Mumbai Accommodation

What are the top factors to keep in mind when searching for a place to live in your city?
When searching for a place to live, some important factors to consider are safety, location preference and individual needs. One of the major factors is the driving distance from home to work and the proximity to your children's school. Also, note that houses on main roads tend to be noisy (and dusty) through the day and sometimes even during the night. Diligence needs to be exercised in making sure that the proposed housing is sufficient in terms of electricity and water supply and phone connections.

Make sure there are facilities for groceries, vegetables, meats and medicines close by.
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What are the most popular neighborhoods in your city for expats?
Apartments are the most common type of housing available. There are popular areas and buildings that tend to attract foreigners. Apartments are usually unfurnished although some owners may negotiate on this.

Mumbai can be divided into three areas: northern suburbs, central Mumbai and south Mumbai. Areas included in the northern suburbs are Powai, Juhu and Bandra; central Mumbai is comprised of Prabhadevi and Worli; and south Mumbai includes Cuffe Parade, Breach Candy, Malabar Hill, Altamount Road, Napeansea Road, Peddar Road and Colaba.
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Do expats tend to buy or rent their homes?
Typically, most expatriates prefer to rent their homes.
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Typically, will I be required to pay additional money up front (such as a deposit) before moving into leased housing? If so, how much is common?
A security deposit of 3 to 6 months of the rent is may be required. Rentals are either paid monthly, quarterly, half yearly or 12 months in advance.There are no fixed norms and it differs from case to case.
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Are utilities generally included in the price of rent, or are they extra?
Normally, utilities are additional to rental prices. Very seldom are they included in the rent.
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Are there special security concerns I should be aware of in regards to my home or choice of neighborhood?
For the most part, Mumbai is a safe city, especially considering the number of people that call it home. However, as with most cities, some areas are more desirable than others. This is usually evident in the cost of the accommodation. Before deciding where to live, make sure that the house or apartment has door and window protection and a reliable alarm system. Change all locks on doors and replace with new ones. It is also prudent to always lock your house and car when you are not there.

Also, it is recommended that you check out local police reports before deciding on an area to live.
These reports provide factual information on types of crimes and how often they occur. This will most likely be a determining factor on whether you choose to live in a certain neighborhood or not. One should be watchful that there are no drains around the house, as they can create a problem with mosquitoes.
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I’m not sure if I should bring my appliances. What is the electric current, Hz and plug shape in your city?
The electric current for India is 220 volts. The electrical Hertz (Hz) is 50 hertz of power. Wall sockets are of the three round-pin variety. UK, US and Australian plugs require adaptors, while continental European round-pin plugs fit the sockets. Two-pin plugs also work fine. Power adaptors are available  electrical shops.

Below are examples of the types of plugs that are used in India.
Type C plugType C plug
Type C plug - Round pin attachment plug

NOTE: Type C plugs can also be used with E and F and some L receptacles. This type of plug is very common in most universal adaptor sets.
(Though the diagram shows a circular plug, quite often Type C plugs have a rectangular shape, as in the photo above.)
Type D plug
Type D plug - Round pins with ground

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Do you have any other accommodation information that might help me?
The process of searching for suitable accommodation could take some time and is sometimes frustrating. Ideally, the process should be started a few weeks before the start of the assignment. A preview trip arranged through Crown Mumbai is highly recommended. It is a common practice that owners clean, paint and repair after the deal is finalized. If you opt to take a long-term lease (two to four years), you can request what you wish to be worked on. However, this practice often results in delays in moving into the house.

It also might be a good idea to try and negotiate with the owner to provide as many appliances (particularly air conditioners) as possible within the premises.

There are a few things one must do before taking possession of the premises. A round of thorough cleaning is a must. It would also be advisable to have the entire premises treated by the pest control company before moving in. All electrical points and appliances should be checked for functionality.
Water pressure should be checked as well. Gas is supplied in cylinders or bottles through a neighborhood dealer; it is advisable that you keep one extra cylinder on hand as backup.
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IMPORTANT NOTE:
Crown Relocations has made every effort to present accurate information. However, regulations, rates and other variables are subject to change and Crown Relocations cannot accept responsibility for the errors that might result. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact your local Crown representative.