Expat Info on Moving to Mumbai: Housing and How to Find It

chillibreeze writer — Elizabeth Wilder

Mini Namaskar eBook Written by Expat member of Mumbai Connexions

Housing standards in Mumbai are low and rents are expensive. The average expat looks at sixty apartments. You will need to adjust your expectations and prepare mentally for about three months in temporary housing before you move into your “real” home.

Choosing where you live is probably the most important decision you will make. Mumbai lacks a maintenance culture, so the units you view will likely be unfinished if new; beat up if used; and filthy regardless. Take lots of photos, take lots of notes, and remember anything can be cleaned or replaced as long as you request it before you pay any money. Most leases are payable completely in advance so you will be stuck if you rush into a poor selection out of frustration.

Temporary housing can be arranged in hotels or serviced apartments. Unless your job comes with an established place to live (like an embassy), plan to stay in temporary quarters for at least eight weeks, both for house hunting and apartment renovation.

Find out about neighborhoods, recreation opportunities, and how to negotiate a lease with your both your property agent (who is not your new best friend) and your landlord, including a list of appliances to request. Do not make assumptions that “of course there will be a pole for the shower curtain” or even “all the electric outlets work”. The Golden Rule of India is Make No Assumptions; its corollary is Verify Everything Yourself. Learn more about housing in Mumbai in the Mini Namaskar Mumbai, the book for expats by expats!

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Roti Kapda Aur Makaan: Things You Should Know Before Moving to Mumbai
Moving to Mumbai 101
A Primer on Moving to Mumbai
Fine Dining in Mumbai: Where to go
What Makes Mumbai the Financial Capital of India?

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—About our writer: Elizabeth Wilder is an expatriate American living in Mumbai. Previous overseas postings have included Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Fribourg, Switzerland. Elizabeth is a member of Mumbai Connexions, the largest expatriate women’s club in Mumbai. She volunteered to write Mini Namaskar Mumbai in order to provide the information compiled by hundreds of Mumbai Connexions members in an e-format to people relocating to Mumbai. In her previous life, Elizabeth was an expert in the area of low income housing and served on a number of non-profit boards of directors in her home town of Houston, Texas. Her personal motto is Why Not? Elizabeth is a mother of three grown children. Her hobbies include volunteer work with the NGO Muktangan, which provides English-medium education within the Mumbai public schools. She also enjoys travelling and sports of all kinds.

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