A clampdown on people renting out their family homes and government apartments to expatriate bachelors in the Southern Governorate has been launched following a public uproar.

The Southern Municipal Council, at its weekly meeting yesterday, demanded that concerned ministries and government authorities take serious action by banning such practices.

Council chairman Bader Al Tamimi revealed that homes were being rented out to companies under the name of its owner without a real count of how many people would be using the accommodation.

He said residents in the governorate had sent a distress call over several expatriates turning accommodations into bootlegging dens, selling alcohol, drugs and sexual enhancers.

The governorate covers Zallaq, Askar, East and West Riffa, Buhair, Zayed Town, Sakhir and Isa Town which has the highest number of homes and apartments and recorded most of the offences.

“Crimes and violations committed by expatriates are the direct result of greedy people renting out their family homes and government apartments to companies to use as labour accommodations,” said Mr Al Tamimi.

“I asked several homeowners to lease their family homes or apartments, which they have moved out from, to expatriate families if they were just looking for money and putting their property to use.

“But they said it was much more profitable to rent out to companies as they paid more, and did not demand much by way of structural stability of the home or apartment, or adhering to safety and security regulations.

“Expatriate labourers are human beings and deserve better living conditions – but when they are inhumanely treated they are bound to get involved in undesirable activities.”

Mr Al Tamimi said an immediate clampdown was necessary with huge groups of expat bachelors moving into conservative neighbourhoods.

“There is a public uproar which is justifiable because what is happening around them is alarming and requires immediate intervention.”

The GDN reported in January that a residential apartment was raided in Muharraq which was being used by a group of expatriates to manufacture liquor.

A number of Asians were arrested and cash, utensils and material used to make illicit alcohol seized.

The GDN reported in 2017 that a municipal probe had been launched to address the issue of expatriate bachelors living in residential areas in Muharraq.

It followed complaints about alleged illegal and immoral acts – such as brewing alcohol, bootlegging and providing prostitution services – being committed by low-income foreign workers living in crowded rundown houses.

The GDN reported on Monday that stricter monitoring of rental properties in Bahrain has been approved in principle by the Shura Council.

The amended legislation, already passed by parliament, is designed to prevent illegal use of property and address unsafe living conditions.

While the Shura Council gave the move an initial green light, it has agreed to postpone a final vote for two weeks for further review.

The amendments, originally proposed by the Capital Trustees Board and backed by the government, specifically aim to combat overcrowding in properties housing multiple expatriates.

It follows a number of tragedies in apartment buildings inhabited by families and expatriate bachelors, mainly in the Capital Governorate.

mohammed@gdn.com.bh

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