Hating our villa | ExpatWoman.com
 

Hating our villa

494
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 19 August 2011 - 14:37

Bit of a rant...
We moved on the weekend to Meadows 9. To start off the villa had some work that needed to be done to it before we moved in which the management agent said would be done. Both DH and I said "yeah right, bet it wont get done" in time for us moving in because we only found and signed the lease 1 week prior to moving in.
We picked up the keys Thursday night and the managing agent said "the house has been cleaned and some of the problems have been fixed". Sweet we thought. So we decided to take a trip over on Thursday night to bring a load of things we didn't want the removalists doing, turn on airconditioners and lock the doors. Anyway, got here and the place was filthy - no one had cleaned it. The problems (numerous problems) hadn't been fixed at all. We only had 1 set of keys to the front door, were told all the others were in the kitchen cupboards, which they werent so we couldn't lock back doors etc so no point leaving anything when people could still access it.

We called the contact at the agent and he was very surprised that the place hadn't been cleaned and there were no keys. We were moving Saturday. He did what he could to get the keys but didn't get them until Monday, when he dropped them off to the villa. In the meantime I had contacted the maintenance company twice to come out and fix the problems in the house. 1st phone call they said they would call me back and 2nd time they said they'd e-mail me a time when the person would be coming out to check on everything and work out how many men were needed to do the jobs. Still no email a week later.
When the agent came on Monday with the keys I showed him and again told him the place wasn't cleaned. He showed me his e-mails to the maintenance company - there were quite a few from the day we dropped off a deposit to him. He then rang the maintenance company whilst here and basically yelled at them told them to come right away. That was Monday and we are still waiting.
Since then a few more issues have come up, especially with the aircon - it stinks and my sons room blows hot hair. We then went out today for 3 hrs and came home to the house smelling of sewage, it is freaking awful and I just want to cry.
I wrote a big email to the management agent to say that if the maintenance people are not here by this Sunday then I am calling someone I know that will fix it all, and quickly! and will be sending them the bill to pass onto the landlord.

We have guests arriving from Australia in 2 weeks time and currently the guest bathroom has no water heater because it has burst (in the ceiling) and has leaked everywhere (problem before we moved in).

I am just really really really really hating this house :(

Do you think I should get the people I know that would fix the problems ASAP and then send the bill to the agent? Is there anything I can do about reporting the current maintenance company?

1238
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 17:47
What is with the Meadows? Our landlord used to be great at fixing things - our original contract came with a subscription to Emrill. Then, they got rid of Emrill and got some filipino guy, who was really good, but he complained that the LL had 15 villas and an apartment building and only him to fix them! Then, that guy left and we have some filipina girl who never answers her phone, and some poor pakistani man that is meant to fix things, but can't fix his way out of a cardboard box! Latest is our front door lock. He "fixed" it before we went on vacation - and now it doesn't work at all. And he says he will replace it, but he hasn't and its been a week. So, I'm forced to use the side door for everything. We also have a random smell that comes and goes. Its been there since we moved in, but the landlord has no idea how to get rid of it!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 17:32
Don't know if it's any help but you can get Arabian Keys to replace the locks you need, they also know some of the other reliable maintenance companies if you still need contacts? Their number is 0557582123. Good Luck - we have all been there at some point!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 17:24
oh gosh, AussiePup! If it were "only" for the various repairs, I'd say to sit it out (although electric blowing smacks of a bigger issue than a simple handyman can deal with), but with the smell, I'm afraid that's big bad news and if your LL so obviously couldn't give a d@mn about trivial things, s/he isn't going to invest in proper investigations. Your smell probably originates from a leak in the waste/soil plumbing that's filtering in the A/C because all these services often share the same stacks. To tackle it properly, they would need to basically take it all apart, investigate every aspect thoroughly, repair and rebuild. Gonna happen? Yeah, right. We had the same problem with The Smell in JBR to the extent that we couldn't have the A/C on and/or the door closed in DD's room. When my parents came to stay, they were in that room and had the door closed and woke up every morning with a splitting headache. It's not safe and it's not healthy. On those grounds alone, I would really go in tough and tell the agent that the property is not habitable and that since the LL is in breach of contract (and that the agent is party to that), the tenancy is to be terminated, all cheques handed back with no penalty and that you will vacate forthwith. Add in that you will also be reporting this matter to RERA and whatever Ministry of Environmental Health that may be out there. If the agent wants to keep the commission, get them to find you a new house at no extra cost. You basically shouldn't have to put up with this - you've paid good money and are due a house that is fit to live in. There are plenty more (often identical) ones out there, so yes, it's a pain and yes, it's inconvenient, but it's necessary. Also, as long as we put up with this kind of recklessness on the part of the LLs, it'll continue.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 16:37
I sympathise Aussie Pup. We are having similar issues re the fixing of maintenance issues since before our lease even started in early july. At least ours aren't stinky though... We had given the RE Agent a list of things to be fixed before we left for Australia to pack up our home. Arrived here in August and many still weren't done. Once we moved into the villa we found more - Aircon doesn't work in rumpus room, powerpoints not working. We too are in Meadows (5). Perhaps we have the same agency? Do the initials MF mean anything? The agent who we are dealing with is independent and the go between with MF and even she can't seem to get them to budge. They are just saying the request is sitting with the LL. I will be interested to hear how you get on with RERA.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 15:14
ok so the latest is, the maintenance company, the man at the agent that we dealt with directly and his boss have all had an earful from me this afternoon. Unfortunately I was too late calling RERA - they close at 2pm for Ramadan hours. So I've e-mailed them instead. Will call them tomorrow morning. So had a company come out and clean the aircon for us, plus fix some of the wiring for the lights as the lounge room light keeps exploding (litterally) globes each time you turn the switch on. The aircon is fixed in my sons room but the smell is still throughout the house even after loads of detol has been used to clean it. I should have read your message before HAK because then I wouldn't have handed over a cheque for 2650 AED and got them to chase the agency for it - which I must add we are still waiting for 150AED to be reimbursed from the agent because we couldn't get the water turned on in our name for their was still a bill to be paid by the LL!!!! So we paid that. I am getting no where still even with telling them I have put in a complaint to RERA. The maintenance company again said "I will get my manager to call you back madam". Then the agent we dealt with said "they have been calling you" NO THEY HAVE NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I repeated this 4 times after he continued to tell me they have been calling me! Ummmm I have full cover reception here and my mobile hasn't rung once with a number I haven't answered or already known!!!! So he then gives me his managers name and number. I've called him and ranted on the phone telling him this house stinks and surely isn't safe to have a 1 yr old let alone anyone else living in it when the aircon smells of mould as much as it does, he asked me twice my address so I told him. 7 mins later he rings me back asking my address again!!!! For the love of god!!!!!! I so hope they get a fire cracker up their behinds from RERA coz I'm soooooo not stopping until we get our $ back that we've already forked out to have things fixed as well as having the hot water heater replaced etc etc. If you could see my ears right now steam is coming from them!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 12:44
yup... and when you get the work done yourself, don't fork out any cash, just ask the company to invoice the agent direct. BUT I'll reiterate that the LL is in breach of contract for not providing you with a habitable dwelling and so you are under normal contract law, you are under no obligation to pay rent until it's all fixed. Strictly speaking under normal contract law the LL would be obliged to find you alternative accommodation while the work is being carried out if it were to impinge on reasonable quality of life... but this is Dubai.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 12:39
Dear Aussie Pup....you sound like you are living my experience...I had the same thing 2 months ago in Meadows 2. Solution - I had to get most of the things fixed myself. Some are still lingering to be fixed.... When we saw the house, there was no electricity or water so we gave the LL a snag list and said we will check the other items when there is elec and water. When we went back to him for broken taps and leeking showers (my shower rod fell on my head which I couldnt check if there was no water pressure)....and he said you have moved in and now its your problem. The only difference here is that you have an agent and there is reason they are earning agency fees...make sure you make them responsible for all this becos the owner probably does not care...
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 11:46
Good luck with the calls, I think you have to keep at it till it's easier for them to come and do something than to have to field your irate phone-calls..
494
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 21 August 2011 - 11:09
thank you so much everyone. I'll probably text you guys soon that left me a #. I gave both the maintenance company and the agent notice that if no-one had shown from the maintenance company by today then I'd be getting someone else out to fix it and then sending the agent the bill. We don't have direct contact with the LL, she has set up a specific management agent to look after the property for us and as part of the management agent looking after it they have a maintenance contract in place. I'm just about to ring both the maintenance company and the agent and tell them I have reported the property to RERA. Unfortunately we had only 1 week to move (long story) so we had to put $ down on this place otherwise we could have missed out. I know there were a number of people looking at it the week we did as just as we pulled up to view it for the 2nd time, there were cars pulling out the driveway and as we left someone else also pulled in. So we figured if we wanted it we had to put the $ down. The agent basically swore black and blue to me that he thought the maintenance had been to clean it and fix some of the problems, but not all - he said they need to come back to fix some of the things (cupboards) but the water heater had been fixed and the house was cleaned for us to move in. Nope... not so! I have a 1 yr old son and currently pg with the next (in 1st trimester so I am very tired and emotional) also have guests arriving in a weeks time - sooooooooooooooooo not happy. The hormones are currently raging and they (agent and maintenance) are about to bare the brunt of it!!!! :)
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 20 August 2011 - 10:48
What a shame :( Our villa is owned by a company which has its own maintenance team and if you have the manager's number and nag him enough, they come the next day. Sometimes they say they'll be back the next day and don't reappear for ages, but for something like a leaking water-heater tank, which we had in our kitchen, they are pretty prompt. Give me a call if you want, to see if we have the same LL (somehow, I doubt it), but in any case, pop over for a cup of tea or something stronger if you feel the need. <em>edited by simpleasabc on 21/08/2011</em>
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 20 August 2011 - 10:30
Just sounds awful. Do you have any way to contact the LL directly? When we had issues, we go direct to him, get quotes for the work done and he pays for all the major things. The water tanks are easily replaced. With your ac sounds like they all need cleaning and servicing. If it's blowing hot air, chances are the gas has gone and the compressor needs replacing - not a cheap or quick job I'm afraid.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 August 2011 - 10:18
Oh dear! We live in st 3 and if you'd like to meet up for a coffee and gripe give me a call <em>edited by SamCT on 21/08/2011</em>
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 19 August 2011 - 20:18
Hi you poor thing! As Luddite wrote, give them a time line and then call RERA. Also include the agent in this scam (regardless of whether he has these emails or not). When you put pressure on the agent and taint their name at RERA you'll see how fast he will get the job done. As much as I know it is tough not being able to settle in yet, and you have family coming, personally I would not pay in advance! I don't trust anyone here, and certainly not a landlord who cannot live up to a promise!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 19 August 2011 - 19:58
breach of contract on the LL's part = you have no contract. Demand your cheques back and move out.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 19 August 2011 - 19:10
Sadly I think guinness has a point. He never lived up to his end of the bargain when you were negotiating etc... threaten and follow through if need be to go to RERA! Make him realize he cannot scr3w you guys around.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 19 August 2011 - 19:08
Street 3. I usually use Jim will Fix it for everything. They are so prompt professional and get the job done. If you fix it and pay for it yourself, 99percent chance you will NEVER get that money from the landlord.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 19 August 2011 - 19:07
:(
494
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 19 August 2011 - 18:49
Street 3. I usually use Jim will Fix it for everything. They are so prompt professional and get the job done.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 August 2011 - 15:38
Tell the agent/landlord that if it is not fixed within 48 hours you will be reporting them to the Rent Committee/RERA for breach of tenancy contract. They are liable for major repairs. Get Emrill out to quote you - if you phone tem they will be there within a few hours if you tell them it's an emergency. Anything over 500 AED and the landlord pays. Where in Meadows 9 do you live. I used to live in street 7 and we had dreadful sewage problems.
 
 

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