Ban on house sharing creates uncertainty, fea

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This article is for those who want to relocate to DUBAI without proper planning

UAE. Prices and rentals of villas in Dubai have been falling, whilst those of apartments have been rising in recent weeks as it became clear there would no reprieve from Dubai Municipality's clamp down against single people sharing villas. The blogs have also been burning with complaints from disgruntled residents who are being evicted, forfeiting their deposits and being left unable to find alternative accomodation.

The one-month deadline given to landlords to evict extra tenants living in their villas, as part of the ‘one villa-one family’ campaign, will not be extended, said an official from Dubai Municipality last week.

“The deadline is final and will not be extended. The landlords must ensure that they don’t violate the regulations. They must make the necessary changes within 30 days,” said the official. Earlier, Omar Mohammed Abdul Rahman, head of the Buildings Inspection Section in the Municipality, had stated that the drive against multiple families and bachelors sharing villas has been continuing for a long time.

“We started evicting bachelors from villas last year. They had ample time to make their own arrangements. The drive against the families was started only a few months back,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, people have reacted sharply to the Municipality’s decision, with most of them calling the move disheartening and frustrating.

One Dubai resident, Tetet, was quoted by Khlaeej Times website, saying: “This is really sad for us bachelors. Why can’t they urge the employers to give us accommodation so that we could live peacefully? Or, they should stop hiring bachelors or letting us into the country. I am really frustrated by this news since we just shifted to a new room in a villa and have paid the deposit. We will suffer losses.”

TVS said: “Nobody would share a villa if the rents were affordable. Even after sharing, a huge percentage of a middle- and low-income person’s salary is spent on rent. My request to the Muncipality is to give us time until the next year. By then, we can plan sending our families to our countries, rather than trying to find alternative affordable communication in vain.”

Swaroop, a resident of Al Quoz, said: “The Dubai Municipality should set norms for villas with shared accommodation which guide all owners to maintain the standards of living. The step taken now will affect all families who are staying in villas and cannot afford apartments. The rent of a studio flat at present is not less than AED 60,000 to AED 70,000. This will only force families to move out of Dubai and search for accommodation in Ajman or Sharjah.”

Jabreen said: “Life in Dubai is getting more expensive day by day with the increase in rents, parking, household expenses, and so on. On top of that, if we have to worry about accommodation, it is pretty obvious that by the time the 30 days are over, more than half of Dubai will be empty. And with that life will become even more precarious. It would be more reasonable if the government, while enforcing the law, also took steps to reduce the rents of ‘individual’ villas and flats.”

Sanjay, of Dubai, said: “Sharing accommodation is due to high rents and less accommodation being available. The government should fix rents for each building and its units according to the facilities, age of the building and location. At present, the rents are fixed as per the whims and fancies of the landlords. Moreover, the public transport system in UAE needs overhauling to provide quick, reliable and affordable transport whereby people could choose suitable residential accommodation in the neighbouring Emirates.”

Philip, of Dubai, said: “Next, Sharjah and other Emirates will follow the same steps. Some sort of alternatives should have been thought out by the Municipality before this decision was taken. Where the rent stands now, a middle class person cannot manage a one-bedroom flat in Dubai. How is it possible to have one family in a villa? It’s ridiculous.”

Siraj, of Dubai, said “The government should ask the employers to provide accommodation and the information necessary to ensure a safe and healthy environment. Providing accommodation is no big deal for the employers. If the government wants a healthy environment, it must solve this problem.”

A helpless student of Dubai, said: “It’s a blow for us because we have paid advance fee to the school, and four months’ rent in advance. This will affect my education. My school is located near the area where we are living and within a month it is not possible to find an affordable house."

Robert, Dubai, said: “I have shifted six times from place to place within a span of one year. I hope the government does something about the rent situation or asks the employers to provide accommodation to the employees.”

Raju, Dubai, said: “The Municipality can consider allocating a dedicated area for the people who want to share with other families or friends. This way families can stay in Dubai stress free while the Municipality need not worry about unauthorised persons living in other areas. I don’t think the government will be happy to acknowledge that their residents have no option except to return to their countries because of lack of proper housing and living conditions in UAE.”

Leslie, Dubai, said “These types of sharing villas have existed for many years and have had very rare complaints of fire, non-hygiene or anti-social problems. Suddenly, why this waking up?"

B of Dubai wrote a comment on the Khaleej Times website, saying: "Just another cash cow for Dubai Municipality, and a not so effective way of ensuring the housing prices don't slump in the next two years, they are purposely creating a demand for housing. It should be said that if companies are to employ single people the minimum housing allowance should be AED 70,000. I am a flight attendant and I'm in my villa in Dubai approximately 12 to 15 days of the month. Can you justify me paying AED 70,000 for a studio for half a year's occupancy, My housing allowance currently is at AED 40,000 a year, perhaps my government employer should give us 2,000 strong crew living out of company accommodation a pay rise and take less dividends. This is honestly absurd!"

Magesh Ramanathan, Dubai, wrote: "It's a tough call , that Dubai doesn't want any more middle class people. Its bye bye Dubai."

Joe of Dubai, wrote: "The government is not considering the middle class people where 80% of people are in Dubai. They should not allow the increased rents, then no one is in need of going for sharing. At this moment also the government should do something for middle class people to live their life peacefully."

Mithun, Ghusais, wrote: "I am staying with my family in Ghusais and this is my third shifting in the current year. How can we go to studio or one bedroom flat in Dubai by paying AED70,000 to AED 90,000? We don’t have another option other than going back to India. The Municipality is not concerned about the rent hike in Dubai? Because of the villa eviction, the real estate will also be in a boom. We are mentally upset too."

Mohamed Nizam, Dubai, wrote: "With this 30 days deadline, the most affected will be children who are studying. Even if families want to return back to their home country, no schools will be admitting children from October, so overall all of the children’s one year will be wasted. So my humble request to Dubai Municipality, for the sake of children, is to give all the families time to vacate up to March 2009, so that everyone will be prepared for an alternative."

On another blog, MN of Dubai, said: "Dubai companies are announcing that they are creating a 'new lifestyle', or 'the city of the future'. But in reality living in Dubai is quite different. Real estate agents do not enforce the no-sharing rule and do not inform you about it when you move in. We are hearing that landlords do not return deposits or any rent paid in advance. Any professional person sharing a villa can now be evicted and have their electricity and water turned off at a moment's notice."

Another said: "If the Municipality wants to create zones dedicated to families they should do it, and be clear about where the areas are. If there is any problem with a load on water or electricity or other resources, it is in the apartment sector where shop workers and other low paid workers are living four or six to a room. It is professional people who are sharing villas and they are living one per room."

SP, of Mirdif, said: "In our villa we are three professional people sharing a four-bedroom villa. Opposite us is another villa shared by a group of workers from du. So if a part-government company is also breaking this law, it is not surprising that the rest of us are left confused."

Joe, of The Springs, said: "I own my villa and I rent rooms to friends to pay the mortgage. Can anyone tell me if this law applies to me?"