With reporting from Riham Sheble
Earlier this week, Qatar’s Emir amended the country’s building law, increasing potential fines for expanding a home or changing its parameters through drilling or underground works without a permit.
The announcement comes at the same time as municipal inspectors appear to be stepping up enforcement of unauthorized villa alterations and amid a long-running campaign to relocate low-income laborers from residential areas.
In this video, residents who live in partitioned housing speak to Doha News about their concerns regarding the new focus on their accommodations, and their fears about the future.
Thoughts?
Then the add above the story says.. “Three Homes, Three Countries, Three Memories, One Bank.”…..Or perhaps….One Partitioned Room, Locked in One Country, Bad Memories, One Small Western Union Transfer…..
Stricter Standards regarding the conversion of villas is to be welcomed, as clearly many people are living in sub standard conditions, which put their lives at risk. However, legislation which simply bans ‘partitioning’ is in my opinion is not considering the bigger picture. Sub-division of larger domestic buildings into smaller units happens around the world, certainly in the UK, and means that ordinary workers and families can live in pleasant areas closer to their place of work- it is the norm. What we have in Qatar is currently exploitation by owners of villas, or employers who rent large properties to accommodate their workforce cheaply. It isn’t rocket science. There are a great number of very large villas, not in the best of conditions which should be ripe for redevelopment as multiple occupation. Rather than simply saying no, what is needed is a simple code for appropriate conversion, with an amnesty for current properties to be redeveloped. Perhaps grants should be made available for the conversions, which after all house those who are actually create the Qatar many now enjoy.
There is a bigger picture? Where?….. Secondly we cant have ‘bachelors’ living amongst the people can we?
.. yeah as expected. People live in the places and accomodations that they can afford and if you see them living in sub standard conditions its mainly because of the sub standard salaries and packages they get.
As long as the government introduces minimum wages for anyone employed in Qatar, it would be fine to ban this and increase the standard of living and safety. Since the government has expressly refused to define a minimum wage, they are clearly more than happy for the vast majority of residents to live way below the poverty line, and this will simply exacerbate the problem.
Good job Qatar – another winning decision that will bring more “racism” from the rest of the world!
I wonder what Dohanews headline would be and how Doha every so colorful expat community would say if one of those villas with five families living in them burns down overnight due to the families illegal rewrirings of power cables.. And everyone dies in their sleep…
“Qatar authorities turned a blind eye over safety hazards… ”
Damned if you do damned if you don’t… Really biggest bunch of hypocrites on this forum..
Real journalism would have at least shed some light on how unsafe this practice really is.. Rather than run two back to back story of the plight of people who still not able to afford to love in Doha choose to stay rather than go back home..
Happy to also say I’ve enjoyed the back and forth pooh flinging and trolling… This site was fun filling my hours of unemployment… With a new job I can say bye Dohanews hope you can all go and get beeped 🙂
You’ll be missed!
CHOOSE TO STAY???!!! Really? Apparently you’ve never heard of Kafala my friend. I have many friends who would love to choose to go home, they just don’t have exit permits or even their passports. Abolish Kafala and see how many people “choose to stay.” You really are blind to what the actual situation here in Qatar is, aren’t you?
Very true. But what is the cause and what is the solution to the overcrowding of villas?
To be fair, Qatar’s only elected body (the CMC) has also expressed concerns about the people living in this type of housing, saying they should have somewhere to go before losing their accommodation.
I think qatar should.set a certein minimu wage instead of paying peolple peanuts.on that ground wil be able to afford houses.for sure they are blessed but very stingy.thats a fact
k
While Doha has undergone huge developments in Infrastructures, they also need to seriously consider a low-cost housing units for low to medium income groups and expats. Lets be real, Qatar needs expats to drive its economy. Why just invest in them. This the only solution.