| 02 Feb 2009 |
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Dubai Allows Villa Sharing
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DUBAI - More than one family will be allowed to share a villa as long as the property is not overcrowded, the head of the Dubai MunicipalityDubai Municipality
said on Sunday. The statement, from Director-General Hussain Nasser Lootah, comes as an important revision of the original terms of the 'One Villa, One Family' campaign.
The policy saw thousands of people living in low-income areas of Dubai having water and electricity supplies cut. The cuts were made to villas where inspectors found several families living together in crowded conditions.
"In some places we see 20 people living in a five- or eight-bedroom villa. These houses simply weren't designed for so many people to live," he said.
"It causes problems with the Internet, Dewa (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority)Dewa (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) and sewage facilities in the area. I have been having complaints from various departments over this issue."
However, Lootah told Khaleej Times that more than one family could occupy a villa if it was not overcrowded.
"The main issue is overcrowding. As long as they are within the building regulations, we don't mind for more than one family to share a villa."
He did not elaborate on what constituted overcrowding.
Thousands of people have been made homeless due to the 'One Villa, One Family' campaign and many have complained of a lack of affordable accommodation.
He confirmed that the municipality had supplied land to private and government developers to create low-income accommodation in the Al Quoz and Al Qusais areas of Dubai.
"Construction is almost complete and the accommodation will be for low-income workers," he said.
Up to 4,200 villas in areas ranging from Al Rashidiya to Al Wasl were identified as early as in October 2008 as violating building regulations.
Omar Abdul Rahman, head of the municipality's Building Inspection Section, who is in charge of the campaign, previously said that his team was cutting utilities to as many as 200 villas a week.
On Sunday, he confirmed that there were fewer cases of utilities being turned off, but was unable to give exact figures.
One resident, who had utilities cut to her property, told Khaleej Times on condition of anonymity that she had moved to a similarly overcrowded villa in the same area. "I am looking for a flat, but rents are very high," she said. "I have moved now to a different villa, although we are still worried that the Dewa will be cut again."
No Overcrowding
- in some places 20 people live in a five- or eight-bedroom villa
- it causes problems with the Internet, Dewa and sewage facilities in the area
- land given to developers to create low-income accommodation
By Martin Croucher
© Khaleej Times 2009
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Community Comments (1)
Poorly written article. A responsible reporter would do research on what the current law is regarding overcrowding and never end it the way it ended here.
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