By: Thomas Teo
If you are walking around in Malaysia, you can see lots of expats especially in Kuala Lumpur. There are many types of accommodation suitable for expats. Expatriate accommodations in Kuala Lumpur are affordable and available at different area.
Types of expatriate accommodation in Kuala Lumpur
In Kuala Lumpur, there are many different forms of houses like bungalows, semi-detached and terrace houses, apartments, and condominiums. The most popular selection for expats in Kuala Lumpur is condominiums. Most of the condominiums have the facilities such as gyms, swimming pools, and tennis courts. The security is safe and located near to public transport.
The accommodation can be fully furnished, semi furnished, or completely unfurnished, which is without kitchen appliances or even curtain rails. Most of the apartments are unfurnished while serviced apartments are furnished. Depending on the area chosen, serviced apartments are more expensive than normal apartment.
Finding accommodation in Kuala Lumpur
To buy or rent a property in Kuala Lumpur, it requires easy procedure and no hidden cultural. Expats can look for accommodation in Kuala Lumpur through searching internet and local newspaper. Before deciding accommodation to get, it is recommended to go through few properties to compare the cost for certain kind of space.
Many expats love to use a rental agent to help them to search for suitable accommodation and negotiate the terms of their lease agreements. Some expats plan to live in Kuala Lumpur for longer time and invest in property. Estate agent can help them and the fees are normally paid by landlord or seller.
Factors to consider when looking accommodations in Kuala Lumpur
The traffic in Kuala Lumpur can be very extreme. It is recommended for expats to live closer to their workplace or their kid’s school, or close to public transports like bus station and LRT stations.
In Kuala Lumpur, many expats are scattered around the city, especially popular areas like Jalan Ampang which is near to some of the embassies and consulates, Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Damansara Heights. Bangsar, which is located south of the city centre, is also another popular location. Most of the international schools can be found at Golden Triangle area. If accommodation cost is not the biggest concern, Jalan Ampang and Damansara Height area is a good place which surrounded with shopping malls.
Signing a lease in Kuala Lumpur
Most of the rental terms are negotiable. However, most of the leases are set two years. Before signing the lease, make sure you are clear with all the terms. You may also want to include an agreement for early termination if giving two month notice or paying a no-notice fine with clear amount.
There should be at least two months’ rent which is refundable are expected as security deposit to secure the rental. The resident is responsible to pay their own utilities, which include water, electricity, sewerage, phone and internet bills. In the rental agreement, it is important to clearly written the clause that which party pays the minor repairs of the property during the tenancy.