Dubai steps up inspections in residential areas; takes action against singles, families violating rules

The Dubai Municipality has stepped up field inspections in residential areas to enforce rules regarding the "presence of singles or multiple families" in accommodations. 'Singles' here may refer to bachelors.

The campaign monitors "breaches of guidelines" to ensure residents' comfort and safety.

This year, the municipality completed 19,837 field visits that happened every day to "take appropriate actions" against the violators.

"As a result of this move, many of the residents have started to follow the rules and regulations in the emirate," the municipality said in a statement.

The civic body has urged residents to follow the relevant laws in this regard. It encouraged residents to report violations on the toll-free number 800900.

In Dubai, villas and residential buildings have a prescribed load — the maximum number of residents that can be safely accommodated. During inspections, municipal inspectors check whether there is overcrowding and if norms are being followed.

In the UAE, sharing a rented apartment without obtaining the landlord's approval is illegal. Tenants who sublet the rented apartment may be evicted along with the sub-tenants. In July, an Abu Dhabi tenant who illegally partitioned a villa and sublet it to four families was ordered by a court to pay Dh300,000 to the landlord as compensation.

Authorities in the emirates have previously slapped hefty fines on those who sublet villas or flats. Civic bodies have repeatedly warned that overcrowding, partitioning of residential units and illegal power supply are fire hazards. Those violating the rules in this regard have faced disconnection of their utility services.

Some areas in the country are considered 'family only', and landlords are not allowed to rent apartments or villas to bachelors. After inspections over the past years, thousands of bachelors were evicted from such areas in Sharjah. The emirate's municipality also issued fines for violating subletting regulations.

On Friday (September 23), the Dubai Land Department notified all owners, developers, property management companies and tenants to register details of co-occupants in owned and leased properties.

• Dubai residents have two weeks to register all cohabitants in apartments