Moving to Dhaka: How to Find and Rent Your First Home

Moving to Dhaka for a new job, university, a transfer or a return from abroad is exciting, but finding your first home in this city can feel overwhelming. Rents vary block by block, "To-Let" signs are everywhere yet good flats go fast, and the process involves advance payments, police forms and utility bills that newcomers rarely understand. This guide on moving to Dhaka and renting your first home walks you through the whole journey: choosing an area, setting a budget, searching, inspecting, negotiating, signing the agreement and settling in.

It is written for people moving from other districts, for returning probashi (non-resident) Bangladeshis, and for anyone renting in Dhaka for the first time. The same principles apply in Chattogram, Sylhet, Khulna and other cities, with some local differences.

Step 1: Decide What You Actually Need

Before you look at a single flat, write down your non-negotiables. In Dhaka, the right location often matters more than an extra room, because traffic can turn a 5 km commute into a 90-minute ordeal.

• Who will live with you? Family, spouse, flatmates or alone. Some buildings prefer families; others accept working professionals or students.
• Size: number of bedrooms, bathrooms, a balcony, a separate kitchen, a servant's room.
• Floor and lift: older family members may need a lift or a lower floor.
• Parking: car or motorcycle parking is limited and sometimes charged separately.
• Gas: many newer buildings have no piped gas line (Titas) and rely on LPG cylinders.
• Backup power: generator or IPS support for lifts, lights and fans during load-shedding.
• Distance to work, school or university: check the route at rush hour, not on a Friday morning.

Step 2: Choose the Right Area in Dhaka

Dhaka neighbourhoods differ widely in rent level, traffic, water supply, waterlogging during monsoon, and access to schools and hospitals. Rather than relying on reputation alone, shortlist two or three areas near your workplace and visit them in person.

Rent levels change quickly and differ even within the same area depending on road, building age, facilities and floor. Treat any figure you hear, including online listings, as a rough guide only and compare several flats before deciding.

Step 3: Set a Realistic Monthly Budget

New arrivals often budget only for rent and are surprised by everything else. Your true monthly housing cost in Dhaka typically includes:

• Base rent
• Service charge (for guards, cleaning, lift, generator, common lights), common in apartment buildings
• Electricity (prepaid or postpaid meter from DESCO or DPDC, or a sub-meter billed by the landlord)
• Water (sometimes included in rent or service charge, sometimes billed separately)
• Gas (fixed monthly bill for a Titas line, or LPG cylinders)
• Internet, cable TV, garbage collection
• Parking, if you have a vehicle

For example (illustrative): You are looking at a 2-bedroom flat with base rent of Tk 22,000.

• Base rent: Tk 22,000
• Service charge: Tk 3,000
• Electricity (estimated average): Tk 2,500
• Gas (LPG cylinder, about one a month): Tk 1,500
• Internet: Tk 1,000
• Garbage collection: Tk 200
• Total monthly housing cost: Tk 22,000 + 3,000 + 2,500 + 1,500 + 1,000 + 200 = Tk 30,200

So a flat advertised at "Tk 22,000" actually costs about Tk 30,200 a month, around 37% more than the headline rent. Many people aim to keep total housing costs to about a third of their take-home income, but your own comfort level may differ.

Don't forget the move-in cash

You will usually need a lump sum before moving in: advance rent (often one to three months, sometimes more), possibly a security deposit (jamanat), a broker's fee if you use one, moving costs (a truck or pickup and labourers), and some basic furniture and appliances. It is common to need several times your monthly rent in cash or mobile banking balance on signing day.

For example (illustrative): Two months' advance at Tk 22,000 = Tk 44,000; moving truck and labour = Tk 6,000; curtains, gas stove, basic kitchen items = Tk 15,000. Total move-in cash = Tk 44,000 + 6,000 + 15,000 = Tk 65,000, before any furniture.

Step 4: Where to Search for Flats

• To-Let signs: still the most common method. Walk the streets of your chosen area in the evening and on weekends, and note phone numbers.
• Building guards and caretakers: they often know about upcoming vacancies before any sign goes up.
• Online listing sites and Facebook groups: useful for comparing, but be careful. Never pay anything before seeing the flat and meeting the owner or an authorised manager.
• Colleagues and friends: the most reliable source; landlords often prefer tenants who come recommended.
• Brokers: can save time, but agree on the fee in advance and in writing.

Scam warning: Be wary of anyone who asks for a "booking fee" via bKash or Nagad before you have seen the flat, or who claims the owner is abroad and cannot meet. Visit in person, meet the owner or authorised manager, and ask to see proof of ownership or authority if something feels wrong.

Step 5: Inspect the Flat Properly

A 10-minute look at a freshly painted flat hides a lot. Take your time and check the following:

• Water: open every tap. Check pressure, colour and whether hot water geysers work.
• Dampness and leaks: look at ceilings, bathroom walls and the corners of rooms for stains or peeling paint.
• Electrical: count sockets, test switches, see whether there is a separate meter or a sub-meter, and ask about the sanctioned load for air-conditioners.
• Windows and grills: security, ventilation and mosquito nets.
• Kitchen: gas line or cylinder space, exhaust, sink drainage.
• Mobile network and internet: check your phone signal inside the flat and ask which internet providers serve the building.
• Common areas: the lift, stairs, fire exit, roof access, cleanliness and security at the gate.
• Neighbours: if possible, speak briefly with a current tenant about the landlord and building management.

We have a full list of questions you can take with you in our guide to questions to ask a landlord before renting.

Step 6: Negotiate the Terms

Rent in Dhaka is often negotiable, especially if a flat has been empty for a while, if you can commit for longer, or if you are moving at an off-peak time. Be polite, reasonable and specific.

• Rent: ask whether there is flexibility, or whether the rent can stay fixed for two years.
• Advance: if the landlord asks for many months of advance, ask to reduce it or have it adjusted monthly against rent.
• Service charge: ask what exactly it covers.
• Repairs and painting: agree which repairs will be done before you move in.
• Rent increase: ask how and when the rent will be reviewed, and how much notice you will get.
• Notice period: commonly one to two months for both sides, but confirm and put it in writing.

Step 7: Sign a Written Rental Agreement

Many rentals in Dhaka still happen on a handshake, which leads to disputes later over advance, repairs and move-out. Insist on a written agreement (chukti-patra), even a simple one on stamp paper. It should state:

1. Names, addresses and NID numbers of landlord and tenant
2. Flat address and a short description
3. Monthly rent, due date and payment method
4. Advance and/or security deposit amounts and how they are adjusted or returned
5. Service charge and utility responsibilities
6. Term of the tenancy and notice period
7. Rent increase terms
8. Repair and maintenance responsibilities
9. Rules on guests, subletting and alterations
10. Signatures of both parties and witnesses

The Premises Rent Control Act 1991 (Bari Bhara Niyontron Ain) contains provisions on matters such as advance, receipts and rent. It is worth reading a plain-language summary, and consulting a lawyer if your situation is complicated. This article is general information, not legal advice.

Step 8: Complete the Police Tenant Information Form

In Dhaka, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) requires landlords to collect tenant information, usually through a tenant information form, and submit it to the local police station or online system. You will be asked for your NID, photos, family member details, emergency contacts and previous address. This is normal and helps with security in the building. Read what to expect in our guide to police verification of tenants in Dhaka.

Keep copies of your NID, passport (if you are returning from abroad), employment letter or student ID and a few passport photos ready. Having these at hand speeds up the process and makes a good impression on the landlord.

Step 9: Move In and Set Up Utilities

Before moving day

• Do a move-in inspection with the landlord or manager. Photograph every room, meter readings and any existing damage, and share the photos by message so there is a dated record.
• Note the electricity meter number and type (prepaid or postpaid) and learn how to recharge it.
• Ask how water and gas bills are handled and to whom they are paid.
• Check building rules: gate closing time, visitor entry, lift use for moving, garbage disposal.

On moving day

• Book the truck early, especially near the start of the month and before Eid, when demand is highest.
• Inform the building guard in advance and use the lift carefully, with padding if possible.
• Keep valuables and documents with you, not on the truck.

For a detailed look at who pays what, read our guide to utility bills in a rented flat in Bangladesh.

Step 10: Pay Rent the Right Way and Keep Records

Pay rent on time, preferably through bank transfer, bKash, Nagad or another traceable method. If you pay in cash, always ask for a signed receipt. The receipt should show the month, amount, date, flat number and the landlord's signature. At the end of your tenancy, these records make the return of your advance or deposit much smoother.

Sample message to a landlord: "Assalamu Alaikum. I have sent this month's rent of Tk 22,000 by bank transfer today (reference attached). Kindly send a receipt when convenient. Thank you."

Special Notes for Returning Probashi and Expats

• Short-term first: consider a serviced apartment or a short let for the first few weeks while you explore areas in person.
• Documents: keep your NID or passport, visa or work permit (for foreigners), and an employer letter.
• Corporate leases: if your employer is renting on your behalf, the agreement may be in the company's name with specific terms.
• Payments from abroad: agree on the method and keep bank records.

Common Mistakes First-Time Renters Make

• Paying a booking fee or advance before seeing the flat or meeting the owner.
• Choosing a flat by rent alone, ignoring commute time and waterlogging.
• Not asking what the service charge covers.
• Skipping a written agreement to "save time".
• Not photographing the flat's condition at move-in.
• Paying cash without receipts.
• Ignoring gas availability and then paying much more for LPG than expected.
• Not checking mobile signal and internet availability inside the flat.

If you are a single professional or student, some buildings have specific rules for bachelor tenants. Our guide to bachelor flat rent in Dhaka covers how to find a place and present yourself well to landlords.

Your First-Month Checklist

Final Thoughts

Renting your first home in Dhaka takes patience, but it is far easier when you know the steps: define your needs, choose the area carefully, budget for the full monthly cost and the move-in cash, inspect thoroughly, negotiate politely, and put everything in writing. A good tenancy starts with clear expectations on both sides.

Many landlords in Dhaka now use software such as Bariwala ERP (বাড়িওয়ালা ERP) to issue digital invoices and receipts and send SMS reminders, which makes it easier for tenants too, since every payment is on record. Whether your landlord uses an app or a paper register, keep your own copies, pay on time, and communicate early if anything goes wrong. Welcome to Dhaka.