Abu Dhabi bachelors concerned about accommodation

Severe shortage of accommodation in Abu Dhabi, have left Bachelors in the lurch. To add to this, the new draft law proposes hefty fines on sharing accommodation and partitioning homes and villas. As per the current rules, only two bachelors can share a room in bachelor accommodations. Bachelors complain that they hardly have any options left.

Authorities plan to construct buildings for bachelors in specially allocated localities. The new draft law also proposes to increase the number of bachelors to three per room, instead of two.

An Indian bachelor in Abu Dhabi, speaking about his hunt for accommodation mentioned that “It is a harrowing experience. Apart from the difficulty faced in finding a suitable accommodation that suits your budget, you are also blackmailed into paying higher rents.”

“I rented a room for Dh.1700 four months back, and now the house owner demands Dh.3000 from 1st of February or to move out of the premises. However, considering the hurdles that I may have to face to find a suitable room, I would rather continue in the same accommodation paying increased rent.” Bachelors are being exploited by the owners, as they know that it is hard to find even a bed space, he added.

A Pakistani expatriate, Syed Shanavas Ahmad, working for a private company, said “I used to live in a small room for Dh.600 and now I live with four others for the same rent. Owners constantly demand higher rents, or we have to vacate.”

“Authorities talk about dedicated spaces. In that case, fines should not be implemented until these facilities are ready. They should understand that we have no choice except to share accommodations, until then,” says Syed Omar Yahiya from Pakistan, working as Systems Analyst in a private firm.

On strictly enforcing fines for partitioning villas and flats, the result would be higher rents for bachelors. Although the current rules limit the bachelor accommodation to two per room, this is constantly violated with eight to ten people in a single room.

Posted on 4/2/2008

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