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DOs and Don't of finding an accomodation

capricorian313's picture

Whenever you call for an accomodation please must ask from the agent or dealer or owner the following question.

  • Location: Don't ask for the land mark as it will be helpful only for reaching to that area. Must ask is that deep inside from the main road?
  • Age: Ask How old is the construction? agent, dealers must know it.
  • Exactly contructed or adjusted: I have noticed that at time the accommodations are partitioned by wooden board etc to make it 2 or 3 room.
  • What includes furnished or semi furnished and how old  furnished items are.
  • Never go for old construction as there may be chance that in near future they will demolish this in order to erect new ones.
  • Ask for commision first.
  • Ask for the payment mode (this should be ask at the later stage mainly when u decided to visit the place)
  • Ask for utilities inlcuded or not. Although it is not that expensive here but must keep your records straight.
  • Must ask what is the type of accomodation becasue there is a great difference between flat, villa, so called villa, cottage type, quarter type. Incase if it is villa or not a flat i.e. cottage or quarter type must ask.
  • Always bargain, atleast as much as possible.

Note: If onyone has any other hint that can save the new comers time and money please add.


blacklady's picture

blacklady said capricorn ...

hi! 

i thought u are searching for a house???

but it seems u are so aware of the "Do's and Dont's" of finding a house.

anyway, i will give you my house owner number later

 


 

AbuAmerican's picture

AbuAmerican said Some good info to ask on the ...

Some good info to ask on the phone there... thanks

 

nadt's picture

nadt said This is good information ...

This is good information provided the person you are speaking to can speak english.. I find talking to people on the phone here difficult here, especially if the person cant understand english, or you cant speak their language, and for the ones who can speak english, you find that everything you asked they said yes or no to, and when you go to see the houses, its the complete opposite of what they stated...This happened to us a lot whilst house hunting..

this is good information though...


 

SPEED's picture

SPEED said Thanks for the info. indeed very informative ...

Also one should not forget to ask for the trems and conditions of the contract and maintenance of the house !!

My example, I got a house in Rowda in Feb 2008 thru a Real Estate, after moving in we face some problem with water leaking/ poor quality bath showers/ some wires not fixed (sine the villa is new) we thought it is common but when we complain to the Real Estate they simply put the blame on the owner (Qatari) who build these villas, that it is his responsibility and he will do the needful ... since Feb 2008 till date no one has come to fix the proble despite several reminders to Real Estate ... but they think they are smart, I have stopped my April rent cheque thru my bank .. let them come now Laughing

 


 

nadt's picture

nadt said lol speed, are you sure your ...

lol speed, are you sure your not living in our building, your story seems very much like ours..lol..

 

blacklady's picture

blacklady said capricorn ...

i just PM you the contact number ...

good luck


 

SPEED's picture

SPEED said nadt .. do you live in Rowda ? ...

 


 

nadt's picture

nadt said no speed i dont but it seems ...

no speed i dont but it seems it doesnt matter where you live maitenance issues are the same...

 

SPEED's picture

SPEED said yep ... u bet ! ...

but now it's a hight time Dhoha has to change ... otherwise people like us will leave soon !!


 

Snowstorm's picture

Snowstorm said shouldnt you ask for a proper contract ...

 

YOU DONT KNOW ME, DONT EVEN TRY !!!

NewNew

 

princess habibah's picture

princess habibah said    mmm we have heard ...

 

 mmm we have heard about the same problem in dubai.. with the fast pace of new builds..

 

alot of leakages and problems that need to be sorted. And unfortunate the pace is slow in the middle east and justice not as swift.

 

 

Maryum : Umm Hasan bint Abdullah Alshabrawishi


 

nadt's picture

nadt said Speed, id be interested to ...

Speed, id be interested to see how you go after stopping your April cheques, ive been told that if you do that, you will get evicted, is that the case? Do you think they will do something about it. Do you mind updating me ?

 

You know with our basin and kitchen sink leaks, we dont mind paying for it to be done, even tried getting some one to fix it, the problem is they say its done, and when you use it, its the same old same old.....theres a shortage of qualified plumbers here....


 

Alexa's picture

Alexa said   Nadt, lol!!!! A ...

 
Nadt, lol!!!!

A shortage of "qualified" plumbers?????

ROFLMAO

I am not allowed to change the lightbulbs myself in my house(strange, I know,,) so I have to call maintenance to get it done...they always tell me 'Yes madam, we will send engineer...... then 2 little guys appear to change one lightbulb....

When my A/C leaks (very frequently), they also send the "engineer"...which turns out to be a tiny guy with a rusty screwdriver......

A "qualified"plumber............you crack me up!!!!!!! 

 

 

It helps to USE the brain, as it is given to you not only for balance.

Alexa


 

nadt's picture

nadt said lol Alexa, i know what was ...

lol Alexa, i know what was i thinking........thats what i got as well, a little guy with a plastic bag in one hand and a screw driver in the other...and worse it began to leak more after his visit...

I cant believe you are not allowed to change the light bulb... at the rate our ones go out, we would have that little guy living with us if we need to get him to do it....


 

capricorian313's picture

capricorian313 said Thanks I will call him ...

Thanks I will call him tomorrow and share the details thank for the good wishes,

 

God help those who help themselves

 

Live and let live...


 

SPEED's picture

SPEED said nadt ...

I have sent them a written letter stating the problems in the house and their veral / sms promises. Also i mentioned to them if they do not do the necessary maintenance work, then I will do the maintenance and charge back to Real Estate and I will be forced to deducted the amount from monthly rent.

 

From myside I have saved myself, I am sure they will not like to get into trouble, i am also well aware of the local laws here. 

Sure, I will update with the status ....   

 


 

nadt's picture

nadt said Inshallah speed it goes well ...

Inshallah speed it goes well for you....looking forward to the update..Smile

 

capricorian313's picture

capricorian313 said good   Live and let ...

good

 

Live and let live...


 

JaZzyY's picture

JaZzyY said shortage of qualified... ! ...

I think theres a lot of shortage here... not only plumbers but.. other stuff too specially related to housin...
me looking for some decent flat - room & its been like 1month cant find.. anything proper.. these ppl out there are hungry for money n don wana give their... sh... for it...

hope 1 day ill find something better...

"ALONE IN DA DESERT"

 

Murali's picture

Murali said Hi Speed ...

Can you help me in finding a house a Single bedrooom will do. Thanks in advance.

 

humblehim's picture

humblehim said Hi Mariah, since I am new in ...

Hi Mariah,

since I am new in Qatar and still looking for house, I would be pleased if you could also give me your house owner number. Send a pm. Thanks!

WOMEN GIVE AND FORGIVE, MEN GET AND FORGET!




 

engr2002's picture

engr2002 said Actually, if anybody knows a ...

Actually, if anybody knows a good owner (landlord) in Doha please send me a message as I am looking and getting so shocked at the very very low quality construction! Never seen anything like it! So-called nice and expensive compounds are equal to slums in good old USA! What is worth $4000 here can be had for 500 from a slumlord in Los Angeles!!!!
I say welcome to Doha to myself :-)

 

poppylicious's picture

poppylicious said Welcome to Doha! Give me a ...

Welcome to Doha! Give me a shout if u need assistance in finding accomodation.

 

Shadeoflife's picture

Shadeoflife said The hunt has begun ...

Hello All,

The hunt had begun for a appartment/flat for me. Planning to bring my family in by next month so have to find a place and set it up before i do.

Please if anyone can help me with contact details of reliable people who can assist me in my Quest, i would be really grateful.


 

ajith-everester's picture

ajith-everester said Hello All, The hunt had ...

Hello All,

The hunt had begun for a appartment/flat for me. Planning to bring my family in by next month so have to find a place and set it up before i do.

Please if anyone can help me with contact details of reliable people who can assist me in my Quest, i would be really grateful.


 

wolsie's picture

wolsie said Hi Ajith, email ...

Hi Ajith,

email pilar.walas/-a-t-/qatarprojectsgroup.com
She can send you over info and pictures of available properties.
Good luck

 

Shadeoflife's picture

Shadeoflife said Thanks Wolsie ...

HYou know, QL has been doing the oddest things lately, the posting, presumable by "Ajit" is actually mine, I ahve no idea why it says "Ajit" up there.

Plus i am denied acess to my inbox.

But thanks for the info.

Mage and Fire

 

ajith-everester's picture

ajith-everester said thks ...

Hi Wolsie...thanks for the information...

 

Cristiano's picture

Cristiano said Hi, ...

Hi,

The hunt had begun for a appartment/flat for me. Planning to bring my family in by next month so have to find a place and set it up before i do.

Thanks,
Cristiano

 

poornag's picture

poornag said finding a aprtment ...

Hello,

I'm new to this site. but seeing your experience with houses thought i might be able to get some help from
you'll..

Could you kindly guide me with details if possible if i'm able to get a apartment or house for around QR 3500.

I'm married and have two small babies i'm moving in to qatar but i have no clue how it works over there..

thank you,

Poorna

 

AbuAmerican's picture

AbuAmerican said 3500 is going to be very ...

3500 is going to be very difficult. You might get a room in a shared villa for that.

Double it and you might be able to find a 2 bedroom, maybe.

 

Alexa's picture

Alexa said 3500 QR? No way. Nothing ...

3500 QR? No way. Nothing that would actually be livable with 2 kids.

A sense of humour is just common sense dancing, sadly, common sense has left the building and is dancing somewhere else.
Alexa

 

capricorian313's picture

capricorian313 said Everything is possible under ...

Everything is possible under the sun, but this would really be a tougher than trough… I don’t have much experience on houses arrived here 4 months back. The idea behind this post is to share my learning and experiences and that’s all.

You can find good deal but that all comes after massive actions and faith which is difficult for new comer.

Wish you all the best.

Live and let live...

 

saranghe's picture

saranghe said hi ...

i want to know more about how to apply online in quatar,any way iam here now in Dubai my work is a baby sitter ,but i want to apply there in quatar,iam a philipine 38 years old.

 

samnidhi's picture

samnidhi said short term accomodation for expatriates ...

Here's an option for the busy executive who needs time to find the right place to rent but has a big enough budget to stay somewhere nice and homey in a large villa and do the flat/villa hunting without the hassle of a long term commitment.
Nice people too!

Executive short term homestay in luxury villa. DOHA, QATAR
For the busy executive. We offer a fully furnished double guest room with bathroom in a luxury villa. Breakfast included and free broadband Wifi. Satellite TV (Premier League!). Operated by Western expatriate family only seeking expat business people looking for suitable alternatives to expensive hotels.
It's a large villa so there's plenty of space. Double bed, working Desk area and unlimited use of Wifi.
We can also provide meals, laundry and landline phone at small extra charge.

This is ONLY for visiting EXPATRIATE BUSINESS EXECUTIVES. Rates are:
QR 450 PER DAY QR 2,500 PER WEEK QR 7,500 PER MONTH July 1st - October 1st
QR 500 PER DAY QR 3,000 PER WEEK QR 9,000 PER MONTH October 2nd-June 30th

Pick up at airport and drop off can also be arranged for small extra charge.

contact nidhiwiesner/-a-t-/gmail.com

 

caby's picture

caby said hi ...

good info

 

fRanCisM's picture

fRanCisM said thanks for the info ...

thanks for the info

Everything you need to know about living in Doha, Qatar

 

stealth's picture

stealth said A building 20 years old has ...

A building 20 years old has got much space and well laid out plans than an of the so called new buildings. Quality is also much better compared to these keyholes that are on offer.

 

Elizabeth 1's picture

Elizabeth 1 said NEED HELP FINDING SOMEWHERE TO LIVE ...

If you need help finding somewhere to live you can call me on 5354538

 

Doha Dreamer's picture

Doha Dreamer said house hunting can be difficult and... ...

A lot of landlords are up on company allowances - and therefore MAY know what your accom. allowance will be. It might be a good idea to avoid telling prospective landlords who you are/will be working for, in order to get the best possible deal!

 

mariel's picture

mariel said really need ur help, I'm trying two months to find a "nice place ...

pls help me, I really need to find nice place, comfortable, 4 bedrooms +maid room, back yard, parking car covered, but at reasonable price

 

Moomy's picture

Moomy said Renting House ...

Dear all

Kindly advise me if it will be easy for me to rent a full firnished Apartment for QR 4000 for a me alone...

 

hotandsticky's picture

hotandsticky said You should add DONT ever ...

You should add DONT ever deal with the agents in Qatar as they are all a bunch of thieving sharks. Deal with landlord direct is the best.
True about the age of the property. Dont get stuck in an old property because GAURANTEED the landlord/agent will threaten demolition on the tenant if you dont pay what they want. This occurance personally happened to me.
I believe there should be cause for concern if the structure is more than 15 years old. And advice: shop, shop, and shop around. you are bound to come across a property where you are not asked to bend over from behind and pay over half your salary for squatter accomodation. The property market still is a part of life here for foreigners that is repulsive at best. Many people just get nauseated having to think about dealing
with the opportunistic greed that still prevails in and around Doha. Good luck

 

balds_qatar's picture

balds_qatar said i am leaving my villa ...

i am leaving my rented villa this month. i painted the interior so you won't feel you are in in doha. anybody interested should see it before the owner will jock up the price. the location is near shoprite

 

rezymalik's picture

rezymalik said owner to increase the rent ...

owner to increase the rent is must... if the new agreement will be made...

 

pepe33's picture

pepe33 said i don't understand why the ...

i don't understand why the agents of for rent villas are asking for commisions from the people who wants to rent while the owner of the villa should be the one to give them their commision.

why would i give an agent a commision, they should be thankfull that i got to rent their place.

like buying a car or selling a land, if you sell my land then i give a 5 to 10% commision depends on what agreed upon.

what they are asking here is not commision but a finders fee that infact you didn't ask them to look for a villa for you but instead you found it yourself.

I guess these happens only here

 

rezymalik's picture

rezymalik said the easy and fast way is to ...

the easy and fast way is to directly deal with the landlord... find him by anyway... coz the agent's fee is same as that of monthly rent... then advance payable cheques...as per the agreement written...

 

rainlilypink's picture

rainlilypink said Need ur assistance ...

I need a 1 BHK apartment on rent in doha anywhere near muntaza area with minimum rent. can u help. Or can u give me some trusted real agents no in doha.

Very hopeful dt u'll help me

Thanks,,,

 

Ebony-Ivory's picture

Ebony-Ivory said accomodation issues ...

accomodation issue is really getting crazy out there pls can anyone give me an info on a furnished single room with its own convinience.

 

Ebony-Ivory's picture

Ebony-Ivory said Hi Murali ...

there's an add for a room incase Hi-speed hasnt responded to ur request. the contact is 5851908

 

muhandisz's picture

muhandisz said WE HAVE TO LEAVE OUR RENTED ...

WE HAVE TO LEAVE OUR RENTED FLAT THIS MONTH DUE TO SOME PROBLEMS OF THE CONSTRUCTION WHICH NEEDS TO BE URGENTLY FIXED ( THE FLOOR IS SINKING )

THE LANDLADY REFUSES TO PAY FOR US ACCOMMODATION WHILE THE FLAT IS BEING DONE ...

WE MUST PAY FOR HER WHILE WE CAN NOT USE IT AND WE HAVE TO FIND AN ACCOMMODATION AND PAY FOR IT .. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE SHE WANTS IT TO BE ARRANGED BY THE TIME SHE COMES HOME FROM VACATION ...

IS THIS LAWFUL HERE ?

 

vanharauma's picture

vanharauma said I gave up trying to find a decent place! ...

I had the fair share of seeing interesting ridiculous places for rent--a guardhouse for QR1400, a shead on top of a villa for QR2300, a QR4500 place behind a chicken farm, more like a laundry room. I think its time the qatari government take notice of the living conditions!!!!

 

Susie's picture

Susie said You want to see the area of ...

You want to see the area of Al Sadd we are living in, it is getting worse by the day with labourers moving into any space available, even an old goat and sheep farm they have took over and building shacks there,building on top of buildings shack like housing.

And we have the pleasure of paying 12,500 for this view.

 

vikiviko's picture

vikiviko said I need an accommodation in ...

I need an accommodation in the range of QR1OOO to 1200 in the neighborhood of Al saad, Hilal, Najma area

 

ScubaD's picture

ScubaD said 30 years later it seems nothing has changed ...

After reviewing this post I can say things have not changed as far as relations and business ethics between the landlord and the tennents are concerned:

In the late sventies I used to live in Sharjah (UAE) and work in Dubai.

My landloard thought he was doing me a favour to rent me his shack. He kept a copy of the main door keys and would walk into my house unannounced to collect his rent.

Repairs - he would demand that I repair his leaking roof, constantly flooding toilets, coroded shower heads you name it.

We tried going to the "baladiya" the local govt body to complain about privacy issue - the landloard literally walking into our house. And they thought we were crazy.

Later we moved into an apt building in which we had an arab family living above us. During Idd time they actually slaughtered a sheep in their balcony and to my horror they washed off the bl..d into my balcony below. It took a few weeks before I could wash away the last of that mess and once again the landlord thought I was crazy to complain about the slaughtering of an animal during the Idd festival.

I guess cultures are hard to change.....


 

muhandisz's picture

muhandisz said Finally we found a hotel ...

Finally we found a hotel suite instead of renting a flat for short term .( we saw terrible things - as flat ) Everything was fine - but the sales manager who wanted to increase the price after living there two days and after I already payed ... He did not get what he wanted ...

That is about ethic ...

Animals : the hotel was in the heart of Doha - but every night at 3:20 some aggressive rooster was shouting from an old villa - so much that it kept as awake .
It is not allowed to keep animals - but so many families do have some geese or other poultry in old areas .It seems that nobody cares ...

My friend told me about a Sudani neighbour who kills a sheep at the top of a five story building at every special occasion .. then they do not care that they make dirty all the staircases by blood ....
Like a horror story ..
However I do not think that it is so typically Arab ... but it happens ...

 

renz_cd's picture

renz_cd said flat for rent ...

hi..

im just reading the thread.. and happen to be handling the leasing in my office.. i have flats in musheireb & umm ghuwailina.. not so new.. but maintained well.. you can check them out if you are interested.

i have villas too.. in old airport area, and umm salal ali.

my contact number is 5799688.

thanks.

 

USA Doc's picture

USA Doc said I do agree that construction ...

I do agree that construction quality is low not only in Qatar but also all over the GCC. I think it is not fair to blame Qataris for this because they did not build it themselves. They have paid dearly for western construction companies (and USA tops the list) who are hungry for the mighty dollars who chose to construct buildings using cheap and inexperienced laborers and engulf huge profits for themselves much like the way builders in the US use up Mexicans for the same reasons. I think that Qatari government needs to adopt new regulations in regards to building codes, warranties and so on. For example, there is 1-2 year warranty when you a new house in the USA. Anything that goes wrong within the warranty period is covered at 100%. I think bad construction in the Gcc is a result of greed on the part of management of construction companies. The locals are victims in a way so don't blame them for paying lots of money to companies that did not do the job properly.

 

Anita Rose's picture

Anita Rose said When finding houses always ...

When finding houses always check the size of the doors. We have rented a flat and have just found out that the door sizes are too small to accomodate a washing machine and fridge.

Apart from trying to dispose these items, we had to take measuring tape and go to the showrooms to check the right sizes to suit the doors!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

LadyChaRM's picture

LadyChaRM said Tnxzzz.. ...

a lot for the Information....

 

Johnson566's picture

Johnson566 said Can anybody tell me an ...

Can anybody tell me an average rent for a 1BHK villa near bin Omran...?

 

Ninoshka's picture

Ninoshka said How true!!! ...

How true!!!

 

vipermann's picture

vipermann said Looking for 2 bedroom ...

I have my family here and I'm looking for a teo bedrooms flat or villa.Because I'm planning to shift as soon as I find a good price and a good place

Vipemann

 

salahib's picture

salahib said Coming soon to Doha - How to ask for rent empty apartment? ...

Hello friends,
I'm offered to get re-allocated in Doha, near to KFC Rest. & University of Petrol Station, I've been told it's Dafna area,
how can i find good bed room with facilities in new building? and how much would it cost?
appreciate your help on that.
thanks in advance

 

graaam's picture

graaam said Some good info to ask on the ...

Some good info to ask on the phone there... thanks
[دردشه][العاب][دردشة]

 

alcoach's picture

alcoach said DECENT 2BR APPARTMENT OR PART OF VILLA ...

Hello to all, I would appreciate if someone can help me find a DECENT 2 bedroom appartment in a reasonable price. Please send pm. Thanks

 

Riyas Mohideen's picture

Riyas Mohideen said Accomadation ...

Do u have any room inform me. ill give my mail idd rifaji.7qs/-a-t-/gmail.com

 

mahar's picture

mahar said Apartment for family Self/spouse and 2kids under 10Yrs ...

I will be in Doha in Decemeber looking for a apartment within the range of QAR 4000/- (as I will get as house rent from my company).

Please if any body can helpout.

 

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