Karachi, which is often dubbed as “Mini Pakistan” is home to over 20 million people. It is a megalopolis with the largest real estate market in the country. Exploring apartments in this metropolis as a tenant without having specified criteria in your mind may leave you flustered. So, to make things easier for you, we have jotted down some useful tips for renting a flat in Karachi in this blog. These tips will effectively help you find a rental apartment according to your budget and requirements.
Useful Tips for Renting a Flat in Karachi
Prepare a checklist of the following points to start off the right foot with your search for a rental apartment in Karachi.
- Selection of Area
- Your Budget and Living Requirement
- Ventilation/Fresh Air Inflow
- Read Tenancy Agreement Thoroughly
Selection of Area
First things first, you need to narrow down the list of areas that you are supposed to search when looking for a rental apartment in Karachi. For this purpose, you can also make use of Zameen Trends that will give you an insight as to which are the most searched areas by people looking for flats for rent in Karachi.
As of September 2019, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, Defence and Gulistan-e-Jauhar are the most popular areas where people turn to while looking for rental apartments in Karachi.
Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town
First of all, let’s talk about Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, which is the most sought-after area among people searching for a rental flat in Karachi. It’s home to some of the biggest educational institutions in the country. University Road, which is one of the most useful routes in Karachi, runs through it. Other highlights of the area include Metro Hypermarket, Karachi Expo Centre, National Stadium and Civic Centre.
DHA Karachi
Recognised as one of the poshest neighbourhoods in the city, DHA Karachi provides all necessary living facilities to its residents. It also stands among the most popular areas to look for flats for rent in Karachi. Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Khayaban-e-Bahria, 26th Street and Khayaban-e-Shahbaz are the three main arteries of Karachi’s Defence area. On the other hand, it is also well connected with the routes of Korangi Road, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Khayaban-e-Iqbal Road in Clifton and Ch. Khaliq-uz-Zaman Road. Village Restaurant at Sea View, Do Darya, Creek Club, DHA Golf Club and DHA Suffa University are some key highlights of the area.
Gulistan-e-Jauhar
Gulistan-e-Jauhar, which is currently the second most-searched area for renting a flat in Karachi, features 20 blocks and it falls under the jurisdiction of Faisal Cantonment. There are many perks of living in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. People often call this neighbourhood ‘The Heart of Karachi’ due to its central location and liveliness. While living in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, you will have nearby access to some key road links of Karachi like Jinnah Avenue, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Rashid Minhas Road and University Road. Habib University, Preston University and Darul Sehat are a few important landmarks in the area.
Your Budget and Living Space Requirement
One of the key tips for renting a flat in Karachi is that one must only go hunting for flats, once they have decided on their monthly rental budget that suits their living space requirements. When renting an apartment in Karachi, you can easily find 1 to 4-bedroom flats but monthly rents may vary from area to area.
Here’s a table of monthly rent ranges, according to the number of bedrooms in the top three areas for renting an apartment in Karachi.
Apartments for Rent in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town
Flats for rent in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town mostly feature 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms. Their monthly rents are listed in the table below.
| Number of Bedrooms | Monthly Rental Range |
| 2-bed | PKR 16,000 – PKR 60,000 |
| 3-bed | PKR 25,000 – PKR 90,000 |
| 4-bed | PKR 32,000 – PKR 1 lakh |
Apartments for Rent in DHA Karachi
While searching for a rental flat in DHA Karachi, you will mostly come across 1, 2 and 3-bed options. Here’s how much these units can cost you in a month.
| Number of Bedrooms | Monthly Rental Range |
| 1-bed | PKR 15,000 – PKR 40,000 |
| 2-bed | PKR 25,000 – PKR 1.7 lakh |
| 3-bed | PKR 35,000 – PKR 2.5 lakh |
Apartments for Rent in Gulistan-e-Jauhar
Similarly, the market for rental apartments in Gulistan-e-Johar mostly offers you 2, 3 and 4-bedroom apartments. Monthly rents have been given in the following table.
| Number of Bedrooms | Monthly Rental Range |
| 2-bed | PKR 13,000 – PKR 42,000 |
| 3-bed | PKR 22,000 – PKR 90,000 |
| 4-bed | PKR 45,000 – PKR 60,000 |
Ventilation/Fresh Air Inflow
People in Karachi mostly go for west-facing properties, mainly due to the city’s proximity to the Arabian Sea. It’s widely believed these units receive more fresh air while keeping the environment indoors delightfully ventilated. So, if you are also fond of renting a well-ventilated flat in Karachi, make sure that it has a west-facing orientation.
Read Tenancy Agreement Thoroughly
A tenancy agreement serves as a binding agreement between the tenant and the landlord. It states all the terms and agreements of tenancy that you should be aware of. If you have signed the document, it means you agree to all of the tenancy terms. However, if you find something doubtful, notify the property owner right away and have things sorted before it gets too late. A tenancy agreement may feature the following clauses.
- To pay monthly rent within the given time, as per tenancy agreement.
- Annual raise in rent (according to common practices)
- If a renter fails to pay rent on time, a landlord will have the right to issue an eviction notice.
- Maintain the rental unit, avoid damaging it and keep it clean.
- Refrain from doing anything illegal on the property.
- Maintaining good terms with neighbours.
- Vacate the rental unit at the decided time according to the tenancy agreement.
- If the tenant wants to move out of the property before the specified time, a notice is required to be given in writing along with the reasons for leaving the property early.
- Prohibition on changing of locks by a tenant.
Note: Above-mentioned tenancy agreement clauses for a rental flat in Karachi may vary from case to case
These were some useful tips for renting a flat in Karachi. If you have any questions or feedback related to any of these tips for renters in Karachi, feel free to reach out to us at blog@zameen.com.
Meanwhile, if you are planning to buy your first home, then here is a checklist for first-time homebuyers that will help you come up with a smart decision.
For similar updates related to property and real estate trends, stay tuned to Zameen Blog, the country’s best real estate and lifestyle blog.
