Job Discussion Forums

[homeless vet]

What's the latest scoop on what a married couple with a dog and no kids (both are in college and gone, baby!) can expect for housing in Al Ain from HCT?

[veiledsentiments]

HCTers are mainly on the road now, so we may not hear from anyone who is actually in the housing. HCT has various units mixed around Al-Ain... and I've never heard a complaint. New arrivals are rather in the 'luck of the draw' area of what's available - minimum 2 bedroom flat... a number are in smallish villas. They may even have picked up some new small projects. Worst case scenario is that you make a change in June when someone might be leaving.

Did you warn them about the dog? That could be an issue with some landlords.

VS

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Now, if the policy is the same with four-legged dependents, it goes something like this.

1 Adult = 1 Bedroom Accom.

2 Adults = 2 Bedroom Accom.

2 Adults + 1 Dependent = 2 Bedroom Accom.

2 Adults + 2 Dependents = 3 Bedroom Accom.

If you notice the bold, not much reason to engage in animal rescue or child bearing, is it?

And to think, if you had only had that 2nd dog!

NCTBA

[veiledsentiments]

As far as I recall, two bedrooms were the minimum in Abu Dhabi for HCT and I think that was what was stated in the contracts... likely because one bedrooms were few and far between. As a single, I was put into a two bedroom.

At the end of the year, I moved to a one-bedroom that I found on my own and HCT picked it up... one of the very few buildings with a fitted kitchen too so I was able to sell my appliances... even the washing machine.

VS

[homeless vet]

Should we expect an apartment or a villa? I was sort of disappointed when they told us that only one of us could get benefits if we both accepted jobs with them. It made my decision to decline the offer easier, but it would have been nice to double dip on housing. I'm a "control freak," so this whole wait and see on airplane tickets (still haven't gotten them) and housing is driving me nuts. Not a fan of "insh'allah," LOL.

My husband is going to arrive 2-3 weeks before I do. I think I'm going to make him video the housing and post it before the dog and I get on the plane.

[homeless vet]

[quote="Never Ceased To Be Amazed", not much reason to engage in animal rescue or child bearing, is it?

NCTBA[/quote]

I've yet to discover a good reason to engage in child bearing. I say this as the mother of 17 and 23 year old sons!

[veiledsentiments]

HV

You can't blame them for being smart enough not to allow you to double dip. Looking at it from the side of a single teacher, why should a couple get all that extra pay just for being married when each teacher will be doing the same job as I am and you only live in one house. It is money to be spent on housing, not salary to be put in your pocket. It is rather like the mothers of small children who thought we single teachers should do all the extra projects because they had to go home and take care of their kids which I thought was completely fair as long as they gave me part of their salary for the work that I was doing for them... otherwise they better hire a babysitter or something.

Have you asked HR at HCT? They are the ones who know which housing you are assigned. We would just be guessing as to your expectations. I know new hires at other branches who have been told where they will be living. Try an email and see if they will/can tell you yet.

Don't put the 'control freak' stuff in your suitcase... it will only cause you needless frustration once you get to the Gulf.

VS

[Zoot]

VS - with hundreds of new teaching staff coming into the UAE to teach in the public school system, what do you think this will do to the housing situation out in Al Ain, e.g., where the financial crisis has had less of an impact?

HV - you're never permitted to double-dip on housing. Not ever. One or the other of you has to provide the benefits schedule of the other for your employer/s.

I never hear any complaints about the housing provided for HCT employees.

[homeless vet]

Thanks for the reassurance on the quality of housing, Zoot. There is nothing online to even look at housing in Al Ain, unlike Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

VS, my husband and I were both in the military, and we both got housing allowances as part of our salary, which enabled us to live at a much higher standard than others of our rank. We weren't penalized in our salary and benefits for being married to each other, so it's not unheard of for a couple to be able to "double dip" housing benefits. We were always able to afford the housing of our choice off base, rather than being stuck in military housing because of this. I just don't like having limited choices. :0

[ap4058]

In education, no matter where in the world double dip is just not on for the very reson outlined by VS.

[veiledsentiments]

[tiberio]

As far as I know from friends and neighbours, HCT has a lot of villas in Al Andalus and I know people have left HCT in both colleges end of semester. Also, Al Oyoun has plenty of HCT villas. If you get the choice, take Andalus, Al Oyoun is really bad quality, but nice design, though you might end up with a living room facing the road PLUS all your colleagues will know whether your car was still in the garage when they left that morning and whether it is already back when they come home at night... Andalus is also better with regards to that aspect.

[Tom Le Seelleur]

We lived in a large villa near the zoo for less than 100,000 dhs. We paid cash and our landlord was superb. They also had a variety of other villas big and smaller for a variety of prices. I suggest you try the Islamic Banks as an alternative to agents. They mostly do not charge commission and have a large portfolio of properties in Al Ain, Dubai or Abu Dhabi. The Dubai Islamic Bank was our provider.
Tom