What is residential property?   

Residential property is usually a house or an apartment that is typically used as a dwelling. Residential property can come in different structures such as a building, a part of a building, a studio, a villa, or anything else that you can live in and call home.   

To be able to refer to the building as a residential property, it must be suitable for use as a dwelling, was built or adapted for use as a dwelling and not for other purposes, or is in the course of building as a dwelling.  That being said, every property that is intended for dwelling can be designated as residential property. If a building houses offices and apartments for business reasons, it cannot be considered a residential property.   

Furthermore, a residential property can be bought or rented, based on the needs of individuals. This means that some properties might be offered for sale, which requires a significant amount of money to be paid at once, and others might be offered for rent, which means that the owner will get monthly payments from the renters.   

However, what many do not yet know is that the cost of a residential property does not end once the value of the property is paid, as there are always additional costs to be paid such as gas, electricity, water, maintenance, or others.   

What Is Maintenance Cost in Real Estate in Dubai?   

Residential property maintenance is what individuals who buy a property or rent it have to pay for on a monthly basis or on a yearly basis for the upkeep of the residential property. Residential property maintenance cost in real estate can include maintenance of buildings and amenities, reworks, damages, leaking, and more.   

As many believe that all they have to pay for is the registration costs, stamp duty, and the value of the property itself, maintenance costs always take them by surprise. More often than not, individuals forget the fact that residential property needs extra expenses to be maintained.   

Moreover, property maintenance in UAE is indeed one of the most important topics, as there is a countless number of residential properties in the UAE, especially in Dubai, which means that maintenance is indeed highly needed and demanded. Plus, the older the residential property, the more maintenance cost it will need, and the most important aspect of maintenance in real estate is that it keeps the residential property young, as it helps in fighting the aging of the property and its drastic consequences.   

The cost of maintenance typically includes many things such as power costs, security, diesel generator cost, gas cost, damage repairs, landscape maintenance costs, sewage treatment plant operating costs, and more, based on the residential property. That being said, maintenance cost is indeed inevitable, as it is the sole way that helps in maintaining a healthy and livable residential property.   

Maintenance Charges for Residential Property in Dubai   

Property maintenance in the UAE, especially in Dubai, is also referred to as service charges and is indeed very common and widespread.   

Maintenance charges for apartments in Dubai or maintenance charges for villas in Dubai can be challenging at times. That being said, service charges or maintenance costs in Dubai are charged on a square foot basis and they can range between AED3 and AED30, or maybe more. For example, maintenance charges for an apartment can cost starting AED3 per square foot per month, based on what the maintenance service includes.   

If you are living in a building, you can pay up to AED6000 per year, based on what is covered. That is possible if the contract of the apartment includes yearly maintenance costs.   

However, maintenance costs or service charges might vary depending on many factors. These factors include:   

1.      Property type (the building or the sub-community in the neighborhood)   

2.      Community location (the neighborhood in which the property is located)   

3.      Property usage (the reason behind purchasing the property)   

On another note, it is important to mention that the bigger the residential property, the more expensive the maintenance cost might be.   

In addition to that, service charges include a list of the services that are charged as extra fees and expenses:   

·         Maintenance   

·         Services   

·         Management   

·         Insurance   

·         Utilities   

·         Master Community   

Furthermore, in Dubai, developers charge what is known for Sinking Fund. These Sinking Funds are reserve funds that are set aside for any major maintenance or repairs that might be required and necessary in the future. The Sinking Fund can be paid by the homeowner, in case of rent. It typically covers repairs, renovation, or replacement of roofs, fire alarms, safety systems, external cladding, windows, parking areas, elevators, balconies, air conditioning systems, and many more.   

How Much Should You Budget for Home Maintenance in Dubai?   

At times, if you are buying or renting an apartment in a building, the maintenance might be included in the contract and in the total price of the apartment, based on the size, since it is usually charged per square meter.   

More often than not, these contracts cover everything you might need such as electrical issues, individual repairs, cleaning, and more. This is usually considered better than paying for each one individually since you can consider it a package that includes everything you might need.   

If you are planning on setting a budget for home maintenance per month, you can try and calculate how much you might need to budget for residential property maintenance. A basic rule of thumb is to set aside from 1% to 4% of the property’s value per year.   

Estimating the amount of money that you might spend on residential property maintenance in Dubai can be challenging, especially since there is no fixed price, as to each residential property its own conditions and characteristics play a major role in setting an amount of money to be paid for maintenance and services.   

Also, one must never forget that the age of the residential property matters. This means that an old property might need more maintenance and services than a newly built property, just to be able to live in it and to maintain its condition if you ever decide to sell it in the future.   

Who Pays Service Charges in Dubai?   

Service charges and maintenance costs are paid by homeowners or property owners, either on a monthly basis or on a yearly basis. Service charges usually cover a wide selection of services including maintenance costs, cleaning, security staff, general upkeep of the building or the area, and more.   

As for renters, they can either pay on a yearly or monthly basis based on the contract, or homeowners themselves can handle the additional fees and costs. It all comes down to the contract and to what the owner and the renter have agreed on.   

What Home Maintenance Should Be Done Yearly?   

Obviously, home maintenance is indeed very important, especially if the house or the property is somewhat old. Before anything else, yearly home maintenance ensures safety and security.   

Here is a list of what home maintenance should be done yearly:   

·         Inspecting trees in gardens   

·         Inspecting to see if there are any cracks in the concrete   

·         Checking the condition of the driveway   

·         Checking to see if there are signs of loose or broken shingles in the roof   

·         Ensuring there is no leaking   

·         Checking the air conditioning systems (if they need gas, if they need to be cleaned, etc)   

·         Checking the pipes under the sink   

·         Cleaning before winter or before summer   

Is Maintenance Necessary in Dubai?   

Buying a house or owning a property has no value unless you know how to maintain it. Houses and residential properties tend to grow old and buying a house that someone has already lived in can be risky if you do not repair damages and check if it needs any maintenance.   

That being said, maintenance is inevitable. Whether on a monthly basis or on a yearly basis, renters or homeowners have to make sure that the residential property is in good condition and that it is a good place to live in. Therefore, residential property maintenance can never be overlooked, especially in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, as the number of residential properties is quite big and people tend to buy and sell houses all the time. This means that you need additional maintenance and repairs if you are living in a house that another family has lived in the house before you.   

On another note, residential property maintenance is not only beneficial and necessary if you want to live in a house that is healthy and in good condition, but also if you intend on selling it in the future. Making necessary repairs and taking care of your house can never be considered money down the drain, as chances are you will sell it in the future.   

Therefore, residential property maintenance is indeed one of the most important things to be taken into consideration and that just can never be overlooked. Everyone has to keep in mind that maintenance costs and service charges are additional fees they will have to pay to be able to live in a house that is in good condition.   

What Is Included in Property Maintenance in Dubai?   

What property maintenance includes cannot be generalized, as it all depends on the unit, the environment, the size of the property, the contract, and many other factors. However, there are some basic maintenance requirements that most individuals need.   

Here is a list of what might be included in property maintenance:   

·         Painting   

·         Lighting issues such as replacing bulbs   

·         Power issues   

·         Electrical issues such as climate control, short-circuiting, plug sockets, and power switches   

·         Plumbing problems   

·         Broken locks of lost keys   

·         Keeping common areas tidy   

·         Pest control   

·         Flooding or blockages   

·         Fence or boundary repairs   

·         Ceiling repairs   

·         Roof repairs   

·         Trash removal   

·         Replacing doors   

·         Drywall repair   

·         Air conditioning system repairs   

·         Fire alarms  

Residential property maintenance in Dubai is an integral part of any real estate deal, as the contract might include yearly fees for maintenance and service charges or individuals might simply pay a separate amount of money on a monthly basis. Maintenance is indeed inevitable, especially for old houses and apartments, since it enhances the condition of the property. In addition to that, residential property maintenance can assist individuals in selling their property in the future for a significant amount of money.