MUSCAT: The municipality said regulated housing and compliance with property classifications are essential to maintaining safe, comfortable and organised residential areas across Muscat Governorate.
Under Local Order No. 23/92, which regulates building use in Muscat Governorate, Article 31 (d) prohibits the construction of buildings or complexes to accommodate workers or single men in residential and mixed-use residential-commercial areas. It also prohibits combining family accommodation with housing for single men in the same building.
The municipality highlighted several consequences of unregulated occupancy, including pressure on roads and parking spaces, risks to health and safety, increased demand on public services and facilities, and disruption to residents’ comfort.
It stressed that property classification must be the basis for determining how a building can be used, urging landlords and property owners to verify permitted uses before renting out their premises.
Employers and establishments, meanwhile, are responsible for providing suitable accommodation for workers in designated locations and ensuring compliance with applicable health and safety requirements.
The municipality also emphasised that responsibility for compliance begins before workers occupy a property, calling on employers and landlords to ensure that housing arrangements meet municipal regulations from the outset.