Job Discussion Forums

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[quote="Raul739"][b]

I-forgot wrote:

[b]Based on my own research from about 2 years ago - The cheapest compound I was willing to live in cost around 6000 per month. That was considered a 'budget' compound. It is standard to pay rent six months or a year in advance in all compounds. There is a waiting list for compound accommodation. Bribes will get you bumped up the waiting list. In fact, sometimes that is the only way to get on a waiting list. The DQ is nice and there are some small and affordable apartments there. The non-refundable key fee is six months or more of the yearly rental. They are in great demand and go quickly. However, you will need a reliable driver as taxis are rare. Apartments in central Riyadh are not as expensive. A reasonable 2 bed/2 bath can go for 30,000 per annum. Possibly/probably less to non-white, Arabic speakers. Very few teachers live on compounds. SBC used to house teachers in a compound in central Riyadh. Lots of teachers complained about the standard of the compound and they were relocated to Bonita Compound which is almost an hour out of town. The company provided buses were too crowded and no everyone was able to go shopping when they wanted to or needed to. Taxis were expensive and you couldn't just hail one on the street. Long daily commutes. Teachers complained again and were moved to an apartment/hotel block in Riyadh. A few managed to get their housing allowance and stay at Bonita but had to supplement the allowance as it was not enough for compound accommodation.

It is precisely because of this kind of MESS - and similar- having to do with "housing", that I long ago promised myself I would not accept a job in KSA unless HOUSING (furnished and with all the bells and whistles) was provided to me by the employer. I really don't care WHERE the housing is....on campus, 8 miles away, downtown etc etc. So long as it was available to me upon my arrival (more or less), so long as HE (the employer) was responsible for the wherewithall of a functioning dwelling, negotiating with the owner, upkeep and maintenance and so on, I was satisfied.

At one time, ALL western teachers...at least teachers I knew.... were given housing, however humble it might have been - by the employer. Plus transport to and from work. I'm not sure when that began to change, but I've managed to avoid it. At one time, it was considered unthinkable that a westerner would pound the pavement looking for housing in such a hostile and alien environment. How far we've fallen ! (Are you listening, Trump?)

(Notice that now, we're starting to hear about teachers having to buy their own airline tickets for initial entry into KSA with the "promise" of "reimbursement". Please......who are you trying to kid?

Yes, "some" teachers had "no problem" with finding their own housing.....there's always someone who wants to broadcast their "special" circumstance......but I don't buy it. Nor for a second.

I know that if I were to have to start looking for a dwelling upon arrival in KSA, I would already be exhausted on the 1st day of class (and don't forget -in many cases you're in front of the class the next day after arrival.).....and almost certainly in a ferocious mood.

But if teachers keep accepting this kind of treatment, it isn't going to go away....it will only get worse.

[nomad soul]

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[nomad soul]