Page Category: Lifestyle

Community service fee

Timely payment of the community service fee helps keep your community’s services ticking smoothly.

Community service fee

The community service fee (CSF) is the homeowner’s annual contribution towards the common expenditure of the community. The CSF is based on the estimated annual expenditure of the community for the operation and maintenance of its common property and assets.

Your CSF invoice gives you a detailed breakdown of how we arrive at the CSF for the year. We also send out an information pack with further details about each community relating to the previous year, with news of key events and developments.

Note: If you are a homeowner and would like to refer the latest CSF information pack, log into this website with your credentials to read it.

What are the main components of my CSF?

General fund

It consists of day-to-day operating and administrative expenses used to maintain your community. Operational expenses include the maintenance, utility costs and management of everything from common area infrastructure and landscaping, to waste collection and signage placement.

Capital reserve fund

It was established to pay for costs incurred in the repair and replacement of significant capital items, such as elevator or chiller replacements, flooring, painting and cladding of buildings.

Special levy

This is a one-off charge for items not in the design or those not covered under the general fund. For example, if you require an additional facility such as a play area or a swimming pool, the cost for this will be covered by the special levy.

Master community levy

This charge is paid through the CSF and covers items such as plants and the maintenance of the master community infrastructure including roads, underground services, storm drains, sewage lines and pavements.

Value added tax (VAT)

Value added tax (VAT) has an impact on your community service fee (CSF) as it includes several items such as maintenance services, utilities, insurance, etc. This means that the VAT collected as part of your CSF will then be paid to the Federal Tax Authority.

How VAT works:

• Homeowner – All homeowners are charged 5% VAT payable to ECM
• Emaar Community Management (ECM) – ECM pays 5% VAT to relevant suppliers and service providers.
• Federal Tax Authority – ECM pays the difference between the VAT collected from customers and VAT paid to suppliers to FTA. Suppliers and service providers also pay a 5% VAT to FTA.

Source: Federal Decree Law No. 8 of 2017 & Cabinet Decision No. 52 of 2017

How the community service fee is calculated

Our budgeting team considers the following aspects when calculating the community service fee (CSF).

Historical expenses

We evaluate actual expense trends from the previous year based on individual cost items. Depending upon the operational plan, we decide whether or not to include them again in the following year’s budget.

Resource allocation on site

We periodically review resources on site to find ways of improving performance by employing new technology and operational methods based on international best practices.

Service provider contracts

By regularly reviewing service provider contracts, we can evaluate key areas of improvement, such as performance and cost savings. This helps us to determine future budgets and predict expenses.

Capital assets evaluation (maintenance, repair and replacements)

Capital assets that are no longer under the manufacturer’s warranty are regularly reviewed for major maintenance or replacement. Essential equipment, such as sewage pumping stations and/or similar items, support the overall infrastructure of the community.

Provision for doubtful debts

This amount allows for the setting aside of a small portion of CFS collections as a provision in case certain receivables are required to be written off in the future.

Surplus/deficit adjustment from previous years

Finally, any surpluses or deficits from previous years are brought into consideration during the determination of the CSF rate for the current year.

Community income

In addition to the CSF, the community has a few other revenue streams that also contribute to its income.

Parking access cards

The cards used by residents to enter their building or parking areas are provided to homeowners at a small cost and the income generated is credited to the community’s account.

Marketing and distribution permit fee

To ensure that only legitimate businesses gain access to the community, we regulate activity with the provision of a permit that allows the distribution of promotional material. An administration fee is collected and booked as income to the community.

Violation penalty

To ensure adherence to the community rules and architectural codes, NOVs are issued along with violation penalties to those who fail to comply.

Miscellaneous income

This is income generated from other avenues such as interest earned through call accounts or bounced cheque charges.

How can you pay?

You can pay your community service fee through a variety of easy payment methods.

Online

• Log in to dubaimarina.ae from anywhere, any time.
• Online banking services (account holders only): Log on to your personal online bank account at RAKBANK, Mashreq Bank, Emirates NBD or Dubai Islamic Bank and follow the payment instructions.

Emaar One mobile app

• Log in using the same credentials you use for your portal and make your payment.
• Emaar One is available on Google Play and App Store.

Self–service kiosks

• Make cheque and credit/debit card payments using our interactive payment kiosk located at the customer happiness centre in Emaar Square, Building 2.

Direct bank transfer

• Directly transfer funds from your bank account to the community bank account as detailed on the front of your CSF invoice.

Autopay

• Set up autopay instructions for payment of future invoices on their due dates. Please follow the online payment link on the invoice and log in to dubaimarina.ae for setup.

What happens if you don’t pay

Your community boasts a strong collection rate, one of the highest in the emirate. However, there are still a few homeowners who delay their payment, which ultimately affects the wider community as well as simply being unfair to those who pay promptly. If you continue to default on your payments, we may be forced to take one or all of the following actions:

• Suspension of non-emergency services to your property.
• Denial of services including non-issuance of NOC for transfer of property, visa renewal, access cards etc.
• Referral of the case to a professional debt recovery agency.
• Initiation of legal action.

As stated in the sales and purchase agreement, payment of the CSF in full and on time is the obligation of every homeowner. Delay/non-payment of the CSF has the potential to deprive your community of the funds required to continue the supply of essential services such as common area maintenance, air-conditioning, security, waste collection, street lighting and irrigation.

Guidelines

Architectural guidelines regulate all alterations undertaken in your community, excluding those carried out by the developer.

Why are architectural guidelines important?

• Control the appearance of the community’s common areas and buildings.
• Preserve the design and architectural quality of the community.
• Recognise the varying needs of homeowners and occupants, while upholding the common interest of all.
• Maintain the aesthetic standards that make the community an attractive and desirable place to reside or operate a business
• Uphold the property values for homeowners.

Note: The Architectural Guidelines exclude alterations carried out by or on behalf of the developer.

What building standards should I follow while carrying out works at my home?

• Ensure only high quality (and where possible, new) materials are used.
• Comply with community and local laws and regulations.
• Enlist reputable, properly qualified, experienced and licensed professional suppliers.
• Ensure works are carried out in a proper, workmanlike and timely manner, in which the least inconvenience is caused to other homeowners and occupiers.
• Refrain from carrying out any activities before all necessary certifications (including any engineer’s certification and the like) have been obtained to ensure that they do not impact the structural integrity of the building or community.
• Ensure that the community is clean and tidy at all times during and after the works.

What happens if I fail to follow the architectural guidelines?

Failure to comply with the architectural guidelines, and any damages to the community common areas will result in a notice of violation being issued. The damage will be rectified in line with community standards, and the cost of rectification will be charged to the unit owner.

Note: Alterations, additions and decorations to the exterior of the unit or any part of the common areas, including but not limited to doors, windows and window coverings, are prohibited.

A homeowner or occupant who undertakes any work indemnifies and maintains the indemnity to other homeowners or occupants against any loss that may be suffered resulting from any defective work undertaken as well as the entry of any contractors into the community.

Log onto your community portal and select ‘Home Modifications’ from the side bar for altering or making modifications to your apartment.

Rules and regulations

Your community rules are set out to cover everything you need to know about living in Dubai Marina.

Just like the wider society itself, it’s important for everyone to live by a similar code of conduct, so in our rules, we discuss everything from the appearance of your home and its maintenance, to parking issues and the disposal of your rubbish.

These rules are for the benefit of owners and residents and are designed to create an environment in which all owners and residents can maximise enjoyment of their homes and the various common areas and facilities. It is also the intent of these rules to create a serene, attractive and safe environment for the families, children, neighbours, and guests of the community and master community.

Adherence to these rules will maintain, preserve, enhance, and protect the property values and assets of the community. Violation of any of the community rules will be uniformly enforced, with a notice of violation and applicable violation penalty.

We hope this makes for a pleasant living environment within your Dubai Marina community.

Read your community rules here.