DUBAI // Residents heaved a sigh of relief yesterday when the air conditioning in a Discovery Gardens building stayed on, despite warnings for landlords to pay overdue cooling fees or face disconnection.
“It is a relief the air conditioning was not cut off because it would have been difficult for young children and old people to manage during the day,” said S A, father of a toddler and a tenant in building number 61.
“Our landlord has paid all dues so it is shocking that everyone in the building received a warning. Everyone must surely pay fees but all should not suffer.”
A disconnection notice from Palm District Cooling was stuck on the doors of more than 65 flats last week. It warned that if outstanding fees were not cleared by Sunday, services would be cut off the following day.
The district cooling system plant produces and supplies cooled water for use in air-conditioning to hundreds of buildings.
Arrears had not been cleared yesterday, said a customer service officer at Palm District Cooling, which provides air conditioning to 290 Discovery Gardens buildings.
“We have not yet received any advice about disconnection,” he said. “The full amount has not yet been paid, so disconnection can happen any moment.”
But the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera) said public utilities should not be cut off. Rera confirmed it had sent an official letter to PDC to refrain from cutting services.
The developer, Nakheel, said a few owners had since paid service fees.
“As the Owners’ Association manager, we continue to liaise with Palm District Cooling and Rera over this issue,” a Nakheel spokeswoman said.
“While some owners have paid their service fees since PDC issued the disconnection notice, millions of dirhams in unpaid service charges remain.”
rtalwar@thenational.ae
