The story below comes to me from a reader who had a bad experience at Sheikha Complex with Q8 Realtor. From what my source tells me, she tried many times - in writing - to have her problems fixed and with no avail.
Feedback is always positive. Companies/individuals can take it and make improvements to make their business better - and perhaps win over new customers.
Dear DG,
Please can you post about my experiences with this real estate company so as to warn others...
I moved into Sheikha Complex in 2008. It was a dream to live on Gulf Road with such a beautiful view... the view was worth the money. The company was great - Q8 Expats. Abdulaziz the marketing guy was so helpful and happily negotiated and worked with me throughout my tenure with them - about 6 months. Then the worse thing happened - Q8 Realtor took over the management contract of the Sheikha building. Without warning they swooped in and took over the building. From that day onwards, it was hell. My experiences included:
1. Satellite cut - refusal to fix the satellite and refusal to allow my own satellite guy to fix it too. eventually fixed it after 10 days of persistent phone calls.
2. Internet line cut - refusal to reconnect unless i paid KD20 per month!
3. Refusal to return my calls - tried to contact Q8 Realtor using 7 different communication methods over the period of 6 weeks. the only person to respond was the haris.
4. Problems with ants throughout the building and no indication of addressing this problem despite several complaints from many tenants.
5. No hot water for a total of 14 days out of 21 - was told by 3 different people in the end it was the whole building but in fact it wasn't
6. Foul smells coming through the bathroom pipes in my apartment and also noticeable downstairs in the lobby by the elevator and in the car park. refusal to acknowledge the smell downstairs. used bicarbonate of soda in my bathroom!
7. Accusation of not paying the haris for washing my car one month.
8. Upon leaving, was told my washing machine didn't work and was expected to pay KD60 for maintenance. Thankfully I explained to them that as i had paid for a furnished apartment it was their responsibility to pay for maintenance and not mine.
9. Upon leaving, was asked to pay KD40 for painting my apartment - despite agreement from the company that it was normal wear and tear. Thankfully I knew that it was their responsibility and not mine (according to Kuwait Tenancy Law) to repaint the apartment for the next tenant.
I know I was not alone with my experiences at Sheikha Complex. A British gentleman and his family who just arrived in Kuwait had rented an apartment upstairs from mine and knocked on my door when they too had his satellite cut. Worse still, Q8 Realtor had sent them a letter to say that they had received complaints from neighbours regarding the noise resulting from them playing loud music. The letter noted that any further complaints would result in immediate eviction. I was drinking tea with them when the letter arrived. I looked around their apartment - they didn't have anything to play music on!!! The family left Kuwait about a month later with a very negative impression of the country.
Thankfully now I have moved to an apartment where the landlord cares about his tenants. My first weekend here, the landlady came to my door with a freshly baked lemon sponge cake to say welcome. They just had problems with a broken pipe resulting in no water throughout the building - i received a telephone call from the landlady to say I'm sorry for the inconvenience, they are coming to fix it in 30 minutes.
What a difference! I hope it continues. I think we all realise that things can't be perfect all the time but how the landlord or management company responds is so important. Even though we don't own our houses here - it is still home. I work in a stressful management job which requires much travel. My home is important to me - it's my refuge where I can relax and let go of my worries and stresses from the day. To go home and experience such problems with such a negative response was awful. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone else. My advice to you is - if you see a property advertised from Q8 Realtor, think twice. You don't know what you are letting yourself in for...
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10 comments:
Woah... that's totally messed up...
We lived in Ewan Complex for about 1 year and a half and when we wanted to moved out we talked to the real estator who managed the building and gave him the 1 month notice, he informed us that we had to pay 100kd for the apartment to be repainted and the holes which we drilled to hang curtains and the tv to be fixed. Apparently he said its a private buiilding and they have their own rules. We tried to reason out with him and tell him we read the Kuwait Tenant Law but he said we signed an arabic contract that says "we leave the house as it was, meaning no dirt, no holes drilled, no cracks whatsoever." We stil have the reciept of the money we paid him. Just wanted to share our experience.
Unfortunately, what is described here is a very very frequently met story, whether in averagely rented apartments or expensive ones, companies popping up out of no where, with some cash, trying to overtake the market, with subsequent monoboly, and the incompetence, cheating, non committing to their commitments, this is in fact becoming the theme of Kuwait real estate market, was out of imagination 10 years ago!! it's dramatic how such a great country collapse in few years, starting by general behaviour, social incompetence, traffic condition, health services, even drivers' attitude. of course landlords would be a part of the theme, why not them.
Too disappointing.
Mrs. W - I wouldn't have paid it. It IS in the tenancy law that the building owner must pay to have the apartment re-painted.
Big fat liars.
Papyrus - I think you're right. No one would have dreamed 10 years ago of the type of corruption in the real estate market that is occurring these days.
Desertgirl believe me we did not want to but they wouldn't let us get our furniture out of the building. They held up the movers that we were paying for by the hour to move our stuffs. It is a shame how they take advantages of the expatiates here in Kuwait.
Mrs W
First of all the tenancy low in kuwait said:"Only if there is major changes in the flat or the house" and major changes means changing building shape like new walls or opening doors etc. not drilling holes in the walls, so upon that the landloard or the realtor have no right for claiming mony for repainting or repairing the rented place. If I were you I would sue them for doing such rubbery.
Papyrus. There whole lot of corruption in the country not only companys but it also been moved to govermental institutions.
By the way, people, if someone/anyone blocks you from moving out and demands money like this, go right away to your nearest police station and file a case. Tell the building management that you are going to file a case and perhaps they will let it go.
i was new in kuwait few years back and got stuff from uk which i was going to store in my flat.although iam british from asian origin.the ladlord saw me taking stuff to my flat. he asked me hang on.you are not allowed to put in stuff in your flat. when i have insisted he said iam going to report to police that you are terrorist. funny thing
i decided not to argue about it and rented another place. It was in BLUE COMPLEX IN MAHBOOLA. same thing happened in my office. Harris of the building started coming to me and asking me for monthly and even threatened to inform to baldia. i told him go to hell.Third incident with harris as well demanding money. Even he asked me if i could let him one machine free to take to egypt.You mentioned in previous comments it is not easy to report to police in this country. You have to go through red tape
Oh shite,
we lived in that complex 2007/08 and were actually thinking of renting again when we arrive in two weeks.
Now I need to rethink that!
Is it possible to get in contact with the Lady that wrote the letter to get Info where she has rented now?
Thanks & all the Best!
Nicole
I had a very similar experience with Q8 Realtor. I would advise staying well clear of any building the company manages.
Rip off merchants!
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