Family in Dubai rents a four-bedroom villa for Dh200,000 a year — The National
Catherine McEvoy's family in Dubai, UAE, rents a four-bedroom villa in the gated Layan residential community in Dubailand for Dh200,000 a year. She lives with her husband Ian, their two daughters, a nanny and four pets in a home they chose because of its proximity to the children's school and the office of her event company.
As The National reports, the villa has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a room for a domestic worker, a combined living-dining room, another living room upstairs with access to a balcony, and an open garage for two cars. A spacious garden is important to the family, where they keep two dogs and two cats adopted from shelters.
Moving with their own garden
McEvoy moved to the UAE with her family 14 years ago and to Dubai in 2014. Before moving to Layan, they rented another villa in the Al Waha area for 10 years. When their previous home was sold, the family moved into an almost identical home in the new community.
During the move, the family relocated their established garden, including five large trees that had grown next to their previous home for 10 years. They have used much of their furniture for 14 years or bought it on Dubai's second-hand market.
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Rental terms and infrastructure
According to McEvoy, maintenance and service contracts are included in the rent at Layan. The house has new air-conditioning units, which, she said, affected the cost of DEWA bills. The community is part of Dubai Properties, so the family does not have a private landlord or the related uncertainty over a possible sale of the home.
Layan has a padel tennis court, a small football pitch, a 25-metre swimming pool, a gym, a supermarket and a spa. Nearby are a Spinneys store and the Sustainable City area, with cafes, shops and restaurants. McEvoy's daughters attend Fairgreen International School, which, she said, can be reached by bicycle in about three minutes.
The family considered buying property in Dubai about six years ago, but decided to continue renting in the emirate and invest in property in southern France.
