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Satyendra Pathak
Doha
There are options galore for expatriates while choosing new rental homes in Qatar, Al Asmakh Valuations and Research Director Gaurav Borikar has said.
While the very thought of changing the current house is exciting for obvious reasons, Borikar said, choosing a new rental home can be time-consuming and challenging.
“Many expectations must be addressed when searching for a rental house including preferences on the location, condition or amenities of the property, budget or expenses involved in renting the property, and safety,” he said.
The choices for a right rental property for expatriates are many, but narrowing down the options will likely involve some exercise on their part.
Neighbourhood is the primary factor for most people as they follow their friends and family members while selecting the neighbourhood, he said.
However, the most important factor is to find out a place where the income of neighbourhood is equal. “In several locations, the rental rates could be same but the gentry is different,” he said.
Highlighting that neighbourhood in Qatar could be classified into three categories, he said, “For budget-conscious household, Doha downtown excluding Msheireb Properties, Al Hilal, Old Airport, New Slata, Fereej Al Ali, Gharaffa, Muaither, Muraikh, Umm Slal Mohammad and Umm Slal Ali are the ideal locations. One BR and 2 BR units are available for monthly rents of QR3,000 and QR4,500 respectively in these areas.” For mid-income, areas like Mansaoura, Muntazah, Fereej Bin Mahmoud, Al Sadd, Bu Hamour, Ain Khaled, Madinat Khalifa, Luqta, Al Mammoura, Aziziya, Al Nasr, Nuaija, Al Wakrah, Barwa City ideally suited as 2BR and 3BR units are available for rents in the range of QR5,000 to QR8,000, he said.
For mass affluent, he said, West Bay, The Pearl, Al Dafna, Al Waab, Msheireb Downtown, Legtafiya, and West Bay Lagoon are suitable where 3BR to 5BR are available on rents staring from QR10,000 to QR20,000 per month.
There are several other factors like the condition of property, amenities budget, location and safety that need to be considered while renting a new house, he said.
“It’s important to check the condition of the property prior to signing a lease agreement. This way one can request that any preexisting damages be properly recorded so that one will not be held responsible for the damage later on. Some of the most important items to check in the rental property include flooring, air conditioning and heating, appliances and light fixtures,” he said.
“If young children will live in the home, be sure to check for the presence of lead-based paint, which could pose serious health risks to children,” he said.
“Consider the amenities that are important to you such as the vicinity to local entertainment and restaurants, outdoor space or a pool. When choosing a rental property, it’s important to make a list of your desired amenities and keep a record of the properties that you view which include the amenities you seek. This can prevent confusion and help you decide later,” he said.
“Utilities are usually not included in rent, therefore it’s important to calculate the added cost of utilities when determining whether a property of interest suits your budget. Sticking within the guidelines of how much rent and added expenses you can afford will help you to remain within your budget and refrain from potentially defaulting for nonpayment,” he said.
“Determine the location in which you wish to live. The rental property must be close to your place of employment and school. The neighbourhood must be known for safety and security. One must consider how the location of the property will affect one’s commute to work or school. If transportation is desired, consider choosing a rental that is conveniently located close to a public transportation station,” Borikar said.
“Assess the safety of your potential rental property. Ideally, every rental property should have at least one window that opens for use as an escape from a potential fire. Working smoke detectors are required in every rental unit. Additional safety features to consider include outside lighting, dedicated car parking, and on-site security, which many apartment buildings and flats already have,” he said.
Doha
There are options galore for expatriates while choosing new rental homes in Qatar, Al Asmakh Valuations and Research Director Gaurav Borikar has said.
While the very thought of changing the current house is exciting for obvious reasons, Borikar said, choosing a new rental home can be time-consuming and challenging.
“Many expectations must be addressed when searching for a rental house including preferences on the location, condition or amenities of the property, budget or expenses involved in renting the property, and safety,” he said.
The choices for a right rental property for expatriates are many, but narrowing down the options will likely involve some exercise on their part.
Neighbourhood is the primary factor for most people as they follow their friends and family members while selecting the neighbourhood, he said.
However, the most important factor is to find out a place where the income of neighbourhood is equal. “In several locations, the rental rates could be same but the gentry is different,” he said.
Highlighting that neighbourhood in Qatar could be classified into three categories, he said, “For budget-conscious household, Doha downtown excluding Msheireb Properties, Al Hilal, Old Airport, New Slata, Fereej Al Ali, Gharaffa, Muaither, Muraikh, Umm Slal Mohammad and Umm Slal Ali are the ideal locations. One BR and 2 BR units are available for monthly rents of QR3,000 and QR4,500 respectively in these areas.” For mid-income, areas like Mansaoura, Muntazah, Fereej Bin Mahmoud, Al Sadd, Bu Hamour, Ain Khaled, Madinat Khalifa, Luqta, Al Mammoura, Aziziya, Al Nasr, Nuaija, Al Wakrah, Barwa City ideally suited as 2BR and 3BR units are available for rents in the range of QR5,000 to QR8,000, he said.
For mass affluent, he said, West Bay, The Pearl, Al Dafna, Al Waab, Msheireb Downtown, Legtafiya, and West Bay Lagoon are suitable where 3BR to 5BR are available on rents staring from QR10,000 to QR20,000 per month.
There are several other factors like the condition of property, amenities budget, location and safety that need to be considered while renting a new house, he said.
“It’s important to check the condition of the property prior to signing a lease agreement. This way one can request that any preexisting damages be properly recorded so that one will not be held responsible for the damage later on. Some of the most important items to check in the rental property include flooring, air conditioning and heating, appliances and light fixtures,” he said.
“If young children will live in the home, be sure to check for the presence of lead-based paint, which could pose serious health risks to children,” he said.
“Consider the amenities that are important to you such as the vicinity to local entertainment and restaurants, outdoor space or a pool. When choosing a rental property, it’s important to make a list of your desired amenities and keep a record of the properties that you view which include the amenities you seek. This can prevent confusion and help you decide later,” he said.
“Utilities are usually not included in rent, therefore it’s important to calculate the added cost of utilities when determining whether a property of interest suits your budget. Sticking within the guidelines of how much rent and added expenses you can afford will help you to remain within your budget and refrain from potentially defaulting for nonpayment,” he said.
“Determine the location in which you wish to live. The rental property must be close to your place of employment and school. The neighbourhood must be known for safety and security. One must consider how the location of the property will affect one’s commute to work or school. If transportation is desired, consider choosing a rental that is conveniently located close to a public transportation station,” Borikar said.
“Assess the safety of your potential rental property. Ideally, every rental property should have at least one window that opens for use as an escape from a potential fire. Working smoke detectors are required in every rental unit. Additional safety features to consider include outside lighting, dedicated car parking, and on-site security, which many apartment buildings and flats already have,” he said.
