VCUarts Qatar Housing and Housing Allowance Policy

Effective Date of Policy Revision:

July 1, 2019

Policy Statement and Purpose:

VCUarts Qatar recognizes the need to provide quality housing or housing allowance for eligible
employees and their accompanying dependents as part of their benefits provided with the
employment contract. Managing housing for our employees helps to insulate them from the risk
assumed in operating in the changeable Doha rental market and ensures the employee is not
burdened with issues such as lease negotiation, maintenance, etc.
VCUarts Qatar provides eligible employees leased, furnished housing paid by VCUarts Qatar.
In the event appropriate VCUarts Qatar leased inventory is unavailable, VCUarts Qatar will
provide a housing allowance to pay for housing according to benefit policies listed in this
document.

Who Should Read This Policy:

All eligible employees and their supervisors.

Related Documents:

● VCUarts Qatar Benefits Certification Form

● VCUarts Qatar Leased Housing Agreement Form
● HRonCall Housing Opt-out Form

Contacts: VCUarts Qatar Director of Human Resources

VCUarts Qatar Director of Finance

Definitions:

● Housing allowance: Emolument paid to eligible employees’ semi-monthly as part of

their VCUarts Qatar benefits, in the event that appropriate VCUarts Qatar leased
housing is unavailable.
● Leased housing: Housing provided to eligible employees by VCUarts Qatar in which
the rental agreement and responsibilities resides under VCUarts Qatar. Lease
payment is the responsibility of VCUarts Qatar.
● Personal housing: Housing leased specifically under the name of the employee and
not through or the responsibility of VCUarts Qatar. Lease payment is the responsibility
of the employee.
● FTE: A full-time equivalent (FTE) is a unit to measure employed persons in a way
that makes them comparable although they may work or study a different number of
hours per week. The unit is obtained by comparing an employee's average number
of hours worked to the average number of hours of a full-time worker. A full-time

Date of Revision: June 24, 2019

 person is therefore counted as 100% FTE, while a part-time worker gets a score in
proportion to the hours he or she works. For example, a part-time worker employed
for 20 hours a week where full-time work consists of 40 hours, is counted as 50%
FTE.

Eligibility Criteria

All VCUarts Qatar employees will be provided VCUarts Qatar leased, furnished housing or may
receive a housing allowance based on the criteria below. Note: The use of leased housing is
encouraged as all issues related to housing, if using the housing allowance, are the employee’s
responsibility. VCUarts Qatar cannot assist with negotiation of rents, repairs, unexpected lease
changes, etc.
Benefits:

VCUQ Sponsored Teaching and Research Faculty (T&R Faculty) and University and Academic
Professionals (UAP), and Local Hires, including Qatari Nationals receive benefits as described
below:

Monthly Allowance
Eligible for VCU FTE FTE FTE
Housing 75-100% 50-74% <50%
T&R Faculty
single or married with no children Yes 15,000 QAR 7,500 QAR Not Eligible
single or married with one or more children Yes 18,000 QAR 9,000 QAR Not Eligible
UAP
single or married with no children Yes 15,000 QAR 7,500 QAR Not Eligible
single or married with one or more children Yes 18,000 QAR 9,000 QAR Not Eligible
Local Hires
single or married with no children No 10,000 QAR 5,000 QAR Not Eligible
single or married with one or more children No 13,600 QAR 6,800 QAR Not Eligible
Qatari Nationals **
single or married with no children No 9,000 QAR 4,500 QAR Not Eligible
single or married with one or more children No 12,600 QAR 6,300 QAR Not Eligible

*Allowance is inclusive of utilities

**Qatari Nationals are not eligible for utilities

● Sponsored employees whose spouse is sponsored by another company or an entity under

Qatar Foundation or HBKU will receive a prorated amount.
If a sponsored employee wishes to be considered for the housing allowance, the required
procedure is as follows:
To ensure the appropriate and allowable distribution of housing allowance, employees must
provide documentation indicating the amount of housing allowance provided by their spouse’s
employer to receive this benefit and it must be submitted within 14 days of the request by
VCUarts Qatar Human Resources. Documentation must be on company letterhead and clearly
indicate amounts specifically given for employee and dependents. Information is subject to
verification. Failure to provide this documentation will result in the suspension of the
housing benefit until documentation is received.

Date of Revision: June 24, 2019

 Non-Sponsored Employees including Teaching and Research Faculty (T&R Faculty),
University and Academic Professionals, and Local Hires receive benefits as described
below:

Non-Sponsored employees are not eligible for VCUarts Qatar provided housing but may be eligible
for a pro-rated housing allowance based on the Eligibility Criteria and Benefits mentioned in this
policy.

● To be reviewed for a pro-rated housing allowance, all Non-Sponsored employees must

provide documentation indicating the amount of housing allowance provided by their
spouse’s/parent’s sponsor/employee to receive this benefit and must be submitted within 14
days of the request of VCUarts Qatar Human Resources. Documentation must be on
company letterhead and clearly indicate amounts specifically being given for housing.
Information submitted is subject to verification. Failure to provide this documentation will
result in the suspension of housing benefits until documentation is received.
● Non-Sponsored employees living in accommodations provided by their spouse’s employee
will not be eligible to receive housing or utility benefits.
● Non-sponsored employees, whose sponsored spouse receives an allowance based on
“Unaccompanied Status”, will be only eligible to receive 30% of their benefit amount,
unless the employee can provide the required documentation outlining the specific
amounts received by the sponsored spouse.
General Rules:

● Employees residing in VCUarts Qatar leased housing are required to complete an

inspection checklist during move in, as well as, during move out of a unit. Employees must
vacate from their previous leased unit within the agreed timeline and refrain from taking
more than 2 weeks to move personal belongings. Any missing items belonging to the unit
being vacated, which has not been accounted for, will be charged to the employee.
● Employees moving between VCUQ leased housing or moving from VCUQ leased housing
to personal housing at their discretion will be required to pay for the moving and transfer
expenses.
● VCUarts Qatar employees residing in VCUarts Qatar leased housing cannot vacate the unit
and transition to a housing allowance until the lease of the unit expires. Human Resources will
confirm at least 2 months in advance of the lease renewal to ensure the employee intends to
stay in the unit; however, employees should also communicate with Human Resources if they
intend to leave at the end of the current lease. To initiate this process, please complete a
HRonCall Opt-Out request.
● VCUarts Qatar employees residing in VCUarts Qatar leased housing will be responsible for all
damages beyond normal wear and tear per the standards established in the lease agreement.
● All VCUarts Qatar employees eligible to receive housing allowances are required to complete
the VCUarts Qatar Benefits Certification form during the issuance of a contract or at the
request of VCUarts Qatar Human Resources to determine the appropriate amount of
allowance. Any change in housing status must be communicated with Human Resources
using the VCUarts Qatar HRonCall system.

Date of Revision: June 24, 2019

 ● VCUarts Qatar employees receiving a housing allowance are solely responsible for sourcing
suitable accommodation for themselves and dealing with the landlord directly regarding lease
details, maintenance issues, etc., without the involvement of VCUarts Qatar.
● VCUarts Qatar employee’s primary residence must be leased in Qatar at all times. Employees
receiving a housing allowance must be actively leasing a unit in Qatar to continue to receive
the allowance. For example, an employee cannot sublease his/her apartment for the summer
and collect the housing allowance. Employees will be required to repay the allowance if it is
determined they were not actually leasing the housing on record.
● In the event that VCUarts Qatar leased housing is unavailable and married VCUarts Qatar
Teaching and Research Faculty (T&R Faculty) and University and Academic Professional
members require a housing allowance, they will receive equal portions of the housing
allowance to match the full amount. HR must be notified as soon as possible regarding the
marriage status change using the VCUarts Qatar HRonCall system. A marriage certificate
should be provided as soon as possible.
● If two or more VCUarts Qatar employees share housing, they will each receive equal portion of
the one appropriate housing allowance.
● Family members of an eligible VCUarts Qatar employee must have valid residence permit and
must reside in Qatar with the employee in order for the employee to receive the allowable
housing allowance based on family size.
● Housing allowance is paid along with the salary on regular VCUarts Qatar paydays and will not
be pro-rated.
● If it is determined that allowances were given in error, employee(s) receiving allowance will be
required to repay the amount through a reasonable payroll deduction plan.
● This policy is subject to change and the allowances can increase or decrease (with sufficient
notice) in value based on periodic evaluation and budget constraints.
● If a situation arises that has not been addressed in this policy, the interpretation and
final resolution of this policy will be made at the sole discretion of VCUarts Qatar.
● This policy, dated July 1, 2019, supersedes all previous VCUarts Qatar Housing Allowance
policies and guidelines.

Date of Revision: June 24, 2019