Municipality wants you to report house partition violations

Eastern people are just being practical and wise. What's the use of having a nice accomodation in qatar when back home you have a small house. Most of the eastern people i know here has hectares of land and big houses back home. That's pure sacrifice, and a few years more you will no longer see them here because they have already invested on some business back home, and you, you'll be still working here for the next 10 or even 20 years of your life here in qatar. Cheers...

WT: What has this subject got to do with Islam and an Islamic country? Are you saying inhabitants of non-Islamic countries are not greedy? "This Islamic country" of which you speak of has a population consisting of 90% foreign nationals, you included.

It is a good step but it will be disaster with the huge increase rate for the house rental

The inhabitants of this Islamic country are surprisingly greedy.

Housing is out of the world here. So are the salaries...which vary largely based on your nationality. Its true that some nationalities put up with crappy employers/contracts while others have greater leeway to desire what they want.

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Housing here is a bubble. With like say the entire 10% of the locals constructing and owning buildings to rent out to the remaining 90% of the population for prices that eat into 60% of an average mid-income earner's monthly income.

The system works perfectly because from designing, consulting, contracting to supplying..all these industries can charge greater margins for their same shitty service/product. The real people who gain are the owners and the top management who get their assured bonuses/incentives.

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The average Joe..like the guy BritExpat had so much sympathy for during his Saudi outing..the average Joe just lives life from one day to the next hoping that one day his savings will really add up to make a difference to his family back home.

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I was here when the system went into overdrive. I lived in a 2BHK house in UmmGhuwailina from 1994 to 2004 paying 700QR/month for ALL those 10 years. One fine day the landlords pulls outside the door and says - "From next month you pay 2,500 QR or just vacate".

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Point is in this part of the world logic and reasoning is best found buried deep inside one's @$$.

Some mid-earner has to pay 50% of their earnings as rent. All companies are not providing their employees with accommodation. Most of the tenants make it monopoly and charge high rate of rent by partitioning four or five room in a flat. So the Govt. must curb this immediately and make it affordable the accommodation to the mid-earner in fair rate

Wunae: A single odd case here and there does not reflect the true picture of the general lot here. To give you an example, I had a colleague here who was the only son of his parents and his father was holding a very good job back home. He never had the need to send money home and his only expense here was for his food as both accommodation and transport were provided by the company. In just two years time he had built up a good bank balance. He quit his job and went back saying he had achieved his objective of coming to the ME. He then went ahead got married and settled down. Possibly, the reason for that Asian family is living in a small place is due to their desire to hasten their return after achieving their objectives. Most people who are here especially those from the east, realize there is no stability in a ME job. Its here today. Its not there tomorrow.

@Wunae.. very few peoples r squezin their family 4 money but here the condition is diferent .the 1 reason y people r spent their lives with hardship bcz they knows very well they r here until the requirement of contry when requirment end they will send back their contry without any sympathy or reward. employee spent their life here 20 to 25 years in return they get the name.. EXPATRIATE..

I tend to agree with Brit. I know an Asian family both husband and wife have good jobs. They have turned down the offer of free company accommodation from their Q company employer si that they and their kids can squeeze into a small partioned villa and each month they can save a few thousand riyals. They could live comfortable lives in the free housing but they would prefer to "suffer" for years in partioned housing. Not everyone living in these places are doing so because they have no option. They do it because they are desperate for that bit more cash.

in this case you are right 100% ,and i agree with you. But i know also some people they fight on the same misery life till they bring their families here and they have a great life now .

For example , I'm Egyptian , and i love Egypt till the last breath its the most beautiful country ever , but why i'm here ??? First of all this country giving me my rights as a human begin provide me a safe life, secure and whats is really enough for me that i can sleep without locking the door of the apartment no fear, that's why i love it .

I'm Egyptian and i'm proud of that , but home it can be any where you feel safe and i consider Qatar my second home .

My point was that why 'continue' to put up with hardship and misery AFTER you have got more than you came out here to get.

In Saudi, I had a guy work for me , who was living in misery without his wife or family for twenty years. He once told me that he owned three houses, many plots of land and a couple of Shops ..

You judge for yourself

I'm really wondering what is this argument all about , Government announced something for the illegal partitioned houses and apartments ,which is really good and they have to keep their country clean and safe as well, bur i'm really wondering what we can do ?? i'm living in one of those partitioned houses and i'm single no family of any body to give them a hardship or something like that , i'm paying 3000 Riyals Monthly !!!! one boldy bedroom !!! and please don't judge people i have to do this my salary is not enough to afford legal accommodation. Who earning money or who bought homes back home in their countries i think that's the main purpose for leaving our families in the back and our beloved countries , i think that's why we are all here.

britexbat : its not a little more money who makes people leave their countries , there are a lot of things which much more important than money ( being safe , good life style , people care etc etc ) .

Why you are giving Eastern people as an example, that they stayed here even after they make a lot of money and so and so ??? what about Western people !!! i know some friends for Europe they are here more than 15 years !!! .

At the end western or eastern or whatever i'm telling you clearly we are all here because of money , and if its not money there are many reasons to live your life here, personally i love this country .

I wan

Wonderful i am really happy to know this great action by the GOV.. keep it up...

Then Fall, britexpat! Ha! Ha! (Good one, brit!)

Et Tu Knor?

Brit, you are alone against the world...hehehe! nice one acchabaccha.

I agree with @acchabaccha....!! The state should even have a price control monitory over infra and food sectors.

Britexpat: I have seen many including myself who have managed to buy themselves a house or land back home in their country through their earnings and savings here which they could have never dreamed of while staying and working in their own country. And that is a fact.

Acchabaccha: your logic is too simplistic . I have been an expat a long time . Seen it all.

Let me ask you something . How many Eastern Expats do you know , who have built a house, bought land, got car etc etc and are still living here and being "abused" . Be honest please

britexpat: There is a major difference between the contracts offered to people from the West and that offered to people from the East. Westerners "dictate" their term of contract. Easterners "accept" the terms of contract. The easterners look forward to better days ahead in the hope that by suffering and sacrificing for just a few years, things would become better for the rest of their lives back home. Most father's from the East who are here in the ME, have a burning desire to see their children see a better life than what they have seen. Hence the silent sufferings. If any worker from the East is able to manage a comfortable accommodation within the salary he draws here, he will definitely not go for partitioned accommodation. The problem is: He has no choice! There are just no independent accommodation available that is affordable. He has to live here, send money home, and also make some savings -- all three combining together to force him to share an accommodation.

hehehehehhehehehehehheehhehheh.,.,,.Qatari,huge villas,big apartments the government has/have a lot of resources to build storey buildings and accommodate everyone but what happen, we should report those partitioning rooms and stuff like that.,.!with an earning of 4k and an apartment of 8k,why will i not go for the partitioned house,company accommodation ,you are being squeezed like potatoes to fit one sack.,.,.and you says common,no one who left his country to come have fun in here,i believe everyone came to get shekels and then leave,so the thing is get somewhere to lay your head ,earn your shekels legally then.,.truuus

Saves them all the leg work and allows you to get rid of those you have an issue with:0)

Last time authorities set some groups to be checking for valid QID and counting of expats in a room. why can they do the same inspection than someone to report to them.

There should be a law regarding on giving a reward money on whoever reports that issue to the authorities in order to encourage people to report Flats with Partitions otherwise Khalli Walli, also there should be a law for overpricing Rent on Flats even the building is very old and anytime it is ready to collapse!...

Just imaging cost of housing in Qatar. The money that can build a house in your countries you paid it for rent. Bed space is huge amount being paid to house owners.

@Wunae - "As long as people keep renting partitioned villas, rents will keep going up." are you hearing yourself talk when you said this? really?! you think, if there is affordable villas and flats expats will still go for partitioned ones? THINK hard, my friend. I guess you are drowsy of the summer heat that you forgot to think things thru before you commented on this. All I can say is this, now that the Oil and Gas industry is suffering economics losses, do you think villa and flat owners can still manage to pay the mortgage the bank has set if there are no one renting it? More or less on an economic standpoint, regression will eventually show up. Market prices are driven by supply and demand, meaning if there are more demand, the prices go up ... make sense, right? but with the oversupply skyrocketing rents of villas and flats out there, do you think there is sooooo much demand that they can just raised the prices because they feel the demand is high? wow! where did they find the people who are doing surveys on current market values nowadays? I can safely say that there are huge demand for "Affordable Housing."

@brit - that is good to hear :D ... I know as I also sympathize on people's problems. "With GREAT POWER comes GREAT Responsibility." I still believe in this. I do hope and pray people who has the POWER to change things to better others should act accordingly.

I know of people who live in partitioned accommodation. They didn't choose it because they CANNOT afford to pay more, they choose it because they don't WANT to pay more. As long as people keep renting partitioned villas, rents will keep going up. The only thing that will make the prices come down is if the expats leave and return to their home countries. These expats pretend it's unbearable, but they still prefer it over their own home city.

Living with their family is monopoly of high salaried expats. :) the rest keep working working

Who cares?

@WT...the ministry is giving the job to the public that supposed for them. for a while, they are enjoying their siesta and relaxations all day long. :P

Perdian: I have great sympathy. That's why I get angry that people have to live the way they do. I get angry when daily someone on low salary asks about family visa.

They bring their families knowing they can't afford to and then cause misery to the wife and children.

Finding a affordable 1BHK is big challenge in qatar, Even we are forced to pay hefty rent for a small portion without satisfaction. Finally torture from Real estate and agents such as Deposit Cash and Half month commission etc, its a typical business

It's a situation similar to Germany in the 30's were people were urged to report Jews and Jewish shops. Qatar a NAZI state?

Government Should First Increase the Salary Package and then Start condemning the Partition Accommodation. What One can do with the limited salary.

there should be some benefits for reporting such cases, like one month free rent to who ever has reported it :-)

newly recruited workers/employees(first timer) doesn't know what the real situation here. the only thing in their minds is how to get out and work abroad. lucky are those who have internet on their home and find this qatarliving site and able to gather information from us regarding on cost of living.

@ britexpat.. we should not forget about that expetriates those who do no get enough salary to keep their family wid them but they r fighting hard everyday for that pleasure which we r feeling wid our family to be with them here... be logical

@angelko_beth08 - don't ask sympathy to people who doesn't even understand the word. But just like britexpat said - (this is my interpretation of what he said) if you don't like the contract you have been given, then don't come here. - but again @brit, ofcourse they have no other options available when they have accepted unfavorable contracts, not anyone is like you, who has plenty of options outside Qatar. And again, interpret between the lines, compassion does not exist without basic "humane" understanding.

@ not so britexpat you clearly miss my point. im earning enough and my family are well provided, it is just my sympathy to people who earn less and wants to save more rather than spending most of their money on very high rent.

Question: Why do you pay 60% of your salary on rent. Isn't that selfish of you because you are causing hardship to your family

Tampered electrical wiring and pipes a threat of safety? cmon! do they have basis on that? more deaths are coming from vehicle accidents and fire coming from substandard work buildings. Workers who earn less than 5,000 QR a month salary consists of 60% of the expats living here. Do you think they can afford renting a unit that cost more than their salary? Please be considerate.

Tampered electrical wirings and water pipes in illegally partitioned homes pose a grave threat to the safety of people, said the Ministry??

that is the problem? and the solution is to ELIMINATE it ...come on...

no safety better than paying all my money on rent...but hey it is just me...

Ok if they want to Eliminate...but at least PROVIDE other solutions

Municipality is putting low income public in trouble once again. Low income community is also humanbeing with all feelings and emotions. Firstly municipality to arrange accomodation which can be afford by the people who is earning less income. Because disparity between the earnings rent expense is exorbitantly high. And these rents are very high for no reason, quality of accomodation and built quality etc. Also, they should consider that the low income group is also contributing for the development of qatar

Expats have to learn that they are seen as "contractors" and can only bring about change by refusing silly contracts

The government will never do this because it is the locals who will be affected

UAE introduced this rule 7 years ago and was "A Little" effective as they have ample apartments which could be occupied. Overall the situation in Qatar is high rises are bare minimum and all what is available are the villas. It is time that Qatar considers some high rised buildings across all areas so that the pain is eased.

Without proper availability of accommodation and such unrealistic rent's trend. This approach would lead to repulsion.

@brit - we are talking about the gov't. stepping in so they can regulate and lower the cost for rents on villas and flats, of course we know it is privately owned by locals. Since it is unregulated, they can put any rental price they want. I think the Expat community is not asking much, just a little consideration, but I guess most locals don't care, and don't know basic human compassion (i even think this words does not exist on their vocabulary)

Brit: Government Departments are giving 4k accommodation allowance until you get one from housing dept that too if you were lucky enough...

Now either one have to pay additional 3/4k to get a reasonable 2/3 bedroom flat or have to live in partitioned place if overall salary is enough!

Question: Is it right that an expat should put his / her family through hardship Qfor the sake of a little more money

Approx 80% expatriates are living in partition apartment and villas. If the govt ll make this kind of rule then expartiaties ll come on roadside. I request to Govt. that they Should cooperate with expartriates who are living in such kind of partition houses due to rising cost in qatar day by day.

There are lots of compounds owned by Sheikhs. All villas are partitioned and accommodate 3 or 4 families. The rents are between 14,000 to 20,000 Riyals. None of the families would be able to find something affordable. Where should they go? Home is the only answer. Maybe Qatar wants to reduce the population this way?

Best option for Gov Officials is to search in Qatar Living and catch them....

Best option is to send notice to the land lord to do necessary that compli with the rule

Keroscene: great idea

Shaikha: the houses belong to locals nog the government

Somebody's gonna get hurt real bad.

government are findings ways to mint the money, rather they should provide affordable room to the expats.

room rents are rocket high and within the reach of common man

indeed brit....but we know what the companies are doing. squeezing like sardines all their workers in those accommodation. forcing some who can afford a 1,000 partitioned rm just to live out to have at least a better place to live.

It is not the job of the government but the companies who hire you to provide housing

@knor - yes, I agree with you. where is the affordable housing for low and mid income earners? Nowadays, because of price drop of oil, a lot of people who can afford the HUGE rental cost got lay-off, then now what? where do you find a market for your TOO DAMN expensive flats and villas?!

and it is the duty also of the state to provide a affordable housing for the growing number of expats. who will be in a right mind that will report if they know that their family/friends is the one will be affected.

If they really wanted this illegal partition to end immediately they should give 50% of the total fine collected to the tipster who reported it.

I hope this would be an end for this so called "office commission" people.

Great initiative