Abu Dhabi: Government employees living in Dubai have resorted to desperate measures to honour a new rule which requires them to furnish a tenancy contract from Abu Dhabi or lose their housing allowance.
As the deadline for the relocation nears, many public sector employees are hoodwinking authorities by renting one-bedroom and studio units to get tenancy contracts but continuing to live in Dubai. And lest it pinches their pocket, some are violating the law by subleasing the apartments.
Subleasing
Abu Baker, an agent with Proper Real Estate in Abu Dhabi said: “I am getting a lot of calls from government employees looking for studios or one-bedroom units. There are not many left as most have already been taken.”
Aslam P.K., another agent said families with three-four children do not want to move to Abu Dhabi. “Sometime back, a Jordanian man approached me for a three-bedroom villa. But when I quoted the price (around Dh200,000), he said he wanted to take a one bedroom for Dh50,000 and asked for help to sublease it,” said Aslam.
According to agents, a one bedroom starts from Dh55,000 in areas like Tourist Club, Airport Road, Khalidiya etc.
The rents for studio apartments are between Dh40,000 and Dh45,000.
Though subleasing is illegal, many families and bachelors continue to live in shared apartments because of high rents.
A Syrian working for the Abu Dhabi National Drilling Company said he did not wish to relocate to Abu Dhabi from Sharjah because he does not want to disrupt the schooling of his children.
“I have three kids aged between five and 13. We live in a spacious three-bedroom apartment in Sharjah for which I pay Dh72,000 per year.
“My kids go to a good school. I do not want to uproot them and start afresh in Abu Dhabi where a similar size apartment would cost a fortune,” said the 44-year-old who did not wish to reveal his identity.
Around 10,000 government employees will be affected by the decision of the Executive Council taken last September which directed government employees to live in Abu Dhabi or forfeit their housing allowance. Those who fail to produce an Abu Dhabi tenancy contract will not be able to renew their residency visas any more.
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