| 20 Nov 2008 |
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Apartments Exempt from 'One Villa, One Family' Policy
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DUBAI - Families and singles living in shared apartments need not worry, for the moment, about Dubai MunicipalityDubai Municipality
's 'One Villa, One Family' policy. The assurance by a senior municipality official in a section of the media, that the 'One Villa, One Family' policy would not be extended to shared apartments has provided some relief to hundreds of low-income people who were evicted from shared villas. However, Omar Abdul Rahman, head of the Buildings Inspection Section in Dubai MunicipalityDubai Municipality, stressed that partitioning of flats was illegal. "We are saying that not more than one family may live in a villa. This doesn't apply to apartments, as long as residents go through the proper processes. For example partitioning of rooms is illegal and violates building regulations."
According to Vincent Easton, head of sales at Sherwoods, a real estate company, the announcement may lead to an increase in demand for rental properties, particularly in areas such as Deira or Bur Dubai.
"I think it will push up the price of renting a three-bedroom apartment," he said. "It could even lead many to think of buying properties. Because those looking for shared occupancy will move from villas to apartments, it will push up prices of apartments."
Marjory Stewart, a marketing consultant who works in Jebel Ali, lives with single European friends in a shared, but not overcrowded villa in Jumeirah. She said that the uncertainty over the municipality crackdown on shared villas had led her to look for an apartment.
"Since the announcement of the''One Villa, One Family,' policy' we haven't been feeling at ease. We are constantly worried that any time the municipality officials would come to our villa and disconnect electricity.
"I have some friends and colleagues whose villa water and electricity supplies were disconnected, and the landlord isn't giving their deposit back. They had no choice but to stay in the villa without Dewa utilities, in order to exhaust the deposit.
"I am thinking of moving to an apartment with friends before we are put in the same situation" said Stewart.
By Martin Croucher and Riyasbabu
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