Unhappy new year as 100 are evicted in Abu Dhabi

Tenants claim landlord cut off the water and increased the rent by Dh90,000 to force them to pack up and move out.

Cristina Magnello, pictured, says tenants in the Bin Saleh Travel building in Abu Dhabi are being forced to leave after the landlord cut off the water and increased the rent by Dh90,000. Clint McLean Show more

ABU DHABI // More than 100 people living in 11 illegally overcrowded apartments have said they are being forced to leave their homes after the landlord increased the rent by Dh90,000 a year and switched off utilities.

The tenants, all of whom earn low salaries with up to 16 people sharing to a three-bedroom flat, were told of the increase on December 30. The price rise and the fact they are in breach of sharing rules means they have no choice but to move out of the Bin Saleh Travel building on Al Nasr Street.

The situation is a warning to anyone living in breach of strict rules on occupancy. Since 2012, Abu Dhabi Municipality rules state that only a single family or a maximum of three bachelors can live in a residential unit. This covers flats, attached or detached residential villas, and villa apartments. A villa can be shared by up to six bachelors.

Cristina Magnello, who has shared a three-bedroom flat with 11 others since September, said it was the only way she could afford to live in the capital.

“We understand sharing is not allowed but how does that address people like me who cannot afford a flat?” she said.

The 37-year-old, who creates social media content for a company in Dubai, claimed her landlord cut off the building’s water to force people to leave.

“Without any notice I woke up on December 30 to no water,” she said, adding she found a note on her door asking her to contact the landlord regarding the water supply.

“He told me rent was now Dh220,000 and if I paid he would reinstate my water. If not I had to leave now,” said Ms Magnello, who claims to have signed a one-year rental contract in September for Dh130,000 a year.

A source at the landlord’s office said the rent was increased because residents were living illegally, either through too many to one apartment or unrelated men and women living together, and denied utilities had been cut.

Since the removal of a 5 per cent rent cap for Abu Dhabi properties in 2013, landlords have had the right to raise rents as they see fit, according to Mario Volpi, managing director of Ocean View Real Estate.

“It seems he’s trying to get back within the law, but in a very aggressive way,” said Mr Volpi.

Last year Abu Dhabi Municipality launched a campaign to curb residential overcrowding. The Say No to Bachelors Thronging Residential Neighbourhoods campaign urged property owners and residents to report cases of too many people in one home.

There were 600 cases discovered through a combination of inspections and reports from neighbours.

Ahmed Al Mazroui, director of external centres for the municipality, said at the launch that the campaign aimed to “preserve the privacy of residential neighbourhoods” and also tackle “the problem of bachelors and workers thronging these areas, since it triggers social, security and health problems”.

Ms Magnello said she was considering moving in with her boss and his family in Sharjah.

“I guess I am lucky because I have options, but what about the people who don’t? The nail in the coffin was they did it on new year. It dampened the spirit and everybody was so sad and were crying. Where is the compassion?

“On my way out I saw people packing and moving.

“During the new year party my heart was heavy because I knew I was going to face it when I got back, and when I returned I had to join my roommates in packing up.”

Another resident said he and his 11 flatmates had to move out as there was no way they could afford the rent increase.

“Where can I find that kind of money on a Dh3,500 monthly salary?” said the Filipino, who has worked in the service industry for three years.