City evicts families from affluent villas

Eviction notices have been issued to families illegally sharing villas in the most affluent areas of the Dubai.

Families have been illegally sharing villas similar to these in Dubai.

DUBAI // Eviction notices have been issued to families illegally sharing villas in the most affluent areas of the city, according to the municipality. The head of the buildings inspection section said yesterday that notices had been sent out to several villas in Jumeirah-1, Umm Suquiem, Abu Hail and Jaffliya, ordering landlords to evict families that were sharing accommodation. "All the villas that are violating the rule of one family per villa will be given notices," said Omar Mohammed Abdul Rahman. "We have already started giving notices to villas in Jumeirah and Umm Suquiem."

If the families did not move out, he said, their water and electricity would be cut off. When the municipality began to evict families sharing villas in Al Rashidiya in May, the reasons it gave included environmental problems, lack of cleanliness and hygiene, safety and a cramped environment. Mr Rahman said the campaign had issued more than 1,800 notices and that the water and electricity supply to more than 250 villas had been cut off.

"The drive has been successful so far and will continue," he said. Most evicted families have been forced to move to emirates such as Sharjah and Ajman in search of cheaper accommodation. "Now, I travel for two hours to get to my office that was just 15 minutes away from my villa in Dubai," said Anil Bhatia, who moved to Ajman after he was told to leave his villa in Al Rashidiya. Mr Rahman said there would be no change to the approach as the campaign turned its attentions to areas such as Jumeirah 1 and Umm Suquiem, home to more affluent families.

"The campaign is against violators and the procedures will continue as per the rules," he said. Meanwhile, it is understood that a eviction notices were delivered yesterday to a few blocks in Al Karama area, largely occupied by bachelors. @Email:[e-mail]