Post by Labee on Jul 24, 2009 8:08:41 GMT 4
Dubai to crack down on villa sharers
Jul 23, 2009
Dubai will impose fines of up to 50,000 dirhams ($13,000) on tenants and landlords if villas are occupied by members of more than one family as the city cracks down on the sharing of homes, UAE daily the National reported on Thursday.
Dubai Municipality director-general Hussain Nasser Lootah warned that violators of the one-family-one-villa rule could also face further legal action.
He said more than 5,000 households had been identified as violating the law in the city and municipality officials plan to target areas such as Jaffliya, Satwa, Jumeirah, Umm Suquiem, Al Barsha, Mirdiff and Al Rashidiya.
"We made this announcement two years ago, and it was made very clear that sharing villas would not be allowed," Lootah said and warned there would be no more exceptions.
Many expat families share accommodation in the emirate as they try to save on rents amid high living costs. Expat workers form the majority of the UAE's 4.5 million population and many are single.
Previous campaigns have also targeted bachelors renting villas and blue-collar workers living in places deemed as family residential areas.
Water and electricity supply was cut off in some cases to speed up eviction.
Officials cite environmental and health risks as reasons for the crackdown against sharing of villas.
Families last year had appealed for respite from the rule as rents soared in the city due to an influx of expats during the boom.
Rents in many Dubai areas have decreased more than 50 percent from 2008 peaks as the expat population falls amid job losses and more housing supply comes to the market.
Falling rents have already led tenants looking to upgrade their accommodation from less desirable areas to move. Renters are also moving out of shared residences to get their own place.