Abu Dhabi to Set Aside Rental Options for Middle Class

According to a new policy out in place by the Urban Planning Council on Tuesday some major projects in Abu Dhabi will have to set aside their rental options so that the middle income group or what we say the middle class people can also afford it. The policy will come into effect from this month which says that rents will be set in between Dh25,200 and Dh88,200 per annum or it can also be done by 35 per cent of total annual household income. The units that can be rented on the basis of this policy include studios, one to three bedroom apartments ranging from 40, 50, 70, and 90 square metres. The units will be distributed within the project.

The senior planning manager at UPC, Michael White told: “The plan is applicable to developer-driven planned districts that are more than 75,000 square metres, such as Yas, Reem, Lulu, and Saadiyat. The ‘affordable' units will be in the multi-family structures and will not include single-family homes or villas. Units should be available throughout the city.” These housing units will be made affordable for a minimum of ten years.

White further added: “A family can stay for one year and move elsewhere. However, that unit will still have to be offered as ‘affordable' for the next nine years. The affordability goes with the unit, not the tenant.” Individuals those who are interested can directly apply through the management company or through the landlord. The UPC and the Abu Dhabi Municipality (ADM) will keep a track of the developments containing the units.

White added: “The master developer and management Company must initially verify the income to determine eligibility. The UPC is currently working with the ADM on the monitoring and enforcement of the programme.” The forms are available on the UPC's website www.upc.gov.ae.