Your Money blog: Dh13,000 bill to move from one apartment to another in the same Abu Dhabi building

The National's LeAnne Graves moved from a Dh100,000 apartment to a Dh90,000 pad in the same block on Al Reem Island.

Alvaro Sanmartí / The National

I started my search for an apartment in October as it seemed the only way to secure a decrease in rent. My flat was sold and the new owner wanted to move in.

I’d lived in my Dh100,000 one-bedroom apartment on Reem Island for two years and was due to move out a month later. I wanted to stay on Reem Island and, ideally, in my existing building. I’d seen others on the island and mine offered the best amenities.

Panic set in because moving is one of life’s biggest stressors, but moving in Abu Dhabi, with its nascent market regulations, poses more difficulties.

To at least break even - including my moving costs - using my old rent (Dh100,000) as the ceiling, I told my broker that I was looking for Dh85,000, but I knew I was being ambitious. Realistically, I set Dh90,000 as my maximum rental amount.

I received the Intent to Reside notice five months before the end of my contract. Owners must give at least two months written notice to the end of the contract for eviction or rate increase.

In my area, prices have dropped between 10 and 18 per cent over the past year. And I had three core criteria: balcony, pets and kitchen appliances - something I knew limited my options as not all buildings accept pets or come with appliances. Another reason to stay in the same tower.

I looked at sites such as Dubizzle, Property Finder and Bayut - although they all offered the same inventory. While Abu Dhabi is currently working on an approved brokers list, listings on these property sites are often misleading.

One brokerage, for example, used photos from my building to advertise another building of lesser quality. How many of you have been to a viewing expecting to see an apartment you saw pictured online, only to be shown something completely different?

I set advanced filters to include my three criteria. The same apartments popped up as they would without the filters and I knew many of those buildings didn’t have balconies, kitchen appliances or allow pets.

I sent 15 inquiries on the first day with only one broker response (who never followed up after the initial call). Another phoned a week later. I asked why it had taken so long to reach out given the current renter’s market. The broker said, “I’m sorry. We have no excuse.”

Instead, I took advice from friends - asking them who had they used and which company they recommend. I also phoned The National's contributor, Ben Crompton, to ask for advice.

I found a broker and located my new flat for Dh90,000. It was listed at Dh95,000, but paying in one cheque gave me leverage.

Next came electricity, which was the easy part. Take a copy of your passport, ID, visa and Tawtheeq to the nearest Abu Dhabi Distribution Company branch (I chose Mushrif Mall). There’s a two-week grace period to have electricity in both flats, which is usually turned on the same day you provide all required documentation. After you’ve moved in, call the centre to switch your deposit to your new account and turn off the electricity in your old flat.

Switching Etisalat can take a week and will immediately cut off service once submitting a transfer request. My switch occurred the next day.

Besides sifting through dubious brokers and misleading ads, dealing with building management can rank high on the list of inconveniences. Though I remained in my building, I still needed management permission to move. This is to make sure tenants settle debts requiring proof of payment for the chiller (Ista) and paying the building’s management for gas.

Since I remained in the building, management gave security the OK to allow my movers in without the above hassle. Though I showed my final Ista payment, I’m still debating the gas bill as “administration fees” are more than four times my gas consumption, without a signed contract or explanation. Watch this space for further updates.

In the meantime, my total move within the same building cost me Dh13,072 and was a major month-long headache.