Readers reacted strongly to a Gulf News report urging bachelors not to fall into the trap of renting bed space, as it is illegal. We received over 600 comments on the report, indicating that this is a serious issue. With a whole slew of bills to pay, and not much money left over for rent, bachelors are finding it difficult to afford rooms for themselves. As they face the threat of eviction if caught, Gulf News readers asked — what other options do they have?
No other option
Blue collar employees have salaries ranging from Dh2,000 to Dh4,000 and it is impossible to afford a separate room in Dubai or Abu Dhabi (‘Bachelors in Dubai warned not to rent bed space,’ Gulf News, May 23). If they are not allowed to stay in shared accommodation, what is the option they are left with? If salaries are multiplied by three for low salaried people, then there might be a possibility of people opting for such accommodations. Moreover, regarding rents, the UAE could develop horizontally and not just vertically, in order to control accommodation needs. They should construct many new residential units that are affordable for such workers. People at the moment are forced to live like this.
From Mr Aqeel Ahmad
Dubai
Reconsider
Low-income earners can’t afford to live in a single room. We can save huge amounts of money, instead of paying a high rent, if we share bed space. If the authorities can lower the rent to around Dh500 to Dh1,000 for a single room, then it might be helpful to those who earn enough to cover it. Otherwise, it would just become a problem for low-income earners working in a company without accommodation provided. I urge the authorities to please reconsider this.
From Mr Nino Dizon
Dubai
Finding solutions
Everyone is aware that rents have been rising like never before. I understand Dubai wants to maintain world-class standards, but there should also be flexibility with regards to affordable living. How can one expect a person who is earning Dh1,000 to Dh5,000 to afford an individual room? There is a solution for this issue. Instead of stopping the culture of sharing bed space, the authorities could advise whoever is running bed spaces to maintain a nation=wide standard. I request the authorities to kindly do something to curb high rents, which are increasing by the day.
From Mr Syed Ejaz Hussain
Dubai
Website comment
Affordable living
The authorities need to initiate reducing rent for all apartments, so that bachelors and families can manage the affordable price. Everyone is just trying to save money. Also, if one checks out company accommodations, around six to eight people are usually living in a single room in the Muhaisnah and Al Quoz area. There are brokers and security guards for all flats and they often take commission for renting flats. I think this practice should also be eliminated.
From Mr Reghuvaran R. Nair
Ha’il, Saudi Arabia
Website comment
Company responsibility
Good move if it is the company’s responsibility to provide accommodation to its workers. If not, the rule can have adverse effects. How can individuals pay a rent of Dh3,000 per month when they earn only about Dh2,000?
From Mr Abdul Aziz
Dubai
Website comment
Positive action
Contrary to what the report states, I believe a two-bedroom apartment for Dh3,500 per month does not exist. That is the rent for a studio apartment usually. I think we are ignoring the fact that labourers or other employees with low incomes cannot afford to rent one-bedroom or studio flats by themselves. We would be glad to hear or read about low-cost housing for such workers.
From Mr Mao
Dubai
Website comment
Not sustainable
This is a good decision, but it’s not possible for me, on my salary, to spend Dh2,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.
From Mr Jithesh
Dubai
Website comment
Need checks
People will agree with this only if employers undergo stringent checks regarding the pay scales of their employees. This matter has been left unchecked for years in some companies. Now this ‘bad practice’ has become an epidemic, in which companies exploit the skills and merits of their employees. Most engineers don’t get anything, compared to the market value of engineers. We realise these things only when we experience them. Peace at home is the best peace one can get. I hope the UAE authorities will help people in these difficult times.
From Mr M. Ali
Karachi, Pakistan
Website comment
All going up
There should be a corresponding increase in the salary. Everything is going up and getting expensive. Rent alone eats almost half of the income. The authorities should take this matter up seriously and urgently.
From Ms Shiela Jane Yueching Capatan
UAE
Facebook comment
No quality option
Now, the landlords warn us to vacate the flat at the end of the contract and nobody wants to rent to us if they hear that we are ‘bachelors’. It is so upsetting. My options are to either rent a place near my workplace and pay the entire amount, or earn and live in another emirate to save enough to eat. There is no quality of life then.
From Mr Mohammad Abdul Raheem
Dubai
Bad reputation
I am a low-paid bachelor but I understand the self-destructive and illegal activities that take place in some bachelor accommodations and it is because of a few that the majority of the decent bachelors get a bad reputation. The rents have also increased. Real estate developers should not generalise that all bachelors engage in such activities and the authorities must put a stop to such debauchery.
From Mr Alwin Jose
Dubai
Unequal
How much is the salary of most bachelors? It is around Dh1,800. How much is the rent of a room? Much more!
From Mr Peng Jue
Hong Kong, China
Company responsibility
Many workers already do not get a good salary. People are getting salaries starting from Dh1,200, so the question is — how will they survive? The authorities should make a strict rule for companies to provide accommodations, so that there will be no problem.
From Mr Shahnawaz Shaikh
Dubai
Website comment
Exempt high salaries
The step is good but it seems to consider only one side of the coin. The owners of houses should not sublet. Besides this, employers should provide suitable housing for all employees who are below the Dh10,000 salary mark, while people at managerial levels should be exempted, with the option to get an accommodation from their company or to rent by themselves. That way, people’s lifestyle would improve and everyone would find themselves having a better quality of life.
From Mr Mohammad Jamal Khan
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Website comment
Fine rule breakers
Some Western countries pay rent for underpaid employees so that they can have their personal space. If we are trying to get rid of bed spaces, then employers should provide rent allowances to underpaid workers. This way, they would be able to have a good standard of living. I think only once this is in place, the authorities should fine those who are not following the rule.
From Mr Syed Aun
Dubai
Website comment
It is possible
It is sad that many bachelors live like this, but as I have been to the UAE, I know that they are not forced to live like this. They choose this lifestyle so that they can send most of their salaries back to their home countries. The company that hires you cannot tell you how to spend your money. The authorities cannot force them to spend their salaries on improving their living conditions instead of transferring their money back home. Sympathy is good but don’t go around criticising the culture or the authorities because it’s not their fault.
From Mr Mahmoud Hamwi
UAE
Facebook comment
No alternatives
Nobody wants to live in a shared room where there are half a dozen or more people, but people do it for a reason — because they cannot afford high rents. Of course, everyone wants a good accommodation. If authorities want bachelors to stop renting bed space, then they must find an alternative for low-salaried workers.
From Mr Azhar Mahmoud
Dubai
Facebook comment
Doing the math
The cheapest one bedroom apartment in the new Dubai areas costs Dh33,000, whereas in International City it is about Dh3,000. This means a tenant should pay Dh3,000 just for rent, with Dh150 to Dh400 for telephone and internet, Dh500 for petrol, Dh100 for Salik and more. All this, while workers salaries are Dh800 to Dh1,200 a month.
From Ms Sally Syed
Dubai
Facebook comment
Dreams to fulfil
Rent in Dubai is really high. We can’t pay Dh3,000 for a room because our salaries are not enough to cover this amount. How will we save enough to send money to our families? We came here to provide for our families. We also have some dreams to fulfil. However, all we seem to be doing is paying the rent.
From Ms Shetal Nayak
Dubai
Facebook comment
Editors’ note: Is there a news report that you feel strongly about? Something that has to be addressed in the community and requires resolution? Email us on readers@ gulfnews.com. You can also post a comment on our Facebook page or tweet us @GNReaders.
