Job Discussion Forums

stabnkill · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 62 Location: the land of dreams

For those teachers considering coming to Muscat: The housing situation here is very, very bad. It is nearly impossible to find a flat, and if you are able to find one, expect to pay at least 250 RO for a one-bedroom flat. Many landlords are in the process of trying to illegally evict their tenants so that they can turn around and (illegally) double or triple the rent, or worse, turn the building into hotel-apartments. Let me stress, it�s not just that rents are high, there are no flats available.

Do not underestimate the value of a contract that offers accommodation.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Is this still related to the damage from the cyclone?

VS

lotsa · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 68 Location: Oman

Only just yesterday I heard that some expats are arriving one week, only to leave the following week due to accommodation shortages - they simply cannot find a place. Not far from where I live new apartments are going up like crazy and certainly the rents will be high. It definately is a good time (if you can call it that) for landlords. I might add, this is also becoming a problem for Omanis living in the interior, that want to move to Muscat to study. They can't because there is nowhere to live hence they return back home. Sad but true.

In terms of rent, many landlords are evicting tenants using the reason that they are redecorating only to bring in new tenants at higher rates the following week. There has been a lot written in the local papers about this but what is happening at the ministerial level I'm not sure and maybe someone can enlighten us all.

Finally, for anyone reading this that is considering moving here to work, do your research (a lot of research).

omanized · Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 152

Let's just get one thing straight - the cyclone did very little to affect the housing unit availability - roads and several villas in Muscat were damaged, some beyond repair, but there has been no loss of rental units because of the storm. It is just a lack of places from the beginning. More expats and Omanis are moving to Muscat and some of the older apt buildings have been converted into "hotel-apartments" to take advantage of the short term contract expat and tourism influx that we are seeing now.

If anyone is being evicted due to "renovation / demolition" go directly to the Municipality - they are expecting you ! You will be one of a hundred stories they are dealing with and they know full well that the landlords are sleazy b..stards !

Unfortunately, living here as a 'guest' , we all feel vulnerable to the whims of local law and customs, the spectre of deportation, jail time, lashes or whatever else you may get your stomach in knots - but, there is the rule of law here ! and it can serve you as well! Don't take any crap from these unscrupulous landlords, find out about your rights from proper sources and don't make any rash decisions. You will not be put out on the street, you could probably linger on ignoring notices and threats for months if not longer while you take your case through proper legal channels - you can defend yourself in court with enough information as the laws are VERY clear regarding eviction.

Read my other post about some of the laws re rent. Hire a lawyer together with your building neighbors, call the balidiya, don't be intimidated !

Of course, all this only applies if you are only currently living in a flat with a tenant agreement - for newcomers signing a new agreement, there is no help, just the 'market value' of the flat. That's why they want to get rid of the old tenants because a new agreement is just that - new !

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Omanized is absolutely correct. Oman is a country ruled by laws that are enforced for everyone... local and expat alike. Don't panic over language barriers.

I suspect that the government is going to have to step in and make sure that affordable housing for renters is provided. When I left in 2001, there was still plenty around... and construction going on. But, you could see that the trend (just as here in the US) was to move over to the luxury digs. I was living in an apartment block in MQ - it was old, but lovely roomy flats for a reasonable price. Just after I left, it was torn down and replaced by one luxury villa. I suspect that happened to all of the other 10 or so buildings that were just the same and built by Cementation back in the 70's.

Teachers will be caught in the middle... unable to afford the luxury flats being built and not willing to live in the dumps that fit their income level.

VS

clandestino · Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 2:57 pm Post subject: Accomadation in Oman

Hmmmm, i've just been offered a job in Oman. Does anyone know what sort of accomadation 330 Omani rials can get you in Muscat these days? This is what the accomadation allowance was! Any advice would be gratefully received!

Also, if you don't drink alcohol, are married and pretty much want money to be able to eat well and do a bit of occasional travelling, how much money do you need?

All the best

clandestino!

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

That, of course, depends on how well you want to eat and where you like to travel. Laughing

There is a large variance between a great hotel meal and one that you prepare at home.... or if you prefer to travel in Europe rather than say... India or Thailand...

There hasn't been an update on rents lately, so hopefully someone will show up to report.

I'd say the floor of a livable wage would be 700 OR a month if you are frugal, but 900 would be more tolerable. Of course, you haven't told us anything about your offer or credentials. Or... whether you plan to save or just want to be able to support yourself...

VS

stabnkill · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 62 Location: the land of dreams

One bedroom apartments are averaging about 250 RO these days.

Two bedrooms are averaging about 300.

There is a serious shortage. Towell decided to rip down all their MQ (an area) buildings at once so the hundreds of people who live in MQ have all been evicted and are looking for places. THere are some new buildings coming up but the landlords pretty much only want to rent to companies. People all over (even in outlying areas like Seeb and Al Hail) are getting evicted left and right because their landlords want to (illegally) rent to new people at 4X the rent. Many individuals are just leaving Oman. These days a single person needs a housing allowance of 300 and a family who want to live in a villa at least 600-700. However, even with a suitable housing allowance, it is nearly impossible to find a place to live.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

lotsa · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 68 Location: Oman

A friend of mine pointed this out to me the other day regarding rents in Oman and particularly landlords. Follow the link, if it doesn't work, search on the Times of Oman website. My company pays my rent for a 2-bedroom apartment (375 p/mth) so it doesn't affect me directly, but could others.

http://www.timesofoman.com/inner_cat.asp?cat=1&detail=16849&rand=

clandestino · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 1:29 pm Post subject: thanks

Thanks guys, that was really useful advice! I've just accepted a contract to work in Muscat with a 330 OMR accomodation allowance. I am getting married so I will be looking to rent a property for her and I. What do you think about that allowance? It seems pretty reasonable but the school is in quite an upmarket area of Muscat. Do you have any advice on getting accomadation there?

all the best

El Clandestino

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I think you will need to be more specific as to where 'there' is. Laughing

Chances are that you will have to commute a bit.

VS

stabnkill · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 62 Location: the land of dreams

MQ is has changed a lot in the last 2-3 years in very disturbing ways. But I don't want to get into that. VS, in answer to your question-Yes, people living in that two story strip (if we are talking about the same one-- In the one I am talking about, each apartment has an open plan so that there is no wall between the living room and the bedroom. I am not talking about the one behind ELS. I don't know what's happening with that one.) have been asked to leave by August because the block will be demolished. Many of the small, more traditional style villas have already been demolished. At least 3 of those 70s SoCal style apartment buildings (the ones that were cloned all over MQ) are in the process of being demolished. There are whole "ways", and, yes, even a whole "block" that have construction boards up. There's one building that they've been building for at least a year and a half now. They tore down several villas to build it. They were cute villas. Several new buildings that came up three or four years ago are managed now by Cluttons and the rent for a 2 bedroom apt is 600 rials or something insane like that. By the way, the beaches are slowly getting privatized too. There is a new apartment building across the street from Jawarahat Al Shatti and rent is 1,500 rials for a one bedroom.

To Clandesto: The issue really isn't whether or not you can find something near your new job so you don't have to commute. The issue is whether or not you can find something anywhere.

clandestino · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 7:57 pm Post subject: hmmm

Not very encouraging, are you sure that isn't a bit alarmist? I mean, if the situation really is that bad, why should i bother going there at all?

Sleepwalker · Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 454 Location: Reading the screen

Stabnkill

Do you mean the batchelor apartments? I lived there for three years when I was in Oman - I loved my little apartment and many of my neighbours had been there for years.

When I left (about three years ago), they were renovating the flats - new flooring and kichen units and they had torn down that lovely bit of waste ground (with the 12ft cactus and the trees) to build flats.

Sad to think that those little flats are going - I chilled out each evening looking at the view over the wadi.