Tamweel saga crawls to conclusion
After five years away, residents of the tower stricken by fire just want the ink to dry on final reports so they can go home
DUBAI // Residents of Tamweel Tower struggled with mixed emotions of relief and frustration as they stepped into their homes for the first time in five years.
Relief that they were allowed to inspect their flats in Jumeirah Lakes Towers and frustration that uncertainty persists about the final handover.
Over the past two weeks, several owners revisited flats the authorities had closed for safety reasons after the November 2012 fire.
Cladding fire tests have been completed, with civil defence awaiting a final report before permitting residents to move in.
“The cladding test is finished, we have a preliminary report, but we must wait for the final report,” said a Dubai Civil Defence official.
“Many residents have come to us to request to move in but we need to follow correct procedure.”
Residents have appealed for a detailed timeline. “My apartments have been brought back to their original condition,” said H Hussein, who owns three flats, two of which were affected by the blaze.
“It was good to see but I cannot express the depression we feel. Our morale is so low because every time there is depressing news to wait some more.
“We are still in limbo and there has been a terrible level of un- certainty for the last five years.” After repair work was completed late last year, delays in securing clearances have left owners anxious about the expense of paying for rented flats. Mr Hussein and others have met civil defence officials requesting clearances be completed quickly.
“They reassured us that they are working on it, but can’t do anything since they were waiting for the final cladding report,” said Mr Hussein, who signed a new lease in December because he was unsure when his family could move back into Tamweel.
“I’m afraid it will get more delayed because we are told formalities are completed and then some new requirement comes up that is not met on time.”
As the first residential building on which cladding destroyed by a fire was replaced, Tamweel Tower is viewed as a key test case.
“It will be an important milestone when the cladding report comes through because that will mean the entire building is fire rated,” said Amit Suri, who is satisfied with repair work on the two flats he owns.
“It was a relief to see the apartments look as good as brand new. But it’s important to convert relief into reality and that will only be on handover.”
Other sticking points, such as raising the height of balconies to comply with new safety norms, will be complied with later.
“The association needs to confirm in writing that balcony height will be revised post-handover,” said another member of the Tamweel Tower Owner’s Association.
This will not be a hindrance to issue approvals.
Initial hold-ups were caused because the process after the fire was unclear. The owners’ group had to register with the real estate authority, open a bank account to begin work on reconstruction clearances.
After homeowners obtained an estimate of losses and obtained municipality approvals, they invited contractors to submit tenders for repair work. However, the tender was declined by the insurer, who appointed another party to estimate losses from the blaze, resulting in the entire process starting from scratch.
Last year following a civil defence rule, all cladding not just panels destroyed in the fire had to be replaced.
“It has been extremely frustrating, we seem to move from one roadblock to another,” said Arif, a resident.
“We can only hope this time around we will soon go home. But there should be a time line and quicker recourse.”
Residents will be allowed back once the civil defence final report is issued