Rascal

Help.
Been offered 2 jobs, one in Dubai and one in Doha, Qatar.
Originally we wanted Dubai, but have since been swayed to Doha (better position in a company) but can we find accommodation? Na.
Hubby is due to fly out next month, I will follow with 2 of our boys and hop back n forth between NZ and Doha (hopefully) so he is looking for a 2 bed furnished apartment.
Done every Google search I can think of, sent off enquiries, but silence!
Help, anyone know any good sites?
Thanks

novita77

expatwoman.com

qatarliving.com

or ***********.com

goodluck ...

Mellie66

try

www.gulf-times.com classified section for housing/accommodation

look for either apollo agency or better homes agency, heard good things about both.

Good Luck

Malteser

Yup...........ure going to needs a lot of good luck Im afraid. Accomodation is a bit of a sensitive issue in Doha at the mo......

I think the Gulf Times classifieds r def the best.......

Good Luck!!

Rascal

Thanks folks.
I hear its a sore point at the moment with the Asian Games coming up, have e-mailed the company to see what they can do, no accommodation = no job!
Will check out the Gulf Times and see what I can find, probably draw blanks.
Has anyone heard of a company called Homes2Rent? (think its run by a British woman) have sent 2 enquiries off now and so far, no response.
Thanks anyway.

Malteser

Yes have heard of Homes2Rent and theres loads others. I think if u make a search on real estate in Doha a lot of companies will come up. Its the prices thats the prob. Ridiculous prices indeed. Your husband should deal with his employer about this. A lot of companies offer their employees accomodation. Thats def the best way to go about it.

mampq

Don't bother with Homes2 Rent. They are rude and and hopeless. They used to have the monopoly on the rental market in Doha. Even when you go to the office they can''t be bothered to help you.

Malteser

I agree Mampg. DH had a very bad experience wt them. V rude esp the Manager or owner or whoever she is....

Tootsie Frickensprinkles

That'll be Maggie!

The only thing I wil say in favour of homes2rent and similar set ups is that you could arrange yourself a short term (but v expensive) rental for the meantime if you wished to get out and then look for something locally.

I woud not recommend entering into leases until you were more familiar with where you wanted to be anyway. As long as you are happy with paying the expected 6-8k QR pcm for a furnished appartment for the family then it might be helpful to take a room on for 5k or so for a month without having to sign a lease whilst your husband finds something appropriate for the family.

Homes2rent and several other companies will rent out rooms in villas on a monthly basis which whilst very expensive is often the answer to your specific problem of immediate relocation without paying hotel rates if your employer wont provide accommodation whilst he sets up.

Malteser

Yes thats def an idea. Looking in the daily Gulf times will give u rough idea of the prices. Getting higher every month Also u will tend to find that stand alone villas r cheaper than compounds.

GOOD LUCK wt yr search. I know sooo many ppl in yr exact situation and if its not the accomodation its the schooling. Geeeeex

Malt xxx

novita77

do u know when u call the agent first question will be asking who your hubby working for?

MAERSK, Halliburton, Oxy, Finna, Bachtel, etc etc ... from there they will know how much your budget will be. If you company unknown, they not even bother to entertain u.

Mellie66

Different housing allowances for different levels of employees for those companies tho. Someone in one level of management has a different housing allowance to someone in another. Or even an employee in different departments or even from different home countries. Best off saying that your housing is in a ballpark region (your choice what you say), just say you would prefer not to mention your husband's company.

Try Gail or Debbie at Better Homes, it used to be Fikhri (sp?), both Brit ladies, very pleasant and will try to do their best for you.

Homes2Rent never even got back to us after 3 attempts at email or calling. Finally DH's company rang them and they were very standoffish to the point of rude.

I think the lady at Apollo is called Margaret, tho not sure.

Rascal

Thanks, was coming to that conclusion about them as well, Have sent 3 enquiries off to them now and not once have they acknowledged our e-mails. Sent another one off today and within 2 hours had a reply back saying they had two apartments near the Old Airport 1 bed and 2 bed furnished, 6500QR and 7500QR, although not sure what else that may include if anything.
The company have arranged temporary accommodation when my hubby gets there, but we are hoping to push for accommodation rather than allowance.
I am just going for the sun! lol It is freezing here in NZ at moment, low of 1 degree!

Rascal

Yeh it says on the website Maggie a Brit, so we though Oh right, she'll be good to deal with. Wrong! Must have enough money then to not need to run her business anymore or maybe she is just choosy lol Oh well, three e-mail and enquiries is enough in my book, no reply, move on.
The company is a Canadian firm who have just set up in Qatar 6 months ago, but already in Oman, Bahrain and Dubai, so probably unknown to most rental companies yet.

Rascal

How are you all finding life in Qatar btw?
Cheap? Boring? Too hot?
Still, it must be better than living in NZ lol