JEDDAH: Finding an adequate place to live in Saudi Arabia for the right price is no doubt becoming more challenging nowadays. According to local statistics, the rent of apartments throughout the Kingdom has spiraled by 20-50 percent since the beginning of this year alone.
Other data from the Central Department of Statistics also provides evidence of the difficulties tenants encounter in finding accommodation. In the face of this crisis, many families have begun sharing apartments to combat the rising costs of living. “We share a two bedroom apartment with two other families,” said Joanna Lopez, a Filipino nurse. “We have divided two bedrooms and living room into separate living areas, and share the kitchen and restroom,” she said, adding that this is the only way by which she can save some money to send home and survive while in the Kingdom.
“Since relocating from a village near Jeddah in search of work, I have been forced to live with my cousin’s family in their apartment until I am able to save money and rent my own home,” said M. Al- Hindawi, a 26-year-old Saudi who got married last year and is expecting his first child.
“When we knew we would be coming to Jeddah we located a place to live with the help of Internet advertisements and made arrangements with another Indian family living in the Rehab district,” said Syed Khan, an expatriate worker.
Nonetheless, as apartment sharing continues to catch on, not everyone likes the idea of sharing accommodation. Single families, living within the same building as apartment sharers, complain of problems such as disturbing noise levels to unsanitary living. “We were the first to move into this building in the Al-Safa district when it was newly constructed over 20 years ago,” said H M, a Saudi mother of six. “The building has in the last three to four years suffered a serious problem with a lack of water,” she said. “We are unable to bathe, clean, or cook, and have been especially hard hit as we are fasting during Ramadan,” she added. H M further stated that the problem first began when a large family consisting of a couple and their nine children moved into an apartment above hers. “A few weeks later they invited their relatives — six of them — to share their apartment,” she said. She added that she, as well as other tenants, is required to pay SR25 per week as water fees to ensure the building has sufficient water. “I don’t think it is fair. There is hardly any water in spite of paying money.
We have problems because some tenants do not pay saying that when they pay they only receive water for two days and end up going without water the rest of the week,” she said.
Other single families living in the same building are also upset with the paucity of water. The only way they can have water for their daily chores is to store it in as many plastic water containers as possible when the water tanker comes.
“We have tried to keep a week’s supply of water in plastic containers but have found that this isn’t always a solution to the water problem.
Stored water begins developing bacteria due to the heat making it unfit to bathe in or cook with,” said the resident of another apartment, who wished to remain anonymous. Arab News was unable to contact the building’s landlord for comment.
He added that multiple families living in one residential unit is a violation of the contract. In that event the building owner has the right to cancel the contract.
“Some owners agree to having more families or individuals living in a residential unit for an additional rent,” said one of the residents.
— With input from Galal Fakkar
