Short-term Springs villas on offer

Real estate agents continue to run adverts in local online and print classifieds for short-term leases of villas in Dubai’s popular Springs community despite Emaar Properties warning residents not to engage in the “illegal” activity.

“As part of our initiatives to ensure the long-term welfare of our community, and in line with governmental guidelines, sub-letting properties for the short-term is not permitted in our communities,”an Emaar Community Management spokesperson told Emirates 24|7.

“Short-term rentals are not permitted, as per local laws. The rentals can however be made on hotel apartments or serviced residences. Only hotels or serviced residences like hotel apartments may offer such services not individual unit owners,” the spokesperson added.

Nevertheless, agents continue to defy the regulation and continue to offer Springs villas on short-term rentals. Although such villas are not available on a daily basis, property agents are offering a fully furnished three-bedroom villa in Springs 1 for Dh24,000 per month.

Other adverts offer a furnished two-bedroom villa at the Springs 2 and Springs 5 for Dh20,000 and Dh18,000 per month, respectively.

Minimum one month booking is mandatory, says the property agent, adding the price includes water and electricity, Internet and satellite TV channels connection, access to shared pool, once a week cleaning with bed linen change and customer service representative on call.

Propertyfinder.ae puts average annual rents for unfurnished three-bed and two-bedroom villas at Dh175,000 (Dh14,583 per month) and Dh116,000 per annum (Dh9,667 pm), respectively.

In February, Emaar issued a circular warning owners of villas in the Emirates Living community against renting their property on a short-term basis after Emirates 24|7 reported that a group of teenagers had hired a villa in Springs 11 for a party to which residents had objected. Police were finally called in to normalise the situation.

“Emaar has issued circulars to its community members highlighting that sub-letting for the short-term is not permitted. This is to ensure that overall welfare and security of the community,”the Emaar spokesperson told this website.

In that circular, issued by Emaar in February and addressed to all Emirates Living residents, the master developer said: “Over the past few weeks, it has been noted that some homeowners and/or their property managers have been letting out their property on short-term basis (whether by day or by night) for recreational or other similar prohibited purposes. Please be made aware, that such activities and transactions are prohibited in the community and endanger the community in addition to creating a noise and nuisance.

“Short term lets /holiday lets are not allowed as per the community rules and the sales and purchase agreement (SPA) signed by the owner. It is also prohibited in solely residential properties by law.”

Emaar defined short-term let as a “lease that is less than six consecutive months.”

According to the developer, violators will be issued with a notice, which will attract applicable penalties and they will be reported to the local authorities for further action.

Last year, Mohammed Shael, Chief Executive Officer, Business Registration and Licensing in the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED), told Emirates 24|7 that short-term residential rentals was an economic activity and any individual who would like to be involved in this activity needs to seek a license to be able to offer such service.

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