Strict measures against renting houses to ‘bachelors’ in private residential areas

Strict measures are taken against renting houses to ‘bachelors’ in private residential areas (government housing) include power disconnections as an initial step, to be followed by mandatory evictions, local daily Kuwait Times reported quoting Minister of Public Works and State Minister for Municipal Affairs Hossam Al-Roumi.

Responding to an inquiry filed by MP Ali Al-Deqbasi, Roumi explained that a complaint has to be filed at the area’s mayor office or the concerned municipality office before it is transferred to the concerned emergency team for further measures starting with warning notices, followed by Interior Ministry investigations, then filing citations against landlords, contacting the Ministry of Electricity and Water to disconnect power, and finally resorting to compulsory eviction.

Local authorities have recently been increasing efforts to fight the illegal practice committed by owners of government homes who offer places for rent to single expatriate men. Those efforts came in response to grievances made by area residents who complain about the increased social and security risks that they say are brought by the presence of ‘bachelors’ in their areas.