It is my first time to rent a flat here in UAE because in my previous jobs I used to stay in the company accommodation. Luckily, we managed to get a really good deal of 2-bedroom apartment in the heart of the city. Though slightly old, the 20-storey building is clean and well maintained.
Since it was an unfurnished flat, we had to buy the furniture and household appliances at least the basic ones like bed, washing machine, fridge and cooking stove. As you know, shifting is always a nightmare. Packing and unpacking is an arduous task.
So far, I am happy staying here in our new flat except for the parking issue. What I like most is the wide window in my room that overlooks the back area of our building. There is really nothing magnificent in the back area because it is only comprised of various shops, a mosque and a parking area which is always congested at night.
Anyway, I didn’t know much about the business that these watchmen do until I rented a flat recently. Every residential building here in Abu Dhabi or UAE has a watchman who oftentimes is also responsible for maintenance of the building.
To give you a clearer picture – a tenant (like us) runs to the watchman or also known here as “Nator” in case our air-conditioning unit fails to work or if there is no water in the flat. Unfortunately, some “Nator” is taking advantage of this responsibility.
Two days after we shifted to our new flat, the “Nator” introduced himself to us and tried to convey a message about money or tips. We somehow understood it despite of his crooked English. We thought that perhaps he wishes to receive a tip if ever we ask him for repairs in the flat.
Considering that they receive meager salary, personally I am fine with it. Somehow a sort of help to them besides occasional AED 15 or AED 20 tip will not really hurt my wallet.
Well, I was wrong. All I had was either a misconception or misunderstanding.
Nators have a great deal of extra money. Quite rude to use this word but I think it is the appropriate word – extortion.
I unfolded the truth two weeks after our stay. Since it was quite a spacious flat, I agreed that my flatmate’s cousin would stay with us. No harm, the more the merrier, right? (**wink**)
Of course, they shifted their things and to our dismay, the Nator gave them a hard time. He didn’t allow them to take their things to our flat and enumerated many excuses (i.e. shifting is not allowed on weekends, sub-leasing is not prohibited, and so on).
After few minutes, the Nator spoke to my flatmate’s cousin in private. He demanded for AED 300 and take note, it was non-negotiable. Neither of us (I and my flatmate) was at home and the poor guy (my flatmate’s cousin) was desperate to unload their things so the movers could leave.
I came to know only about this incident later when the “paying-off” transaction was done. Furious, I confronted the watchman the next day when I reached home but it was futile. They spoke Arabic or Bangla (language of Bangladesh). I guess there were two things only. Either they really didn’t understand English at all or they refused to understand us to escape the confrontation.
In the next few days, I investigated few tenants whom I met in the lift. I inquired if such unscrupulous behavior of the Nator was showed to everyone or to us only. Surprisingly, I would say ours was not a bad deal with the Nator because others were paying more. One tenant mentioned that they give the Nator an extra money on monthly basis. If I was not mistaken, he mentioned AED 300 per month.
Worst, one tenant spent approximately AED 2000 to the Nator for his stay for more than 2 years in the building. Whew! I was really speechless! Damn, they are making money. I mean extorting money from the tenants. Well, I do not know what business the tenants have with the Nators that it obliged them to extend “pay-offs” to these watchmen.
I came to know also from one of the tenant that they could give you trouble, the Nators. Then I remembered the incident that the Nator threatened my flatmate saying that he could put us in trouble if he wanted to.
I have not complained yet. Honestly, I don’t know where to complain but this dirty business should be stopped.
