DUBAI // Property owners will soon be able to compare the service charges they pay with an emirate-wide average, following the publication of a survey into benchmark fees that is set to boost transparency in the market.
In its initial study - which is based on a small sample size - the Middle East Facility Management Association (Mefma) found the average charge for residential towers in Dubai came to Dh13.42 per square foot. About 40 per cent of that covered utilities, including district cooling.
Property owners have long complained that service charges and district cooling are too expensive.
"It's very new that the developers are pushed to be transparent," said Ali al Suwaidi, a Mefma board member. "Mefma is here to try to say, 'Guys, let us open these books and see how to benchmark'."
While the first report was based on a small sample size, subsequent studies would take in a larger research pool. "It will take time before we have the facts," said Mr al Suwaidi.
The average service charge for residential towers was based on 34 respondents. The overall survey, which included commercial, mixed-use, villa and master communities, had 48 respondents. It was conducted by a group of experts over five months and was first presented in January.
The findings will be posted on the Mefma website in coming weeks. Access will be free to members and available at a small fee for non-members, said Sinead Bridgett, Mefma's director of events and membership.
Gathering data was difficult because many developers resisted sharing sensitive information like service fee breakdowns or did not keep close records.
Mefma was set up by Dubai's Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Rera) last August. To boost its sample size, Mefma will ask Rera to make it mandatory for developers to complete the survey.
The focus group also looked at minimum service levels that facility managers must provide, for example, on security guards or waste management.
It also plans to set benchmarks for "reserve funds" collected for long-term costs such as replacing lifts.
"It will help standardisation of service charge calculation, assist in maintaining quality of buildings through minimum service levels and give a broad idea of service charge costing in various markets," Dilip Khatwani, a Mefma board member who led the focus group wrote in an e-mail.
"These issues have long been of concern in the market."
Mefma's other focus groups are looking into areas including energy costs and owners association management.
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The Brutalist
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FIRST TEST SCORES
England 458
South Africa 361 & 119 (36.4 overs)
England won by 211 runs and lead series 1-0
Player of the match: Moeen Ali (England)
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MATCH INFO
Everton v Tottenham, Sunday, 8.30pm (UAE)
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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Anti-semitic attacks
The annual report by the Community Security Trust, which advises the Jewish community on security , warned on Thursday that anti-Semitic incidents in Britain had reached a record high.
It found there had been 2,255 anti-Semitic incidents reported in 2021, a rise of 34 per cent from the previous year.
The report detailed the convictions of a number of people for anti-Semitic crimes, including one man who was jailed for setting up a neo-Nazi group which had encouraged “the eradication of Jewish people” and another who had posted anti-Semitic homemade videos on social media.
The winners
Fiction
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The Evelyn Shakir Non-Fiction Award
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MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
Five films to watch
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”