Property for rent in Malaysia

Malaysia consists of two non-contiguous regions that are separated by the South China Sea: Peninsular Malaysia (also known as West Malaysia), which lies on the Malay Peninsula, and East Malaysia, which is located on Borneo Island. Kuala Lumpur, its capital, lies in the western part of Peninsular Malaysia. Welcoming around 13.79 million people in 2018, this city is the sixth most visited in the world. The most popular attraction in the city is the Petronas Twin Towers. Standing at 451.9 meters, these iconic towers are the tallest twin towers in the world. From the outside, they look impressive, from the inside, visitors are offered with breath-taking views of the city.

Another popular attraction in Kuala Lumpur is the Batu Caves, which is actually located 30 minutes from the city. It is a limestone hill where visitors can find a series of cave temples and the world’s tallest statue of Murugan. The cave temples are one of the most famous Hindu shrines outside India.

Located about 16 miles south of Kuala Lumpur is Putrajaya, the country’s administrative center. While it is not as popular as Kuala Lumpur, it does have plenty to offer. Some of the most famous attractions are Putra Mosque, Putrajaya Lake, and Seri Wawasan Bridge.

Besides Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Penang is very popular among international visitors as well. It is where the country’s UNESCO-listed city, George Town, is located. It is well-known for having the largest collection of pre-war buildings in the Southeast Asian Region. This city is frequented by those who want to immerse themselves in the country’s cultural sights.

Due to the influx of international visitors coming to the country, the property market is flourishing, and international visitors now have more options on the type of property they want to rent.

The most popular types of property to rent in the country for foreigners are condominiums and apartments. Condos in the country are usually designed with luxury features and are built within high-rise buildings. They mostly provide common areas for renters, such as swimming pools, gyms, and children’s playgrounds. Renters are also provided with 24-hour security and a designated parking spot.

Apartments in the country are very similar to condos, though they may not be as luxurious. Some apartments only offer basic facilities, including parking spaces and 24-hour security, but others offer common areas such as swimming pools and gyms. There are also upscale, serviced apartments in the country, which offer fully furnished units, housekeeping, cleaning service, laundry, and other facilities that give renters a hotel-like lifestyle.

In terms of unit size, apartments and condos in the country vary from studio room, one- to four-bedroom, loft, and penthouse.
For those who are looking to rent landed properties, bungalows and villas are the most popular options. Bungalows are standalone units that are surrounded by a large plot of land, a garden, and a parking area. Villas are essentially very similar to bungalows but are usually bigger and more luxurious. Both bungalows and villas in the country offer renters more privacy and space.

1. Affordability – the cost of buying a house can be too much for some people. In Malaysia, buyers have to pay a mortgage, property assessment tax (cukai pintu), quit rent (cukai tanah) for landed property, sinking fund for non-landed properties, and maintenance fee. Most of the time, the cost of buying is much more expensive than renting.
2. Flexibility – if you want more freedom and flexibility, renting is the best option for you as it is more straightforward and cost-effective. If you do not see yourself living in Malaysia permanently, or if you have problems with your neighbor, you can just leave the property without having to worry about selling the property or finding a tenant. 
3. Less responsibility – being a property owner means dealing with maintenance and repair issues. If you are renting, any major repair works can be handled by your landlord.