Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Municipality has warned residents against illegal housing practices and crowding in flats as they could face fines ranging up to Dh200,000.
A total of 3,328 violations were recorded in Abu Dhabi last year due to illegal housing conditions, including overcrowding in houses, the construction of makeshift homes, and other conditions that failed to adhere to t housing safety standards issued by Abu Dhabi Municipality.
The violations were reported as part of a major campaign by Abu Dhabi Municipality to ensure that all residential areas and housing units are safe for occupancy, with a wide range of areas covered under the campaign, including Abu Dhabi City, Musaffah, Al Bateen, Al Wathba, and Al Shahama.
According to the municipality, violations were discovered due to diligent monitoring and inspections that were carried out, and also assistance from members of the general public, who lodged complaints by calling its Public Call Centre, after which the municipality was sent to investigate.
The highest number of violation was reported in Al Wathba with over 1,952 offences issued for overcrowded living accommodations, followed by 140 violations due to disorderly additions in buildings and villas.
The Musaffah Municipal Centre reported a total of 621 violations due to overcrowding, and 140 other violations such as the illegal building of temporary walls, and other structures without the required permit.
Al Shahama Municipal Centre issued 302 violations for overcrowded living accommodations, followed by Al Bateen Municipal Centre which reported 124 violations for overcrowding, and another 46 violations due to disorderly buildings and building of illegal structures in villas without a permit from the municipality.
The campaigns are aimed at regulating the occupancy of residential units which are governed by laws and regulations. Fines ranging from Dh10,000 to Dh100,000 are issued against the violator, be it a landlord, a lessor, a lessee, an occupant or any other housing provider. Repeat violators are slapped with a fine of Dh100,000 and above but not exceeding Dh200,000. In both cases a court ruling can be issued mandating the removal of the violation at the expense of the violator and evacuation of the residential unit.
According to the statement, the phenomenon of bachelors living in residential neighbourhoods in makeshift houses cause scores of problems and challenges, including the exacerbation of overcrowding, construction of more disorderly, partitioned and unlicensed residential units falling short of civilised standards, the proliferation of sanitary waste on a large scale, and distortion of the urbanised appearance.
As part of the campaign, the municipality has also released its residential units occupancy guidelines, which contains a series of regulations that must be followed. The municipality highlights the importance of adhering to all engineering specifications and complying with the health and safety standards in this regard.
The municipality calls upon all community segments, including companies, investors and individuals, to comply with the laws and regulations governing the occupancy of residential units, and cooperate with the competent authorities to ensure sound, hygienic and sustainable living standards, provide a decent living for all community members, terminate all elements disfiguring the urbanised outlook of cities, and maintain societal values.
All structures must be properly licensed and approved by the competent authorities in Abu Dhabi City Municipality as provided for in the residential units’ occupancy law. All contracts must be properly registered according to the municipality’s tenancy contract attestation system (Tawtheeq) which regulates the landlord-tenant contractual relationship and safeguards their rights.
Guidelines
The municipality has issued the residential units occupancy guidelines which provide for:
. A maximum of three people (bachelors) are allowed to live in a room in commercial buildings.
•It is illegal to rent out halls and corridors or make partitions in residential units without seeking the municipality’s consent first.
•Each residential unit (apartment in a commercial building or within a residential villa, attached or detached villa) shall be occupied by one family.
•All government entities, companies, enterprises, institutions, and corporations shall provide housing for their employees, without violating the provisions of Law No 1/2011, governing occupancy of residential units.
•It is not allowed to rent or occupy properties built in commercial, residential or investment land plots, nor buildings to be demolished in whole or in part.
