Job Discussion Forums

[nunya]

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[helenl]

When I wanted to move I found the new place - it just had to be vetted by the housing officer - it was within my allowance.

As for taking the $$ - right now that might look good, but if rents start to go back up, you can't go back for more $$ or return to college provided housing (as I understand it).

My suggestion, go out and find your own acceptable accomodation and then go back to HCT and tell them this is what you want. Many people have done this successfully so long as they don't go over the limit.

[nunya]

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[veiledsentiments]

It sounds to me as if they are seeing what they can get away with... this is where you may need to do some negotiating. Are you perchance a teaching couple? That would give you more leverage.

IMHO, it is completely unreasonable for any employee of any company in the Emirates to be frozen to the housing allowance on the date one is hired. I would approach from the idea that my contract says that I am provided with either a flat or an allowance... and obviously that must react to the market. If they have had to raise the amount for new teachers, obviously it raises it for all teachers. (it is, after all, the same market - and we are talking two equal employees)

Granted times change, but when I arrived there, they tried to put me in a flat where they were just blasting out a hole in the ground spitting distance from the bedroom windows to start a new building. I know that means at least 2 years of construction... all hours of the day and night. I said no... they said that it is all they had... I politely replied that in that case, I would leave on the soonest flight as I preferred not to give up sleep for two years. The next day they found me a new flat... much better location. But then they decided to tear down all the buildings behind, so like Helen, I went and found myself another place for the current rates and moved again when the lease was up.

The question is... are you strong enough to push the issue? There is always a risk.

VS

[mousette]

Well said VS.

When I arrived in Dubai, I had already been in Abu Dhabi for 1.5 years, so I was a little bit aware of what I could expect. The first place I was taken to was totally unacceptable and I told the housing officer, very politely, that it would not do. Remember, housing officers do their best (I found) but sometimes it is not easy considering all of the development and other issues. Try and be as nice as you can, but also be aware of what you need to make your life enjoyable. Housing is important.

Ultimately, I ended up taking the third place I was shown and stayed there quite happily.

Best wishes to you.

[BrownSauce]

We've heard these rumors too. It seems that, if the negligible pay award is anything to go by, HCT are seriously trying to do things on the cheap.

I don't know why, but maybe after AD forked out all those billions to prop up the ailing Burj Dubai/Khalifa, they're looking at ways of cutting costs.

In which case, this sort of thing may go on for years. The cost of accommodation in AD will only increase over the next 4-5 years, and it looks like HCT don't want to have to cough up for the increased housing bills.

I hear that housing officers there are warning people that they will be forced to take a lump sum and find their own apartment in future, meaning that they don't want to have to cover the foreseen extra charges - much better to dump that one on the teachers!

In other words, this is NOT a good timer to choose to come and work for HCT (I got out a couple of years back, but my wife's still there), but it IS a very good time to leave.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

[secretsquirrel]

Perhaps HCT will consider giving each teacher a room in one of their students' house(s)? Or maybe we could all learn to share a tent together?