DOHA: Around 150 private properties in Qatar have been identified for hosting FIFA World Cup 2022 fans. This is the first phase of a housing programme that seeks to develop additional facilities to accommodate more than one million people projected to attend the football spectacle in 2022.
Naturally, people have plenty of questions on who can rent property, how to apply and other details related to the programme.
The rental period of the property would be for five years, inclusive of the November-December 2022 hosting period. Property owners can start leasing their properties from 1 August, 2021 to 1 January, 2022.
Owners of real estate, and real estate firms representing owners or sub-lessors can apply. The applicant should have a number of adjacent housing units in any property he wishes to register. These units can be located within a complex of villas, residential towers, or multi-use buildings.
Real estate registration through the accommodation portal is only open to real estate owners or their representatives, in line with applicable laws and regulations. It has been emphasised one cannot register if they plan to rent out part or part of the family home.
The portal is open to any corrections, deletions or additions of information until the gateway closes. This allows the property owner to add housing units or even delete them from the portal as he deems fit. Properties under construction can also be leased, with the stipulation the works must be finished by the end of 2021.
Once the application is made, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) would review all registered properties. The SC would then contact the nominated applicants and inform them of the proposed rental options.
Once finalised, the property would be leased by the Government Housing and Buildings Administration for a period of five years. Rent would be determined based on the type of property, its specifications, distribution of rooms and its geographical location according to the municipality and residential neighbourhood.
Service-level requirements of the accommodation include the provision of fully furnished residential units with facility management service, including utilities, television, internet and maintenance services.
All housing units must comply with the housing requirements set by the concerned authorities (including the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, and the General Administration of Civil Defense in Qatar), prior to the start date of the lease.
On utilities like electricity and water, the property provider would be responsible for arranging all delivery procedures and subscriptions related to public utilities, including the fees involved. Property suppliers would also have to bear the costs of the facilities. Costs would be reimbursed based on the actual use of electricity and water.