Dubai families yet to abide by the one-family-one-villa rule

A new compliance campaign will begin on Saturday. According to an investigation made by The National, several families continue to live in villas with several families in one villa. The householders are even willing to risk heavy fines or loss of utilities to remain in their homes. Few even planned to keep their front doors locked to keep inspectors out, and use electricity generators to maintain the air-conditioning if the power is switched-off.

The residents claim that in areas such as Al Rashidiya, families are unable to find another affordable accommodation in other areas of Dubai, despite the drop in rents.

The villa campaign launched by the Municipality last year has compelled several families to leave their shared accommodation. Notices were posted on villa doors in up-market areas such as the Jumeirah and in low-budget areas such as Al RAshidiya and Satwa. In few cases, water and electricity has been cut off.

Several tenants have moved out, but others continue to stay in secrecy, to avoid detection. Advertisements are seen in front of several villas inviting families to apply to rent rooms. The National reports that, several families are still willing to take up shared accommodations.

Apart from Al Rashidiya, areas such as Jumeirah, Satwa, Jaffliya, Al Barsha and Umm Suqueim and Mirdiff have been identified by inspectors as violating the villa rule.

Bachelors who have been banned from living in villas were also sharing homes in several areas of the locality. As per the Municipality rule, only families are permitted to live in villas, as the villas are meant for families.

According to Director General of the Municipality, Hussain Nasser Lootah, tenants and landlords not following one-family one-villa rule were facing fines of up to Dh.50,000, apart from other penalties. The Municipality also warned that the inspectors would intensify their checks from next month.

More than 5000 households in Dubai have been found violating the law. They are yet to be fined, but action would follow next month, Lootah said.

Posted on 31/7/2009

Recent Articles