Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi City Municipality has recently launched an awareness campaign to strictly implement laws on residential units, stop bachelors from residing in residential districts in Abu Dhabi and enforce HSE (health, safety and environment) standards for all.
The campaign under Law No of 2011 governing occupancy of residential neighbourhoods in Abu Dhabi emirate aims to stop crowded accommodations by evicting company workers and bachelors from residential districts and enforcing public health and hygiene standards. The municipality urged all community members to adopt proper health practices and follow the rules on occupancy of residential units.
An inspection team distributed the guidelines and laws governing occupancy of residential units on Abu Dhabi Island to landlords and security guards. The law stipulates that bachelors — up to six people — can be accommodated in detached residential villas. The occupants must be employees of local and federal government, private institutions, and judiciary or diplomats. Villas and residential units can be rented out for hotel and tourism purposes, if licensed by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority.
About the action taken against violators, the municipality said it first identifies the site and collects the landlord’s data and tenancy contract of the residential unit. The inspectors enter the site with legal permission, issue tickets of violations to offenders and refers them to the public prosecution in Abu Dhabi. Overcrowding puts pressure on parking spaces, sewerage, and water and electricity networks. It also breaches the privacy of community members and violates the rules of security, safety, environment, public health, tranquillity and general appearance.
The campaign also targeted absconding workers occupying residential units in coordination with the Ministry of Labour and Abu Dhabi Police. The offenders will be issued notices and referred to the public prosecution.
The municipality shall start legal action against landlords, tenants or investors — whoever is responsible for the violation of rules.
Violators will be slapped with fines ranging from Dh10,000 to Dh100,000 and repeated offenders will attract fines between Dh100,000 and Dh200,000. In the above cases, the court may order rectifying the violations at the expense of the offender before evicting the residential units.
The municipality called upon all citizens, property owners, businesses and residents to abide by the laws to maintain the overall appearance of the emirate and ensure safety of residents in neighbourhoods.
