Barwa tenants in limbo as flats await power, water

ALLOTTEES of the Barwa apartments in the Mesaimeer area are facing a “neither here nor there” situation after they have been told that they would be able to move into their flats only on March 1 and not on February 1 as scheduled earlier.

The problem arose as most of the “tenants” had given quit notices to their current landlords hoping that they would be able to shift to the Barwa flats on February 1.

“I have informed my landlord that I will be vacating his property by February 1 hoping to occupy the newly allotted Barwa apartment on that date. Now I will have to plead with him to let me continue for another month and it looks difficult as he has already signed a contract with a new tenant and accepted a deposit from him.”

He and other “tenants” found out about the delay after calling the Barwa number (4998888) listed on their contracts that were signed by them in December; where, after the calls were re-routed to the Barwa Housing Programme, they were told that “only the people who will be able to move in once the electricity and water supply at the 998-flat complex in Mesaimeer “have not been activated.”

“I don’t have the courage to go to my landlord and request him to let me stay for another month. I also know there is a new tenant who is facing a similar situation with my current flat,” the tenant told Gulf Times yesterday.

A copy of the contract signed between the tenant and Barwa on December 17 obtained by Gulf Times reads that the contract commences on “February 1, 2009 and shall terminate on January 31, 2010.”

Post-dated cheques starting February 1 for 12 months were also submitted by the tenant. However, an addendum to the lease agreement says that the anticipated hand-over date (February 1) represents the date upon which it is presently expected that the Unit shall be ready for occupation.” It added that Barwa “reserves the right to a) advance the anticipated hand-over date and b) extend it, provided that the in either event Barwa shall advise the tenants at least 10 days beforehand.”

The company says the delay is because of some factors beyond its control.

While one official at Barwa yesterday told Gulf Times that the delay was indeed due to the electricity and power issue, another gave a whole different scenario.

“When we invited the selected tenants for the programme in December, we say, 700 showed up. So now I have 300 flats to fill and so what we did was invite tenants on the Saliya to move into Barwa apartments in Mesaimeer. And to ensure that they all move together at the same time, we have scheduled the date to March 1. Those on the Saliya-list are really very happy right now,” the official told Gulf Times.

“Besides it is only January 13 today (yesterday) and Kahramaa still has time to ensure power and water supply by February 1. They told us they are committed to it,” he added.

The government launched the Barwa programme to ease up the housing shortage by providing reasonable accommodation at affordable cost. Almost everyone Gulf Times spoke to, appreciated the project.

Tenants also gave some pragmatic solutions in the light of the situation they face: “Water can be made available through tankers, while generators can be put up there temporarily so we can at least move in,” one Qatari “tenant” told Gulf Times.

Another tenant requested the management to allow them to bring their own dish and satellite TV equipment, rather than Qtel’s Mozaic service as they had “invested several thousand riyals” in buying and installing them.