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Cat-lovers Chris Howlett and his wife rent an apartment in Dubai’s Al Barsha 1 community, which they say gives them space to indulge their passion for rescuing pets.
The couple share their two-bedroom home with three cats of their own and occasionally other felines as and when they come along and need help.
Mr Howlett, 43, a senior graphic designer who has been in the UAE for 16 years, and his wife, a drama and public-speaking tutor, pay Dh92,700 a year to rent the property.
Mr Howlett, who is originally from Birmingham, England, showed The National around.
Please tell us about the home
It is a two-bed apartment, with two bathrooms, one toilet room and two balconies.
It is an Al Ghurair-managed building, so we don’t pay agent fees when renting as it's rented directly from the owners. We have been here for just over two years, having previously lived in a two-bedroom apartment in The Greens.
Why did you choose this place?
The size of the rooms is great for the cost, and the building is only a few years old, so it is in good condition. All maintenance is covered in the rental fee, so we have no issues with any problems being fixed in the apartment.
We have access to a great gym with new machines and workout areas, and a swimming pool on the roof that is also a good size, and there is plenty of space for sunbathing and relaxing.
We like the location. The Al Barsha 1 area has access to main roads for easy travel to different parts of the city. Locally, we are close to Mall of the Emirates and we have lots of great food and drink options a walkable distance from the apartment. The public transport network is also very good and reliable and helps me when I travel to work.
Do you feel you get value for your rent?
We pay Dh92,700 for the year in one cheque. This is a reasonable rate for the area and quality of the building, and the going rate for the local area.
I think it is value for money, considering the location and the size of the apartment.
How have you made it your home?
We have hung various artworks in the living room and bedrooms by an artist called Ahoy, a printmaker from Hong Kong, as well as a mixed media artist from London called Neon Savage.
My wife also has some handmade prints made by Richard Ashcroft, the lead singer in the UK band The Verve. These are hanging in the bedrooms.
We have added some cat shelves in various rooms so our three cats, Squeak, Felix and Jasmine, can climb and play on them when they want.
We use our third toilet room to house stray and injured cats as and when we find them and decide to help. We have helped many cats relocate to the UK for a better life and to find permanent new owners.
What amenities do you have nearby?
Al Barsha Pond Park is within walking distance. I spend some evenings and weekend days walking there. It has a good 1.5km running track, a large pond that is in the centre of the park, and large grassed areas for playing and relaxing.
I also know a number of the stray cats that live in the park and I say hello and give them treats now and then.
The area has many great restaurants that serve Indian and Arabic foods, which are perfect for our vegan and vegetarian diets.
I eat regularly at a place called Hill Top Restaurant, a small family-run Nepali place that serves one of the best thali meals I have had.
The area is also great for grocery shopping. We have a Lebanese deli over the road that sells great fresh olives, vegetables and Arabic cheese.
Is there anything that you would change about living there?
I would like to see more green areas and trees in the area. This would be great for the environment and would bring natural shelter for birds and insects.
I would also like our building to have better car access. The main entrance is at the front of the building, where a number of restaurants are positioned, and it can be hard to access and leave the building during busy times.
Are you planning to stay in this apartment?
We would like to stay here for as long as possible. If the rent stays under Dh95,000, we can continue to live here; if it rises over this, we will need to relocate.
Have you considered buying a home here?
I’m not confident that purchasing property in Dubai is a stable option for me right now. I have considered investing in property in the UAE, but at the moment the property prices are high and not achievable for us.
I have invested in property in the UK and will continue to rent in Dubai.
