Thursday, September 2, 2010

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.”