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  Monday 27 Oct, 2008

Tenants caught in shared villas could have to pay dhs50,000 fines if caught by inspectors
Thousands of tenants living in shared villas across Dubai may now be fined up to dhs50,000 each if they are caught by inspectors.
The fines were announced by Municipality officials yesterday and follow last Friday’s deadline for people sharing villas to move out.
Villa landlords can also be fined the same amount.
It is illegal for people to share houses and villas in the emirate unless they are related to each other and only one family can live in a single villa.
Omar Mohammed Abdul Rahman, head of the Building Inspection Section at Dubai Municipality, said: “The fines will not be restricted to villa owners. Tenants who refuse to comply with our regulations will now also face fines.
“No more deadlines will be given to the residents of these villas as we have given ample time for them to vacate.”
Inspectors who find people sharing villas will also begin to disconnect the electricity and water supplies to the properties in a concerted crackdown across the city.
“After conducting inspections we gave notices to the families informing them only one family can stay in a villa. As per the notices, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority will now be cutting off water and electricity connection as the notice period has come to an end,” Rahman added.
He said that cousins or other relatives sharing a villa do not come under the definition of one family.
“A family means father, mother and children. We have certain regulations and those who violate them will face action,” he said.
Many expats are forced to live in shared villas as the rent is considerably cheaper than one or two-bedroom apartments in Dubai that mostly cost upwards of dhs80,000 a year.
Matthew Thomas, an Indian executive living in shared accommodation in Rashidiya, said he had already sent his children home and his wife would follow shortly as he could not afford the staggering rents of apartments in the city.
“Where are people meant to go?” he said.  “Despite my best efforts I cannot find a cheap place to move into. Everywhere in the city is now too expensive due to the greed of landlords charging way too much rent.”
Municipality officials said that crowded flats shared by multiple occupants would be next on the agenda.
An official said: “There are rules and regulations regarding environment and public safety in flats. Partitions are not allowed without the Municipality’s permission. If anybody complains about huge numbers of people staying in one flat creating social problems for neighbours, the Municipality will take the necessary action.”


 
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Comments

First, answer this one: Where is the provision (shelter) for single living with a monthly salary of 2,000 dirhams?
Posted by :  pozzo      On :  Monday 27 Oct, 2008
 
Are you kidding me!  where do you expect us to go? We cannot afford to live on our own or to buy a place. This is affecting expats from all nationalities. Dubai is not attractive anymore. When will you learn? When we have all gone!
Posted by :  Akasha      On :  Monday 27 Oct, 2008
 
Maybe it's high time that real estate developers to make such practical communities as "RV City", "Tent City", "Portacabin City" or "Dormitory City". It is a real demand which they are not addressing. Enough of these high-class but uninhabited apartments that only cause rents to go higher.
Posted by :  anseljr      On :  Monday 27 Oct, 2008
 
I plea His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and everybody ho have the power in this country please before throwing us in the streets reconsider this decision, help us by giving us another option, we didn't come here to break the law we came to work in this beautiful country we came here looking for security, most of us didn't sleep for 1 month now thinking about what to do.
Posted by :  samerkrz      On :  Monday 27 Oct, 2008
 
How can dubai municipality render a fine of 50,000 dirhams if the salary that i earn is enough only send to my family... Come on, I am only earning 1,500 per month and how can afford to rent a flat if my salary is not enough.... that is why get this villa sharing to save for our family back home.
Posted by :  june      On :  Monday 27 Oct, 2008
 
Maybe it's time for all of us to move to other emirates, or go home...
Posted by :  anseljr      On :  Tuesday 28 Oct, 2008
 
This is not a humane way of treating people. There is no alternative to sharing for most people as rent is so high. Try to imagine making thousands of people homeless in matter of days, fine them 50k and not provide an alternative accommodation because a new legislation has come into play In Europe or The Us. There would be an out cry and massive demonstrations for violating human and civil rights and the government could easily fall and for always be stained as a ruthless and greedy administration. Here in Dubai it seems to be OK to screw with peoples lives. Dubai cares..hmm...about money perhaps. This was the last straw for me. Dubai you do not care about the people living here supporting your development so I wont care about you. I am now actively looking to move back to a civilized country.
Posted by :  Ronson3519      On :  Tuesday 28 Oct, 2008
 
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