No room for bachelors

They might be banned from renting buildings occupied by families
Suad Hamada
Staff Reporter

Non-Bahraini bachelors, including GCC citizens, might be banned from renting flats in buildings occupied by families.
The Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, Ali Saleh Al Saleh, has referred a municipal proposal on the matter to the legal directorate at the Cabinet.
The Manama Municipal Council chairman, Murtadha Bader, told the Tribune yesterday that the directorate would study the proposal and might give a go-ahead to enforce the decision in all the five governorates.
Bader said the proposal aimed to ensure that families are not disturbed by bachelors living near them. “The minister had felt that the could control the freedom of landowners to rent out their properties to whosoever they wish. But he respected the council’s decision and referred the proposal to the Cabinet.”
Bader said if the proposal is drafted as a law by the directorate and the Cabinet reviews it, then it would be referred to the parliament for approval.
He said that before tabling the proposal, the council had conducted a three-year study on the negative affects of having bachelors as neighbours.
According to the proposal, separate buildings or areas will be allocated for bachelors. Municipal Affairs will have the right to evacuate flats or houses which violate rules.
The proposal will also help control the number of bachelors in each flat or house as there should be 12 square metre of space for each resident.
There will be at least one bathroom and toilet for every five bachelors.