SHARJAH // Rents in some parts of Sharjah are soaring by 30 per cent and more as landlords take advantage of increased demand and the absence of a municipality-imposed rent cap.
One tenant, Saeed K, 37, had the rent on his apartment in Al Qassimiya increased from Dh15,000 to Dh20,000.
"There is no renovation at all but they simply want to increase the rent," he said.
In Al Nabba, letters stuffed under doors in one building told tenants their rent was increasing by 20 per cent. The letter from Al Asima Real Estate said they must pay up, or move out.
The increases are a result of market demand, an agent from Al Asima said. "The real estate market is picking up again. Even the increases we are making this month could be doubled next month because there are more people looking for flats now."
In Dubai, rent increases for existing tenants are governed by a sliding scale, depending on how far the existing rent is below a geographic rent index published by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency.
Rises are capped at between 5 and 20 per cent, depending on how far below market value the property is. In Sharjah, increases simply follow market demand.
Rental laws allow landlords to increase rents in relation to the popularity of the area, after a tenant has been renting for three years.
"We keep an idea what rents in areas are like and expect landlords in areas like Al Nabba not to charge or increase rent to those in Al Khan," said Saleem Al Kaabi, director of the rental disputes section at Sharjah Municipality.
"Once a tenant suspects they are being overcharged by the landlord they can always lodge a complaint with us and we will investigate and reconcile the two parties."
While Sharjah is still a relatively cheap place to live compared with other emirates, tenants have recently been asked to pay increases in annual rent of Dh3,000 to Dh4,000.
In traditionally low-cost areas such as Rolla and Butina, the rent on a one-bedroom flat has gone from Dh17,000 to Dh20,000, and a two-bedroom from Dh22,000 to Dh25,000.
In medium-cost areas such as Abu Shagara, Al Nahda and Al Khan, a one-bedroom flat now costs Dh22,000, up from Dh18,000, and a two-bedroom is now about Dh28,000, up from Dh24,000.
One tenant in Al Nabba complained that his property company was putting up the rent for no good reason.
"For the past three years I was giving them a commission of Dh1,000. They are not reducing my rent but increasing it from Dh17,000 to Dh20,500 and for what?
"They tell us there is an economic recovery and are increasing our rent, but not salaries – that is selfish."
Another resident blamed the rent increases on speculators looking to copy increases in Dubai.
"It's getting more expensive to stay in Sharjah and work in Dubai," said one Al Nabba resident. "You have to pay rent almost the same as that in Dubai and then a higher utility bill and Salik gates to go to work on Sheikh Zayed Road each day."
Mr Al Kaabi said tenants should lodge any complaints with the committee at least 15 days before the end of their contract and pay a Dh500 fee.
He said more than half the complaints the municipality received last year came from landlords against tenants who defaulted on paying rent.
ykakande@thenational.ae
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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