Renting to Expats and Foreign Nationals in Dhaka: Landlord Guide

Dhaka is home to a sizeable community of foreign nationals: diplomats, staff of international organisations and NGOs, engineers on infrastructure projects, garment and textile industry professionals, teachers at international schools and business people. Many live in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Bashundhara and Uttara, but demand also exists near industrial zones and project sites elsewhere. For landlords, renting to expats and foreign nationals in Dhaka can mean reliable, well-maintained tenancies, often backed by a company. It also comes with different expectations and extra paperwork.

This guide explains what landlords should know: who the typical expat tenants are, what they expect from a flat, which documents to collect, how corporate leases and payments usually work, how to handle police information and house rules, and the common mistakes to avoid. It is general information, not legal or tax advice; rules around foreigners, currency and tax can change, so confirm the details with a lawyer, tax adviser or the relevant authority.

Who Are Expat Tenants in Dhaka?

Expat tenants are not one group. Understanding which type you are dealing with helps you set the right terms.

What Expat Tenants Usually Expect

Expectations vary, but many foreign tenants, especially those supported by companies or organisations, look for:

• Reliable utilities: constant water supply, good water pressure, a generator that covers the whole flat (not just lights), and often a water filtration system.
• Security: 24-hour guards, controlled gate access, CCTV, secure parking and sometimes a separate servant or driver room.
• Furnishing: fully furnished or semi-furnished flats with AC in all bedrooms, a fitted kitchen, fridge, washing machine and good lighting.
• Maintenance response: quick repairs, a single contact person who can communicate in English, and written confirmations.
• Internet: fast, stable broadband, as many work remotely with home offices.
• Transparent billing: clear invoices and receipts for rent, service charge and utilities, since companies often need them for reimbursement.

Preparing Your Flat for Foreign Tenants

You do not need to turn your flat into a luxury serviced apartment, but a few upgrades make a big difference.

1. Deep maintenance: fix every leak, loose switch and sticky window before listing. Our flat maintenance checklist for landlords covers what to check.
2. Electrical safety: earthing, correctly rated breakers for each AC and geyser, and covered sockets. Many foreign tenants and their employers inspect this.
3. Water quality: clean tanks and consider an in-line filter or leaving space for the tenant's purifier.
4. Kitchen: a proper exhaust, working burners or space for an electric cooker, and cabinets in good condition.
5. Furnishing inventory: if furnished, make a detailed inventory list with photos and condition notes.
6. Generator coverage: be precise about which appliances run during load-shedding; exaggerating this is a quick way to lose trust.

Documents to Collect From Foreign Tenants

For a Bangladeshi tenant you would normally collect an NID. For foreign nationals, the equivalents are different. Commonly requested documents include:

• Passport copy (photo page)
• Valid Bangladesh visa page and, where applicable, work permit or relevant approval
• Employment letter or letter from the sponsoring company or organisation
• Passport-size photographs
• Emergency contact details, both local and in their home country
• Details of family members who will live in the flat
• For corporate leases: company trade licence, TIN/BIN details and authorised signatory letter

Check that the visa or permit period is consistent with the lease period. If the visa expires before the lease ends, discuss what happens and write it into the agreement. Store copies securely; passport data is sensitive personal information.

Police Information and Tenant Registration

In Dhaka, landlords are generally expected to submit tenant information to the local police through the DMP tenant information form, and this applies to foreign tenants too. Police may also have additional requirements for foreign residents. Contact your local police station to confirm what is required for foreign nationals and keep a copy of whatever you submit. See our DMP tenant information form guide for the general process.

Note: This is general information. Requirements for foreign residents can change and may differ by area or by the tenant's status (for example, diplomatic staff). Confirm with the local police station and, where relevant, the tenant's employer or mission.

Corporate Leases: Company as Tenant

Many expat tenancies are leased in the name of a company or organisation rather than the individual. This has advantages and some extra considerations.

Advantages

• Payment reliability backed by a business, often with longer terms.
• Professional lease processes and clear documentation.
• If the employee leaves, the company may place a replacement tenant.

Things to clarify

• Who is the tenant: the company, with the named employee as occupant.
• Early termination: companies often want a "diplomatic" or "relocation" clause allowing early exit if the employee is transferred. Agree a reasonable notice period and any penalty.
• Tax deduction at source: companies may be required to deduct tax at source from rent payments and give you a certificate. Understand how this works with your tax adviser; our article on renting to corporate tenants explains the general picture.
• Invoices: companies usually need a formal invoice every month or quarter, showing your name, address, TIN if applicable, period, amount and payment details.

Rent, Advance and Payment Methods

Rent for expat tenancies is often quoted and paid in Taka through bank transfer. Some owners are asked to accept payments quoted in US dollars. Foreign currency transactions in Bangladesh are regulated, so if anyone proposes quoting or paying rent in foreign currency, check with your bank and a professional adviser before agreeing. Keeping rent in Taka, paid into a local bank account, is usually the simplest approach.

Advance arrangements are commonly negotiated. Corporate tenants sometimes pay several months or a year in advance, while others pay monthly with a security deposit. Whatever you agree, write down whether each payment is an adjustable advance or a refundable security deposit (jamanat).

For example (illustrative)

A company leases a furnished three-bedroom flat in Gulshan for an employee on a two-year lease. The agreed terms (illustrative only) are:

• Monthly rent: Tk 1,50,000, including furniture
• Service charge: Tk 15,000 per month, paid separately
• Rent paid quarterly in advance: 1,50,000 x 3 = Tk 4,50,000 per quarter
• Security deposit: two months' rent = 1,50,000 x 2 = Tk 3,00,000, refundable at the end

Suppose the company must deduct tax at source at a certain percentage and pay it to the government. If, purely for illustration, the deduction were 5%, the quarterly bank transfer would be 4,50,000 - (4,50,000 x 0.05) = 4,50,000 - 22,500 = Tk 4,27,500, and you would receive a certificate for the Tk 22,500 deducted, which you may be able to use against your own tax liability. The actual rate and rules must be confirmed with your tax adviser or the NBR; this example only shows the arithmetic.

Setting the Right Rent for Expat Tenants

It is tempting to quote a much higher rent simply because the tenant is a foreigner. That usually backfires. Companies and organisations compare several options, often with the help of relocation agents, and they know the market. A fair price for what you actually offer leads to faster leasing and longer stays.

When setting the rent, consider:

• What is included: furniture, appliances, generator coverage, service charge, parking spaces and internet all add value. Price them honestly.
• Comparable flats: look at similar flats in the same area and building standard, not just the headline asking prices on listing sites.
• Lease length: a two- or three-year corporate lease with advance payments may justify a slightly lower monthly rent than a short, flexible arrangement.
• Annual escalation: agree in writing how rent will change at renewal, rather than surprising the tenant later.

Relocation agents and brokers may charge a commission. Clarify upfront who pays it and how much, so it does not become a dispute after the lease is signed.

The Rental Agreement

For foreign tenants, the agreement is usually in English, or bilingual. It should be clear and complete. Key clauses to include:

Our English rental agreement template is a useful starting point, but for high-value or corporate leases, have a lawyer review the final document.

Cultural Awareness and Communication

Most issues with expat tenancies come from misunderstandings rather than bad intentions. A few habits help:

• Communicate in writing (email or WhatsApp) and confirm important points, since spoken agreements can be misunderstood across languages.
• Give notice before visiting the flat and respect privacy; many foreign tenants expect 24 hours' notice.
• Explain local realities honestly: load-shedding, monsoon waterlogging, gas pressure, Friday and Eid schedules.
• Be fair and consistent. Expat tenants talk to each other, and a good reputation brings referrals.
• Never discriminate on nationality, religion or ethnicity; treat all tenants by the same standards.

Managing Household Staff Access

Expat households in Dhaka often employ drivers, cooks, housekeepers and guards. Agree in advance how staff will enter the building, whether their details should be recorded with building security, where drivers wait, and whether staff quarters (if any) are included. A visitor and staff register at the gate avoids confusion and improves security for all residents.

Move-In and Move-Out Process

A structured handover protects both sides and is standard practice for most international employers.

At move-in

• Walk through the flat together with the tenant or the company representative.
• Check every item against the furniture and fixtures inventory and note its condition.
• Take dated photos of each room, appliance and any existing marks or damage.
• Record opening electricity, gas and water meter or sub-meter readings.
• Hand over keys, access cards and remote controls, and list them in the handover sheet.
• Both sides sign the inventory and handover sheet.

At move-out

• Schedule the inspection a few days before the last day so there is time to fix issues.
• Compare the flat against the move-in inventory and photos.
• Agree on any deductions for damage beyond normal wear and tear, with written reasons and estimates.
• Take final meter readings and settle utility bills.
• Return the security deposit within the agreed time, with a written statement of any deductions.

Expat tenants often leave Bangladesh soon after their lease ends, so settle everything before their departure date. Chasing a deposit dispute across borders is frustrating for everyone.

Common Mistakes Landlords Make

• Overpromising on generator coverage or water supply. It damages trust quickly.
• No furniture inventory. At move-out, disputes over missing or damaged items are almost guaranteed.
• Ignoring visa and lease period mismatch. Plan for what happens if the tenant must leave Bangladesh.
• Accepting informal foreign currency arrangements. Check the rules first.
• Weak invoicing. Companies cannot reimburse without proper invoices and receipts.
• Slow repairs. Expat tenants often compare you against serviced apartments; responsiveness matters.
• Skipping police information submission. It is a basic security step for everyone in the building.

Final Thoughts

Renting to expats and foreign nationals in Dhaka can be rewarding: longer leases, corporate backing and tenants who look after the flat. Success depends on preparation. Make the flat genuinely reliable, collect the right documents, write a clear English agreement with an inventory, clarify tax and payment arrangements with professionals, and communicate in writing.

Professional tenants expect professional paperwork. Bariwala ERP can help by generating monthly invoices, recording payments with receipts, tracking advances and keeping agreements and tenant profiles in one place, so you can respond quickly when a company asks for a statement. Whether you use software or not, clear records are what make these tenancies run smoothly.