Al Husn Properties has waived rent for its residential flats and all its commercial offices, shops, warehouses, parking lands and labour camps.
According to a report by The National, over 500 families across Dubai and Sharjah have had their rent waived for the next three months to help them cope with financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company says it owns 600 units in Dubai and Sharjah including residential flats in Dubai Marina, Sharjah’s King Faisal Road, Al Wahda Road, Al Qulayaa and Al Nasiriya.
“It is a part of our civic duty to be with the UAE government’s efforts to support society and reduce its burden during the current situation. The idea behind this initiative is to encourage other property owners to have a humanitarian approach towards tenants in this time of crisis,” said Mustafa Al Husseiny, general manager of Al Husn Properties.
As per the report, resident Dyni Binu will save about $2,700 as a result of the waiver. Binu is said to work for a construction company, which has cut staff pay by 50%. Her husband, who works for a shipping company, has not received his salary yet and expects further delays. The couple live in the Al Zen Tower 2 in Sharjah and pay $10,900 in rent each year.
“In this situation it’s very helpful for us and we’ll be saving a lot. We moved to this building in the beginning of March and we paid a lot during the moving process. We have two children who we had to send to India to live with my parents, as we couldn’t afford the additional heavy costs here,” explained Binu.
The report also stated that Khaled Al Hassan, who lives in the Al Husn Marina building, pays $35,300 annually for a three-bedroom flat and will save $8,160 as a result of the waiver. Hassan is said to work for a construction company and expects his salary to be delayed this month.
“We are negotiating if [the company] can just reduce salaries for now. So, the landlord waiving off three months-worth of rent is a huge deal and is going to help us. A big thank you to him as he’s always been there for us,” commented Al Hassan.
In March, Abu Dhabi and Dubai authorities suspended evictions to protect tenants unable to pay rent during the COVID-19 outbreak.