In UAE, Sharjah is one of the best Emirates with a growing population, incredible job market, rich heritage, family-friendly environment, great public transportation, modern infrastructure, and sustainable lifestyle. Due to its strategic location, Sharjah is close to Dubai and other cities. Moreover, the housing costs and overall cost of living in Sharjah is significantly more affordable than Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
All these reasons are encouraging people to move to Sharjah, increasing the demand for rental properties. Due to this rising demand, people are renting properties quickly and therefore in a hurry, they are making many mistakes.
Here in this blog, we will list out the common mistakes people make when looking for property for rent in Sharjah, along with tips on how to avoid them.
7 Common Mistakes Every Renter Should Avoid in Sharjah
Sharjah is indeed a great place to rent properties, but people often make common mistakes that may drain them financially and mentally. The common mistakes and tips to avoid them are listed below:
Not doing enough market research
One of the top mistakes that 90% of people make is not researching the market when renting an apartment in Sharjah. Research is essential to understand the market prices, best neighborhoods, available amenities, and more. When you don’t do proper research, you might end up paying more than what the property is worth actually.
There are plenty of resources available to research the property rental market in Sharjah. For instance, you can read the rental reports online or hire a real estate expert who will do detailed research and summarize it for you.
Not inspecting the property before buying
When people are in a hurry to choose apartments for rent in Sharjah, the common mistake they make is paying the deposit directly without checking the property in person. Unless you visit the property, you won’t be able to know how the property looks in real life.
Photos and videos of the rental properties are often edited to look better, which is why visiting the property is highly important.
When you visit the property, you can inspect it and check if there are any wear and tear or maintenance issues. If you find any such issues, you can negotiate the price with the landlord and rent it for a cheaper price possibly. Also, you will get an idea of whether your furniture or other things will fit inside the property by checking it in person.
Not checking the neighborhood
Not all neighborhoods are the same in Sharjah. You cannot expect the same amenities as AI Khan if you choose to live in an industrial neighborhood. When renting a property, you should consider if the neighborhood is safe, available amenities, and the proximity to educational institutions, hospitals, shopping centers, business areas, and more.
If you want an apartment or a flat for rent in Sharjah, some of the best neighborhoods are Al Khan, Al Nahda, Muwaileh, Al Tai, Al Qasimia, and Al Jazzat. The average price per square foot in these areas ranges from AED 395 to AED 1,0332.
For villas, Sharjah Sustainable City, Muwaileh, Al Tai, Al Rahmaniya, and Hoshi are some of the best neighborhoods with average prices per square foot starting from AED 479.
Not reading the entire lease terms
Lease terms are often overlooked by renters, which may cause problems for them later. You should read the terms and conditions properly before proceeding with the payment.
Sometimes, you might find hidden clauses in small letters somewhere in between the policies that the landlord hasn’t mentioned when explaining the terms. You should be careful about such clauses as they can benefit the landlord while putting additional expenses on you.
Make sure to double-check the terms, especially those related to termination, maintenance, subletting, penalties, and rent increase. If you do not understand any condition or policy, reach out to the landlord.
If you want to hire a real estate agent, then it would be a good idea, as the person will go through each and every term and explain to you if there are any clauses that you should be aware of before proceeding further.
Ignoring written contracts
There are a few people who ignore written contracts and think that verbal agreements from the landlord are sufficient—this is a huge mistake when looking for property for rent in Sharjah. In case if any issue arises later, the landlords might flip their words, so having written contracts is essential. The rental agreements should be signed by both parties (renters and landlords).
Check if all the terms and conditions are included in the written contract, especially sensitive clauses like maintenance, notice period, termination, and more. If the landlord refuses to add all clauses in the written contract or delays it, it is an instant red flag and it is best to stay away from that property.
Underestimating the costs
When renting a property in Sharjah, people often only look at the monthly rent and see if it matches their budget. That is the worst mistake as it will affect them financially. This is because when renting an apartment, house, villa, or any property, you are required to pay a security deposit before moving in. However, you can find some properties that do not take security deposits, but they are rare.
There are also utility charges and maintenance charges. If you live in a gated community, you may need to pay monthly security or watchman fees. Thus, before renting a property, you should consider all these hidden costs and determine if you have enough budget.
Delayed rent payment
In Sharjah, there are certain rules about delayed rent payment which gives landlords the right to evict renters. For instance, if the renter failed to pay the rent within 15 days since the due date, landlords could issue eviction notice to the renter. That is why you should be aware of if your landlord is following this rule.
To Sum Up
As there is growing demand for rental properties in Sharjah, people often want to choose a place quickly thinking that all the available properties will be leased out. It is best not to hurry the process and take your time when renting a property in Sharjah. Find the properties, compare the amenities and price, check the neighborhood, inspect the property in person, read the terms and conditions, and consider the hidden costs.
Check out Properties.market to get started with your search, where you can find vacant rental properties that fit your budget and preferred location. You can also hire a real estate agency who will help you with the entire process, from searching for the best properties to completing the payment.
