Dubai cracks down on families sharing villas

Dubai: The Dubai Municipality crackdown on families sharing villas is to spread across Dubai.

It has confirmed that villas housing more families than legally allowed will have water and electricity cut by DEWA at the end of the notice period.

According to Omar Mohammad Abdul Rahman, Head of Building Inspection Section, Buildings Department, notices have been given to families living in such villas to vacate.

The campaign is currently operating in the Rashidiya area. "Service amenities like water, electricity and sewage are provided according to the affection plan of the buildings.

"When the residential unit is used by more families against the plan it becomes difficult to manage resulting in the accumulation of waste, affecting public safety and environment," said Abdul Rahman.

"The Municipality had notified the building owners and real estate companies not to rent out these premises to bachelors and to allow only one family to stay in a single residential unit. We had also informed them that all services would be disconnected and the future transactions with them would be stopped," he said.

The municipality is not accepting responsibility for the refund of advance rent. Families can take up the case with the Rent Dispute Committee, he said.