The real estate industry of the UAE offers a myriad of options to tenants for renting a property in the region. These facilities are not only limited to building type, you can also choose between furnished or unfurnished properties as per your convenience. In furnished apartments, tenants are provided with all sorts of household items like cutlery and furniture. Whereas, unfurnished apartments are only residential units without any sort of furniture. This is not enough to decide if it is better to rent furnished or unfurnished.
We have drafted a complete guide that will elaborate on all the pros and cons of renting a furnished vs unfurnished property in the UAE.
Should I Rent a Furnished or Unfurnished Property
Here are some pros and cons of renting a furnished vs unfurnished property in the UAE.
Pros of Furnished Property
Cost of Setting and Moving In
The first thing that you add to your home moving checklist includes all the things required to be moved into your new home. That said, this step can be excluded when you opt for renting a furnished property. Such properties offer furniture and other necessary household items. All you have to do is pack your personal belongings and move into a new home.
On the contrary, unfurnished apartments require tenants to shift their furniture from old to new homes. For this purpose, tenants may require professional assistance which is an additional cost. Moreover, all the furniture and household items moved to the new home need to be set up correctly which is also a time-consuming process.
Time Required for Shifting
The process of shifting requires a lot of preparation to accurately and timely shift your furniture from your old to your new home. Therefore, a lot of time is invested in preparing and shifting the furniture to a new home. All of this can be exempted if the tenant is shifting into a furnished apartment.
Short Term Rentals
Generally, the apartments are available in short and long-term leases in the UAE. However, the majority of furnished apartments are available for short-term rental. These rentals include lesser legalities and enable users to move in and out with convenience. Therefore, if you are visiting the Emirates for a shorter period of time, furnished apartments are a more suitable option for you.
Cons of Furnished Properties
Limited Decor Options
If you want to decorate your home as per your choice and create an ambience that suits you, then furnished apartments are not for you. Generally, the landlords only permit tenants to hang some art pieces or add some lighting, but not more than that. Therefore, if you want to set a perfect home theatre room or any other decoration ideas you will need the landlord’s permission.
Average Annual Rent
The annual rent of furnished or unfurnished apartments is dependent upon multiple factors like location and building type. However, on average, the annual rent of furnished properties is higher than unfurnished properties. Also, the security deposit of furnished apartments is higher than an average unfurnished apartment.
The core reason for higher rent and deposit is the household items provided by the landlord. However, this is not always the case, as many times the furniture is simply left in an apartment to save the moving cost.
Adjusting Pre-Purchased Items
If you already have a preset home and are now willing to move into a furnished property, setting up your old furniture can be difficult. The landlord has already set the home with the furniture of their choice, and there is little to no space for your furniture. The only option left in this case is to sell out your old furniture before renting a furnished property.
Liability of Furniture
Before renting furnished property in Dubai or any other Emirate, remember that tenants are liable for the furniture provided to them. In case of any damage to the furniture, tenants will have to pay the landlord. This will also affect the complete refund of the security deposit from the landlord, as the majority of these damages are adjusted from the deposit.
In comparison, if you rent an unfurnished apartment, you will only be liable to pay for the property damages. Also, you will have to hand over the property in original condition to the landlord before moving out.
Tenancy Agreement and Other Legalities
Generally, villas/apartments for rent in the UAE, are available on a one-year lease and tenants have to pay the rent accordingly. Whereas, furnished apartments are available on a short-term lease. Some of these furnished apartments are even available for monthly rental. This facilitates tenants in moving in and out more frequently without any legal constraints.
Other than the aforementioned differences, it is also necessary to check the furniture that is included in the property. You can ask for the inventory list and visit the property before finalising it for rental. This will help you in confirming whether the furniture available is of any use or not. Also, check for the different types of furnished properties available for rent in the region.
Types of Furnished Properties
The furnished apartments can be of two types, the core difference in these types is the number of furniture pieces in the house. The following details are related to the type of furniture.
- Semi-Furnished Properties: Such properties will provide a specific set of furniture to the tenants. For instance: they may have a furnished living room and an unfurnished bedroom.
- Fully- Furnished Properties: In fully furnished properties, tenants will be provided with all the furniture and other household items that are essential for living.
FAQs
Can I rent a furnished apartment while on vacation in the UAE?
Yes, furnished apartments are a suitable option if you are travelling. There are multiple types of furnished properties like hotel apartments available for rent in the UAE.
What is the difference between fully furnished and semi-furnished and unfurnished properties?
The fully furnished apartments are provided with all the necessary household items. Whereas, semi-furnished apartments are provided with some pieces of furniture and unfurnished refer to residential units only. The main difference is the number of furniture prices in the residence provided by landlords to the tenants.
Do furnished apartments include electrical appliances?
Generally, furnished apartments do have electrical appliances, internet and cable connection However, this may vary from landlord to landlord and the type of furnished property you have chosen.
These were all the differences between a furnished and unfurnished property in the UAE. The furnished apartments are generally suitable for individuals who are on a short stay in the region.
Whereas, unfurnished ones are more preferred when you intend to settle permanently in the Emirates. We hope that the aforementioned information is enough to help you decide whether you should rent a furnished property or an unfurnished one.
Stay tuned to dubizzle’s property blog for more information on furnished Vs unfurnished properties.
