoamerican and Cactus Courtyard Gardens.

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