Central Municipal Council reiterates ban on practice of villa partitioning
The partitioning and sub-letting of villas has been a hot topic of debate in recent years. While the practice has been ongoing for several years, authorities had not come down on it with full force.
However, recently, the Central Municipal Council (CMC) had decided to move forward in banning the practise citing safety issues.
Yesterday, the CMC recommended tightening control over illegally-partitioned villas and apartments and sought stricter action against violators.
At its regular biweekly session, CMC once again sounded its concerns over the spread of such illegal practices, especially in view of their adverse security and social consequences as well as the resultant overload on public utilities, reported Gulf Times.
“During the past years, partitioning of villas and other residential units for subletting has become rampant. This is a clear violation of the law and has been happening without permission from competent authorities” said CMC Chairman Mohammed bin Hammoud Al Shafi.
Several CMC members sought more efforts from the Public Prosecution (PP) in issuing permission for inspection of suspected villas.
Officials at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment had said that inspectors, who have powers to seize, can only enter buildings with permission from the property owner or PP, reported Qatar Tribune.
Meanwhile, the ministry has been asked to find permanent solution for this phenomenon by studying the possibility of increasing height of buildings in some areas to accommodate more people, reported The Peninsula.
Fines for flouting rules
As per provisions of the amended law Number 8 of 2014, the municipality's written permission is a must for maintenance work, repair, renovation, partitioning, and expansion, demolition, digging or levelling of excavated areas in a housing unit.
Contractors and engineers, including consultancies, found flouting the rule will attract a fine between QR10,000 and QR100,000.
The amended law stipulates a fine of QR250 to QR500 per square metre of illegally partitioned area in a piece of property. The alterations need to be removed after paying the fine.
If a wall, permanent or makeshift, has been erected to create an illegal partition, the penalty per square metre will be between QR200 and QR400.
Contractors and others must carry out construction of a house or building after making sure that plans and designs are approved by the municipality.
Many of those brokers are not affiliated with any company or organization.
From the most, you can't expect any receipt for that so called... "50% Office Commission"
These guys are one of the reason why the rents are hiked up.
The can easily apprehend the illegal dealers from the contacts given in Qatarliving ...if they want to....
Good Initiative from Govt. illegal property dealer are stealing money like fee\Commission half month. and dirty places they make partitions and make crowed, like cattle field.
Its all smoke and mirrors - They know what goes on but don't enfoce the laws effectively
Yet the brokers flood the news papers, websites for 12 families in one "PARTITIONED VILLA" - wonder how the Qatar government officials does not notice these fat belly looters.
then they should at least create more AFFORDABLE housing that can cater to low salary expats - example Employer gives you a 1,500 QAR housing allowance - can you say to your employer how can you find a flat or villa for 1,500 QAR???? of course you have no choice but to find partitioned villas or sharing accommodations as you cannot afford to rent one yourself.
And still Qatar Living is the main advertising space for this illegal act.