There is loud and constant noise coming from a noisy chiller unit on the roof of an apartment building opposite my flat near Airport Road in Abu Dhabi. Is there any legal action that I can follow to make the building’s owner fix the issue?
Firstly you should submit a complaint to the owner/landlord of the building where you live and see if you can get them to intervene on your behalf. They should be concerned for the welfare of tenants, otherwise they will leave because of the issue of constant noise from the neighbouring building. However, if your landlord is unable to sort out the problem, the only way you will find a resolution is if you submit complaints with authorities in Abu Dhabi, such as the police and the municipality. I would even suggest you contact the Ministry of Happiness, which was launched this year with the goal of ensuring happiness among everyone in the UAE.
Is there a way of disputing a bill from a service provider, as in refusing to pay it, without getting into trouble with the authorities? In my case it is a supplier of chilled water for the A/C in my apartment. They are clearly overcharging. Apart from disputing directly to the service provider, what else can be done? Could I file a complaint with Dubai’s Real Estate Rental Agency, even though it’s not rent-related?
Look over the contract between you or your building signed with the service provider for terms and conditions that relate to disputed bills and non-payment of bills to establish exactly where you stand contractually. However, if no such terms exist in the contract you should first submit a complaint with the customer service section at the company’s headquarters. If the issue is not resolved, or you receive no response to your complaint, you can then seek a legal expert who can look at your case in relation to article 69 of the UAE Verification law. Your legal representative will be able to investigate the prices of the provider and confirm if they are exaggerated or not, the outcome of which will determine if it’s worth exploring legal action or not.
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