Dubai owners and developers 'to jointly manage service charges'

Dubai's Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Rera) has announced new regulations intended to help property owners in the emirate combat rising prices.

Included in the proposals is a plan to allow owners and developers to jointly manage service charges for buildings when they become members of an owner's association.

These bodies, which would be registered with Rera, would then become responsible for the upkeep of properties.

Vincent Easton, director of sales at Sherwoods, said that the changes are a "good step".

"There has been so much frustration and anger about services charges being levied at the owners," he told Gulf News, adding that Rera is "bowing to public pressure" with the new regulations.

Earlier this year Rera moved to encourage

property investors back to Dubai by introducing a ruling barring developers from beginning sales until they have completed 20 per cent of a building's construction.

The body hopes that this will settle disputes that have been occurring due to construction firms charging high prices for a development that has not yet began.