The Renters Handbook to Finding their First Apartment in Dubai

The Renters Handbook to Finding their First Apartment in Dubai

Stats, places, and areas

Renting in Dubai can be a daunting challenge for anyone who has never gone to find an apartment for themselves, or even for people who have been renting for years.

There are a lot of available properties in Dubai and when you are new to the market it could seem to be a daunting task to find an apartment without being exploited for your ignorance of the Dubai market. JustRentals.com is always looking to find the areas offering the best value for money and apartments that will suit your needs.

Currently the areas with the greatest value rental rates are between International City and Silicon Oasis which means that you could easily pick up a well sized, modern apartment.

Discovery Gardens - the central location is a key attraction. This area offers many different apartments across a wide range of specifications and mostly includes free air conditioning, large floor space, and maintenance with easy access to public transport and Ibn Battuta Mall.

The area that is searched for most is the Dubai Marina, which is almost certainly the choice for most expats due to the excellent views, modern buildings and the plethora of shopping, recreational and dining options.

Finding an apartment

Things you should consider before you start looking for an apartment to rent in Dubai: 

1) Consider your budget. Select a budget that suits your pocket. It is advisable to keep in mind that you should only spend about 40% of your income on rent for an apartment and for your car so that you have enough money for utility bills and maintenance or any unexpected expenses that might arise. As part of your budget consideration you will need to decide on the duration you are looking to rent. Rental contracts are usually monthly, short-term, or long-term. You should also decide on the number of cheques you would need to pay the rent with. This might be something you need to negotiate with the landlord and would usually cost you extra per cheque.

2) You need to have an idea of your basic needs before looking for an apartment. Decide on the amount of bedrooms you will need and the amount of bathrooms you require.

3) Once you have decided on your budget and basic needs you can start narrowing down all the locations in which you can get apartments within your budget range. JustRentals.com has an easy way to narrow down all the available apartments according to your specific needs.

4) Keep in mind that different locations charge different rates and that you will have to weigh up cost of the apartment against the size of the apartment. Furthermore, you will have to consider the proximity to malls, restaurants, and whether there is easy access to public transport.

5) Once you have decided on a location you can find all the different listings in that area. Here you can find all of the available listings in a location as well as helpful photos and information about the apartments and the location. You can easily fill out an enquiry form and a real estate agent will get in touch with you about that listing.

Finalizing the rental

Once you have passed the research phase you can start going out and viewing all the different apartments. Here is a short guide on what to look for while you are viewing the apartment, and while you are closing the deal.

1) When you are at the apartment it would be wise to look and see whether everything is working properly. Take time to look at all the faucets to test the water pressure. Flush the toilets to see if they flush thoroughly and completely. Switch on and off all the lights and test the air conditioning. Lastly, look at all the pipes to see whether any of them are leaking.

2) Another thing to consider while at the apartment would be the walls and windows. If you are sensitive to sound it would be useful for you to listen to the noise coming through the walls from adjoining apartments. Double-glazing on the windows help keep out the noise from outside, as well as insulating the apartment from the heat outside.

3) Speak to the estate agent about all the costs you will have to incur to close the deal on an apartment. These costs will usually include the rent, a 5% security deposit, DEWA connection fee, Ejari Fee, and the agency fee. You should also ask what is included in the rent of the apartment. This could include air-conditioning, appliances, Wi-Fi, maintenance, and furniture. Finally, you should ask about the average utility bill for an apartment in that building so that you don’t get a shock at the end of your first month in the apartment.

4) Before signing the contract you should raise concerns about any problems you might have found in the apartment. Ensure that these are resolved or at least brought under the attention of the landlord to ensure you don’t lose your security deposit at the end of your lease.

5) Never sign the contract without looking through it first. Pay attention to early cancellation terms and whether the landlord has the rights to inspect the apartment without notice.