DUBAI: Steep fines await residents drying their laundry out of windows and balconies in up-scale communities following a six-month grace period, XPRESS has learnt.
Trakhees, the urban development regulator in Dubai's freehold areas under the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFZ), has kicked off a campaign to discourage misuse of balconies and damage to building facades, warning against holding barbecues, hanging clothes, installing satellite dishes or any visual "clutter" in balconies or windows. The grace period ends in May 2012.
Fines after grace period
"We have rules… and we have the authority to issue fines to violators," a Trakhees spokesperson told XPRESS. A minimum fine of Dh500 will be charged, he said, but higher fines may be slapped depending on the gravity of the offence, damage to the property or the number of repeat offences.
"We are starting an awareness campaign by giving out brochures, detailed information in Arabic, English, Hindi, Chinese about the rules so that people understand them. We will give them time. If there's no change in residents' behaviour, we will impose a fine."
Nakheel, the master developer of a huge chunk of New Dubai, has recently issued a terse warning — but did not specifically mention fines. "Please be advised that this is considered a major safety issue… the purpose of the rules and regulations is to protect investment and to promote safe and harmonious community living," the notice stated.
Recently, residents and visitors have been increasingly greeted by the sore sight of clothes and carpets hanging out of windows and balconies at Dubai's posh communities. At The Palm Jumeirah's Shoreline apartments, Discovery Gardens (DG) and International City — where lush landscaping envelop low to mid-rise homes — many residents seem unmindful of rules. Conscientious residents said they are frustrated by the foul smell wafting in from some of their neighbours' windows — some of whom hang out freshly washed carpets for all to see.
In some units, clothes hangers are a permanent fixtures on balconies. Others, however, say ghastly balconies are just a minor irritation and blame bad building design for it.
Nouman Ifthikar, 30, resident of Building 108 in DG, said there's no space for a dryer in his two-bedroom flat. "Hanging clothes outside one's balcony is ugly," the software engineer said. "It's also a safety issue. But we have no space for a dryer. So we hang our clothes in our children's room."
Abdul Rahman, a Nigerian student at American University in Dubai and a DG resident, said: "People ignore the warning on the notice board. I do my laundry outside. But it's much nicer if people followed the rules."
However, another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he's helping the environment: "Nothing is wrong in hanging clothes in the sun instead of using a dryer, which is a power hog."
