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-   -   Doha - Reputable real estate agents (rentals) (https://britishexpats.com/forum/middle-east-60/doha-reputable-real-estate-agents-rentals-925435/)

MartinH Jun 1st 2019 5:01 pm

Doha - Reputable real estate agents (rentals)
 
I have a job offer in Doha commencing 1 August and am looking for a 1-2 bed apartment ideally in the West Bay area.

I was thinking of a serviced hotel apartment for the first couple of months to give me chance to look around.

I will also look at other agents but want to make sure I use a reputable company.

Any tips that people can offer?

Dictator1 Jun 3rd 2019 2:24 am

Re: Doha - Reputable real estate agents (rentals)
 
Regency residence is a good one. They are developers/estate agents. Not sure if they have any blocks in west bay. I guess your employer will give you some weeks hotel stay, it’s probably best to look up once you arrive as you won’t be able to rent without your Qatari ID. Rents are dirt cheap in Qatar, high chances of getting a decent deal.

martinbkk Jun 3rd 2019 2:14 pm

Re: Doha - Reputable real estate agents (rentals)
 
Was driving around just this last Friday and went up to drive around Lusail, crikey, as big as The Pearl and WestBay combined and a lot more than that. Lots of towers and lots of space for many more. All built and externally finished. And no people. Looks like a set from some computer driving game. Weird feeling. And who's going to live there I wonder. Q rail is maturing as a project, the new airport terminal and expansion will hardly fill a dozen tower blocks, stadiums are nearing completion in many cases, the Turks are still building roads but that's hardly a major growth business I would say. The whole of Lusail has not one building that looks as if it would support anyone on less than QR30k a month. Rents are in the toilet. I currently have a monthly rate in a 5* hotel with 35% F&B discount on everything, free laundry, all hotel amenities and it's less than I was paying for a 1 bed in WestBay 2 years ago, where I needed to hire in help for everything, ahem! I would expect you can get a 1 bed for QR6-8k a month. Much less in the Sadd, maybe QR4-6k.

DXBtoDOH Jun 3rd 2019 2:56 pm

Re: Doha - Reputable real estate agents (rentals)
 
No need to use agents. You probably don't realise but in Qatar it's the tenant, not the landlord, who pays the agent's commission. It's a waste of money.

Look at propertyfinder.qa and search for West Bay or Pearl or anywhere you want. Note the names of the buildings. Many of the units will be offered by agents but ignore those. Go to the building directly and speak to the security/doorman and he will direct you to the leasing manager for the building and rent directly from them.

Of all West Bay buildings I liked Asas tower best. Good size apartments, furnished, big pool, good maintenance. And the apartments have balconies, which is unusual in Qatar outside the Pearl.

The serviced apartments are also good value. Intercon, Marriott, plenty more. Just walk around and make a list and ring them or go inside and talk to reception and get the leasing agent's information.

zbender Sep 15th 2019 3:23 am

Re: Doha - Reputable real estate agents (rentals)
 

Originally Posted by martinbkk (Post 12692804)
I currently have a monthly rate in a 5* hotel …

Hi there. Any chance, please, you could share some details - even if via Private Message?

Standanista Sep 15th 2019 5:08 pm

Re: Doha - Reputable real estate agents (rentals)
 
The 5* serviced apartment options in West Bay take some beating for ease, flexibility and quality, including for longer term. I do the same as Martin above - 5* serviced place, full amenities, food & beverage discounts etc. Many of the major hotels - Wyndham, InterContinental, W, Marriott, Centara, Rotana etc - have them, plus there are specialist places like Fraser Suites, Hyatt Residences and Kempinsky Residences, to name some of the main West Bay top end ones. A king studio in my place on a corporate long-stay rate is QAR 10.5k/month. You can get cheaper, depending on where you want to be, how much pampering you want and whether the company is paying etc.

Standanista Sep 15th 2019 5:35 pm

Re: Doha - Reputable real estate agents (rentals)
 
PS For a bit less but still good quality, check out The Curve opposite the Hilton. Avoid the Mathema (ex Adagio), which has gone downhill since a change of management.

martinbkk Sep 16th 2019 4:14 am

Re: Doha - Reputable real estate agents (rentals)
 

Originally Posted by DXBtoDOH (Post 12692821)
No need to use agents. You probably don't realise but in Qatar it's the tenant, not the landlord, who pays the agent's commission. It's a waste of money.

Not so much any more. Since the arse fell out of the 12 month rental market a lot are offering "no commission". Simply put they are hurting with serious pain and a lot offering 6 and 3 month terms just to get the cash flow moving. Every other building almost has "For Rent" signs outside of them. Entire D ring, or pretty much anywhere outside West Bay for that matter, office areas are ghost towns.



fth Sep 22nd 2019 7:11 pm

Re: Doha - Reputable real estate agents (rentals)
 
For serviced apartments do a ring round the Hotels for the first instance especially if it’s only for a month or two.

For or longer term, the best way to find out is word of mouth via office, friends etc. Unless you are looking for a top end villa or apartment (say 14k +/month) I don’t think the rental agent will help much. Note: on propertyfinder.qa there are some agents gumming up the site with fake ads to drum up business.

The big issue in Qatar can maintenance quality, so speak to people who live in the building / compound before signing up. It could be worth waiting until the storms come to see which buildings hold up.



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