Rent Advice Please
 

I would be grateful if anybody could please give me some advice regarding rent costs in abu dhabi. I have looked up websites and so on but its hard to get a good feel for the local costs.

I am considering relocating to Abu Dhabi with my wife. I have been offered a salary package that includes 110,000DHA pa for rent allowance.

Would this be enough to cover the cost of a good 1 bed apartment in the city centre area? (my wife doesnt drive so we need somewhere central)

I would appreciate any advice

Thanks

Re: Rent Advice Please
 

Hi There,

110,000 Dhs will get you a 1 bed..but, it's the availability of them thats the problem.

Although I think agents are a rip off it's well worth calling a few when you have a limited budget, If money is no object it's easy to find a villa in Khalifa city, etc but 1 beds are like gold dust so you will need help looking.

Try www.2rentuae.com Tel:050 1314492

Good Luck!

Re: Rent Advice Please
 

I personally think it's a bit low for a good one bedroom place in the city centre area. One and two bed places are in demand so you may well struggle to find a one bed in central Abu Dhabi. You would be able to find something in Khalifa City or Mohamed Bin Zayed City for the allowance though but I think your wife would find these areas remote unless she drives. Best to ask your company to provide one and then you won't have the hassle and expense of finding one. Agents usually charge 5% of the annual rent and it is usual to pay 12 months rent up front. Good luck.

Re: Rent Advice Please
 

Paddy, I reckon you need 150-160k for a decent one bed flat.

Do you drive? Make sure it comes with a parking space if you are thinking of getting a car.

Re: Rent Advice Please
 

yes, i drive and my job will be based in Khalifa. My wife is a thai massage therapist and we are hoping she can get employment with a hotel or spa.

thanks for your advice. sounds like it wont be easy to get a one bed for 110k DHS so. A colleague told me our best bet would be to try get a sublet from someone moving out of abu dhabi.

i cant belive they make people pay for a year of rent upfront. is this normal in AD or can it usually be negotiated into a few payments.

Thanks again

Re: Rent Advice Please
 

I am not sure about AD as I am in Dubai, here we can negotiate two cheques, four cheques etc. The demand for property is higher in AD. It is illegal to sublet so don't go down that route, if your new Company aren't prepared to give you enough housing allowance to provide you with a roof over your head then I would say don't bother. Your wife may well get work in one of the hotels but she will be very poorly paid - 1500/2000 dhs a month low :(

Re: Rent Advice Please
 

Some landlords will take 2 cheques - one for 6 months and a postdated one for the other 6 months. Still a lot to find though given the extortionate rents in Abu Dhabi! Serviced apartments will probably take a month at a time so it might be worth looking into the cost of those.

Re: Rent Advice Please
 

Thanks

I really appreciate your advice. I have outlined my package below (I think i got my rent calculations wrong earlier). On the basis that my wife doesnt get work, do you think this would allow us to have a good lifestyle over there.

The package is:
Basic: 72,000 US$ per annun
Housing Allowance: 10,980 AED (UAE Dirhams) per month
Car Allowance: 3,660 AED per month
Mobile allowance: 500 AED per month
One return flight home per year
4 weeks holidays

We like sports and of course going to the pub

Re: Rent Advice Please
 

sublet stay away... illegal do you know the consequences? this is normal in ad, always has been, 12 months up front, think what its like if you are a family and have to give up 300k up front, via a loan, and apparently some banks are charging 20%:frown:

Re: Rent Advice Please
 

yes some landlords may take 2 cheques not at all common, but it doesnt make it any difference, you are still paying for the whole amount even in 2 gos, if you have to leave, you cannot just not pay the second cheque, unless you write something into contract, and then the landlord will not accept it usually in ad, so you are stuck between a hard place and even harder place. serviced apartments can be the way to go, but quite often down here they still require the whole years rent up front.

Re: Rent Advice Please
 

medical insurance?

Re: Rent Advice Please
 

I have several friends who have used serviced apartments and they have never had to pay 12 months up front! Agree about the 2 cheques though - most landlords would still cash the second cheque. My advice is to get your company to sort the accomodation.

Re: Rent Advice Please
 

I think there is a legal requirement for all companies to provide this for their employees now but it's certainly worth checking and also do try and get cover for your wife too if possible.

Re: Rent Advice Please
 

no they can provide an accommodation allowance, which of course doesnt necessairly mean that they provide enough.

Re: Rent Advice Please
 

i know somebody only last week that is in serviced accommodation and they had to pay the whole years rent, now if you are paying from month to month then you will be paying more for it....