Barwa City tenants shocked by sudden rent hike
Many residents of Barwa City are planning to move out of the housing complex due to an unprecedented hike in rents announced by Tanween, a subsidiary of Barwa Real Estate Company which manages a portion of the residential complex.
In the high-end housing complex, which opened in 2013, apartments were rented out at relatively moderate rates to attract tenants. The rents were around QR6,500 for a two-bedroom unit and QR7,500 for a three-bedroom flat.
However, a tenant with a three-bedroom flat will now have to dole out nearly QR3,000 more. The sudden hike has led to an online furore from some tenants.
Social media forums are abuzz with reactions and comments against the move. Many believe that rents were increased after the openings of some new amenities, such as a hypermarket, a new school among other facilities which have created a high demand and long waiting list for apartments in the complex.
Rabia Rizwan, a tenant with a two-bedroom apartment, wrote on Facebook: "I have received a letter for renewal but have no idea if my rent would be increased by QR3,000 or less."
She added: "I intend to leave, and looking for a new place but deep down also wish that I don't have to vacate, and somehow Tanween comes to its senses."
Barwa City, located at Abu Hamour area (near the cemetery) comprises around 6,000 apartments in 128 buildings. The complex is managed by two subsidiaries of Barwa — Waseef and Tanween.
The affected tenants live in the 15-building Park Residences managed by Tanween, which comprises about 800 apartments.
According to a notice issued to a tenant with a three-bedroom apartment, his rent has increased by about QR3,000.
"I received a notice in the first week of February informing me that the renewal of my housing contract will be done with a 40 percent hike in the existing rent, which was about QR8,000," a local Arabic daily recently quoted a tenant as saying without naming him.
He added: "This is not only illogical and unjustified, but also very disturbing. I am confused about it as I don't know what to do. Neither I can afford the new rent nor do I want to vacate the property because my children are studying in a school which is very close."
Another tenant, who recently renewed his contract, said that after negotiations, the company agreed to give him a "discount" of QR500 on the new rent which is now about QR11,000. Yet another tenant, Majid Butt, wrote on Facebook: "I am planning to leave but it is tricky due to the problem of relocating and children's schooling."
Some tenants asked since Waseef has not increased rents, on what ground Tanween has taken the decision.
Contacted, a top official of Waseef, which manages a major portion of the property, denied having increased rents. "Neither Barwa nor we have sent any notices regarding any hike in rents," said Hassan Jummah Al Muhannadi, Chief Operating Officer, Waseef.
"However, there is another company which also manages a section of the asset. If they have hiked rents, I have no information and I can't speak on their behalf."
Another tenant wrote: "Unfortunately, this is the attitude of the authorities and companies here. Never mind all the trouble the families will go through moving out or lost savings if they stay."
Tanween, the development management arm of Barwa, could not be contacted for comment immediately.
Waseef Maintenance Issues. I doont know how many of them are affected by this , But lets form a consensus and raise serious issues that can be requested to rectified without any charge. For eg, 10-12 years old split AC are asked to be repaired at tenants cost. There is no AMC or Preventive maintenance for critical components. Kindly signin and update your complaints via https://forms.gle/EhJb61R5Y8YbbnuN7. Kindly forward the link to all concerned whatsapp groups as well.
supply and demand guys, Hamad medical and other companies are putting there employees there as accommodation,there the reason for price hikes, companies will pay no matter what the rent is.
These people know that its tough for the people to move as they are settled there and kids are going to near by school, so they are simply using the situation and taking advantage of the same.
Its true that there are / were many people in queue to get a place but that's with old rent, but with this new rent, I doubt much people would interested in a place which is far away from city.
Opening one lulu branch is not the reason to increase the rent, its all about greed and using the situation.
Qatar is crowded because of high rents. The high rents force families on limited incomes to live in partitioned villas which are cramped, unsafe and uncomfortable.
There are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of empty villas in Qatar, but because of rent price increases they all sit empty while struggling families can't afford proper housing. It's not ethical.
Zaq, Our Qatar will be crowded if we reduce the rentals ....... then we will suffer in more ways than one .......... what we can do is to reduce your house expenses ...... spend less on make up materials for example , who drink from eve 6 PM to morning 3 AM & spoil their health should learn to save ................ ..................
Qatar should seriously take action on the day by day increase in House rents etc. If this continues there will be a very big loss for the country in future. Experts must be hired for such situations. Agents system must be stopped. We need to pay Half of the Rent to Agents.
I dont think it is relevant to compare it with london or anywhere else. The focus here is: why the greedy (yeah, I really mean GREEDY) real-estate company or maybe the owner increase the price this much?
They should learn the effect as happened earlier for house rent hike on 2005-2008, which in the end increase the inflation rate of the state...
Guys/ Gals , In London it's so expensive that 14 % people are left with 10 Pounds in their pockets after as a monthly saving ....... Our Qatar is better comparatively .....
Ishu, Grab the opportunity ..........
Qatar is continuously increasing cost of leaving most specifically the high rents followed by the price of basic commodities while salary of most expats remains the same at all. Expats with low and medium income have no choice to share a house just to survive.
swift: there are a lot of people on the waiting list at this place.
all vacating at a shot is a boon for them. to get new tenants with the revised new rents and no complaints for one year regarding rental increase
Swift, Your approach is wrong, one must not take a step which do harm to the self.
The companies want to make the share holders happy, and not the tenants, the more the profit the more dividend they get, you work hard and you earn some thing and spend the most on housing , what is left for other expenses to raise your children and support the rest of the family including your parents, life is increasingly becoming difficult for the low and medium income groups in Qatar.
all should vacate in one shot. let them learn a lesson.
its better to buy a tent and go to live in open desert .