Abu Dhabi warns overoccupancy could cost residents AED50,000 in fine

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has again warned residents and landlords against overoccupancy of homes, saying fines of up to AED50,000 (US$13,614) will be imposed on offenders.

In a social media post as part of its ‘Your Home, Your Responsibility’ campaign, the DMT highlighted the various hazards of overcrowding a living space. The campaign aims to prevent the adverse effects of overcrowding in buildings by emphasising compliance with the Regulation of Occupancy of Properties and Residential Units in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

At the time of launching the campaign in March this year, Dr Saif Sultan Al Nasri, Acting Undersecretary at DMT, had said: “Through this awareness campaign, we aim to emphasise the importance that landlords and tenants adhere to the law regulating properties and residential units’ occupancy. This is to alleviate the adverse effects of property overoccupancy, while safeguarding the health and safety of the emirate’s residents.

“As one of DMT’s top priorities, we continuously strive to provide resolutions and measures that enhance the happiness and well-being of the community, this coincides with the introduction of our long-term affordable housing initiative to bolster the versatility of Abu Dhabi’s real estate market.

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“However, our goals can only be achieved through collaboration among all stakeholders, including entities and individuals, to fulfil the campaign’s objectives.”

The new DMT social media post said: Keep yourself and your family safe by avoiding overcrowding, maintaining hygiene and ventilation, and complying with regulations.”

Among some of the adverse effects of overcrowding, the DMT said apart from it being a fire hazard, it also affected health by causing poor ventilation and spreading diseases.

DMT’s awareness campaign is part of its ongoing mandate to enhance residents’ quality of life, as well as improve cohesion. The authority has increased on-site inspections, which will enforce strict measures against violators and suspicious residences.

It also underscores the necessity for property owners and investors to adhere to property occupancy laws and cooperate in implementing leasing standards. Companies are also urged to provide housing for the lower-income demographic within approved accommodations.

Furthermore, the overoccupancy campaign aims to enhance tenant awareness, stressing their responsibility to prevent violations of property occupancy regulations. This includes refraining from renting units with undisclosed contracts and making sure that rental properties are registered in the Tawtheeq system and that all cars are registered in their respective Mawaqif zone.

DMT said residential overcrowding will be fined AED50,000, while residential units’ inability to meet health and hygiene standards will incur a fine of AED25,000.

In March, the municipality had said fines ranging from AED5,000 to AED500,000 (US$136,147) will be issued and repeated offenses will be fined up to AED1 million (US$272,000).

DMT said it reserves the right to implement any additional measures as necessary, including the suspension of both Tawtheeq contracts and accounts, for landlords and investors.