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29 March 2024

Only Nakheel defaulters not getting access cards

Published
By Parag Deulgaonkar

Nakheel, the master developer of International City and Discovery Gardens, has reiterated it will be chasing service charge defaulters, stating access cards have been denied only to those who still are on the defaulter list.

Emirates 24|7 first reported in October 2013 that residents of building numbers 83 and 85 in Discovery Gardens were locked out of their apartments as access control systems on main doors were activated.

Tenants, who returned home from the office in the evening, were not allowed access to their apartments as the main door was locked. Security guards present at the entrance did allow tenants to enter the building, but asked them to sign on the visitor logbook.

On Saturday, nearly 100-odd families in a building in China cluster of International City were not allowed entry, but subsequently let in.

When contacted by this website, a Nakheel spokesperson said: "The new access card system at International City has been put in place primarily to enhance safety and security and has been welcomed by people living at the community. Residents were given sufficient advance notice about the new access system to allow people adequate time to obtain their new access cards.

She added: "Residents without the new access cards are apparently those who have not yet settled their outstanding service charges." 

This measure is having an impact, and paying residents are pleased that we are chasing non-payers.  It is wrong for owners who have honoured their payments to subsidise those who haven't, and we will continue to take steps to pursue defaulters.  We are owed significant amounts in unpaid charges, with many people not paying their dues for several years.”

Nakheel has urged tenants to check with them on whether the landlord has paid the service charges before signing tenancy contracts.

BA, a resident building no 83 in Discovery Gardens, whose landlord was a defaulter, said: “My landlord did not pay initially, but after I was not allowed access to my apartment, I asked him to pay all the dues. He did clear the dues and now I have got my access card.”