Life on the Spot! Life and Leisure in Doha, Qatar

Before we left for our vacation last May, we had to settle our rent for the flat as it was expiring while we were on vacation. We had a 2 year contract for the flat for QR4700 a month. At that time, June 2005, Qr4700 was already on the low side for a 2 bedroom flat in a new building. The guy who we talked with was trying to convince us to sign the contract for 3 years but then, we were still hoping that rents would go down after the Asian Games so we only signed for 2.

Since July 2007, we have been paying 5500QR for our 2 beroom semi-furnished (by semi-furnished I mean 3 airconditioners were provided) flat. Initially, when I contacted my "flatlord", I was told that I would be charged 6000QR for my rent. I'm currently paying 4700QR for the flat so that meant that it's more than the 10% allowed increase imposed by the government. I was really dissapointed as even though my company gave us an increase, it meant that the increase would just go to payment of my flat rental increase! Mavis and I decided we'd go around looking for other buildings around the area and see where the market is at currently. After going to some buidlings, we conceded as most of the new 2 bedroom flats were charging at least 7000QR.

I called the "flatlord" again after a week and told him that the 6000QR being asked was too much and was more than the 10% allowed. He told me that if I don't agree, they may just use the flat for some of their other employees. I told him that if they'd allow me to pay 5500QR, intead of the 6000QR, I'd be more than happy to accept even if it's more than the 10%. I called back after a day and was told that I can renew my contract for another year for 5500QR. Whew. Although it is 5500QR, It's better than paying 6000QR or moving to another building.

To sum it up, I don't think prices for property rental is ever going to go down, despite speculations that they were right after the Asian Games. You just have to leave with it and hopefully, your company provides you with an increase every year to match the increase for your rental.