| Property | Location | Rental Price Range |
| Arcoris With unit sizes of up to three bedrooms, this serviced residence has retail units in the lower levels, making it convenient to grab a meal or a coffee. | Jalan Kiara | RM2,800 – RM7,500 |
| Pavilion Hilltop This high-end development offers spacious units of up to four bedrooms. | Changkat Duta Kiara | RM4,600 – RM15,000 |
| Solaris Dutamas Located within a mixed development, this property offers convenience with easy access to the Publika shopping mall. | Jalan Dutamas 1 | RM1,800 – RM5,800 |
| Twy Duplex Condos Duplex condos are a good option if you want more space while having access to the shared facilities such as swimming pool and gym. | 21, Jln Duta Kiara | RM2,500 – RM5,300 |
| Serene Mont Kiara If you are looking for landed property, this gated and guarded community is equipped with clubhouse facilities such as swimming pool and gym, with unit types ranging from townhouses to bungalows. | Jalan Kiara 8 | RM9,500 – RM40,000 |
Looking for a place to stay in a new country can be quite daunting if you are not familiar with the area and the local regulations regarding property rental. Here, we break down the basics of property rental for expats in Malaysia.
Q: I am a 39-year-old British man who will relocate to Kuala Lumpur with my wife and two children, aged ten and 13. I would like to get advice on renting a property in Malaysia. What is the process like, and how do I get in touch with a property agent?
My office will be in the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) area, and I would also be grateful for advice on safe and easily accessible neighbourhoods that are close to amenities and entertainment options for my family.
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Hello, and congratulations on your new job! I hope you are ready for the abundance of sunshine here in Malaysia.
Before you begin your journey, there are some things you need to know when it comes to renting a property for foreigners in Malaysia. There are a variety of property types to choose from, from mid-range to luxury condos and landed properties. Whether you live in the city centre or the suburbs, you can easily choose a home with amenities such as international schools and shopping malls nearby.
What Is The Process Of Renting A Property In Malaysia For Expats?
In Malaysia, like in any other country, you must sign a tenancy agreement to rent a property. However, there are a few things you need to consider as an expat. This included the documents needed, including a valid passport, your employment offer, and a work visa as proof of your eligibility to live in the country. Typically, there are upfront fees when signing a tenancy agreement, and you will also be required to pay security and utility deposits.
The duration of the tenancy agreement is a minimum of one year and this can be negotiated with the landlord. A penalty is imposed if you choose to end the agreement early, so you might want to consider including an exit clause in case your employer decides to transfer you back home or to another country.
So how do you get started? One of the fastest ways is to search on the internet. On iProperty’s portal, you can easily search for rental properties by location and even filter your search results by type of property, rental amount, built-up size and number of bedrooms. A more common approach in Malaysia is to engage a property agent who can assist you with your house hunt. Give them your requirements, and they will do the hunting for you.
READ: A foreigner’s guide to renting a property in Malaysia
How Do You Engage A Property Agent In Malaysia?
Firstly, check with your employer if they have a panel of property agents. Companies that hire expats regularly usually have agents whom they work closely with. These agents are familiar with the company’s requirements, especially if the company directly pays the rental.
In general, agents in Malaysia specialise in a specific geographical area, so it will be easier if you have already identified where you want to live. Rental listings on iProperty usually include the name and contact details of the agent so you can reach out to them personally.
In Malaysia, real estate agents and negotiators are licensed under the Board of Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers. Agents will include their license numbers in their details, and you can validate the information through the board’s website.
READ: 10 terms and conditions in a tenancy agreement you should look out for
Where Should Expats Stay In Malaysia?
You are quite fortunate to work in TRX because the TRX MRT station is served by both the Putrajaya and Kajang MRT lines, so you have the option of taking the train to work. However, if you choose to drive, you might want to consider the commute time because traffic can be heavy during peak hours.
Since you have two children, it might make more sense to live in a place where there is an international school nearby. Fortunately, the number of international schools in Malaysia has grown over the years, so it is fairly easy to find one in most suburban areas.
In terms of safety, you will be fine if you live in the city or some of the suburban neighbourhoods in and around Kuala Lumpur, but for that extra layer of security, choose a condominium which has a dedicated security post or a landed property within a gated and guarded development.
READ: 10 things you should know before you rent a house in Malaysia
Places To Rent – Top Choices For Expatriates In Malaysia
Several townships in the Klang Valley (an area that includes the cities and towns of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Putrajaya) are popular with expats, mostly because there are international schools in the vicinity.
READ: Best rental properties for expats in KL and Selangor
Mont Kiara
Mont Kiara is popular with expats due to its upscale vibes, but more importantly, there are two international schools in the vicinity – the Garden International School (GIS) and Mont Kiara International School. GIS is one of the longest-established international schools in Malaysia. There are many options for condos and landed property in Mont Kiara. There are no MRT or LRT stations within walking distance, but there is a park-and-ride facility at the Phileo Damansara MRT station about 10km away.
Sri Hartamas
Neighbouring Mont Kiara, the Sri Hartamas township is another popular location for expatriates. It has a more relaxed vibe and offers more options for landed property.
| Property | Location | Rental Price Range |
| Sunway Palazzio This stylish development is made for families, with spacious units and facilities such as swimming pool and gym. | Jalan Sri Hartamas 3 | RM8,000 – RM27,000 |
| Sunway Vivaldi If you are looking for bigger units for a more luxurious lifestyle, this development has duplex units and is equipped with amenities such as a barbecue area, swimming pool and tennis court. | Jalan 19/70a, Desa Sri Hartamas | RM 7,100 – RM18,000 |
| Waldorf Tower Conveniently located next to the Hartamas Shopping Centre, this development offers spacious units of up to five bedrooms. | Jalan Sri Hartamas 1 | RM1,500 – RM6000 |
| Menara Hartamas Completed in 2005, this development is slightly dated but rental is comparatively lower. It is also located within the vicinity of the Plaza Damas commercial area and across the road from the Hartamas Shopping Centre | Jalan Sri Hartamas 3 | RM2,400 – RM3,200 |
Petaling Jaya
Originally established as a satellite town for Kuala Lumpur, this city in the state of Selangor has seen rapid development over the years and has all the amenities you need for a comfortable suburban lifestyle. Petaling Jaya, or PJ as it is commonly known, covers a vast area with different townships, so if you live here, you will get more of a local feel rather than being in an expatriate enclave.
Traffic can get quite crazy here, especially during peak hours, as many people commute to KL for work. However, there are also options for public transportation, such as the LRT Kelana Jaya line and the MRT Kajang Line, which run through PJ. The MRT Kajang train will take you right to TRX without changing lines.
There is no shortage of international schools in PJ, including the British International School, Sri KDU, Beaconhouse Sri Inai, and St Joseph’s Institution. For entertainment, PJ is home to many shopping malls, including 1 Utama, which houses an indoor surf simulator, indoor skydiving simulator, wall climbing facility, and the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre.
| Property | Location | Rental Price Range |
| 9 Bukit Utama This condominium is located in Bandar Utama, about a five-minute drive to the British International School. There is a golf club just next door, and major shopping malls such as 1Utama, Tropicana City Mall, The Curve, and Ikea are all within a ten-minute drive. | Persiaran Bukit Utama, Bandar Utama | RM4,250 – RM10,900 |
| Tropicana Gardens Consisting of several phases of development (Arnica, Bayberry , Cyperus, Dianthus), this upscale property in Kota Damansara has three international schools within a ten-minute radius: Sri KDU, St Joseph’s and British International School. It offers great accessibility to the Surian MRT Station and Tropicana Gardens Mall. | Persiaran Surian, Kota Damansara | RM2,300 – RM7,200 |
| Megah Rise This development is located within the mature Taman Megah residential area and built on top of a retail mall and surrounded by a commercial area. The Taman Bahagia LRT station is within walking distance while the Beaconhouse Sri Inai and Nobel International School is about a ten-minute drive away. | Jalan SS 24/10, Taman Megah | RM 3,150 – RM6,500 |
| Emporis The units in this development have a smaller built-up but is located very close to the Sri KDU international school and Kota Damansara MRT station | Persiaran Surian, Kota Damansara | RM650 – RM3,020 |
| Reflection Residences Mutiara Damansara is one of the newer townships in Petaling Jaya and neighbours Kota Damansara and Bandar Utama, where the international schools are located. This development offers spacious units of up to five bedrooms. | Jalan PJU 7/6, Mutiara Damansara | RM2,700 – RM5,450 |
Taman Tun Dr Ismail
Taman Tun Dr Ismail, or TTDI, is known to be an upscale residential area. It is technically a Kuala Lumpur township, but it borders Petaling Jaya, so it is next to townships such as Bandar Utama, Kota Damansara and Mutiara Damansara. This means you will not be too far from Petaling Jaya’s international schools. The Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Bandar Utama MRT stations of the MRT Kajang line are nearby, so you can get to TRX without changing lines. Being a mature township, there are more options for landed property here.
| Property | Location | Rental Price Range |
| TTDI Ascensia With the MRT Taman Tun station just next door, this condominium is perfect if you are planning to commute to work on the train. | Jalan Damansara, Taman Tun Dr Ismail | RM2,200 – RM7,000 |
| The Residence Condominium Just a short walk from the MRT Taman Tun Station, there are retail outlets nearby and the Taman Tun wet market is also within walking distance. | Jalan Wan Kadir 5 | RM4,000 – RM4,300 |
| The Greens Located next to The Residence, this development has some modern and spacious units and you can walk to the MRT station. | Jalan Wan Kadir 5 | RM5,000 – RM 13,000 |
Bangsar
Bangsar’s matured (and upscale) township can be considered one of the original expatriate neighbourhoods in Kuala Lumpur. Strategically located between Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, you can easily access major highways or public transportation through the Pusat Bandar Damansara MRT and the Bangsar LRT stations. Garden International School and Mont Kiara International School is a short drive away. In recent years, Bangsar has come to include the Bangsar South development, which was originally part of Kampung Kerinchi.
| Property | Location | Rental Price Range |
| Ken Bangsar With a modern and sleek design, this development offers units of between 2,000 sq feet and 8,500 sq feet, catering to different tenant profiles. | 30, Jalan Kapas | RM3,000 – RM12,000 |
| Palmyra Bangsar This low-density development is designed as a resort-style living. The rental rates are slightly higher but it offers spacious units with high levels of privacy for its residents. | 9, Jalan Medang Tanduk | RM12,000 – RM13,800 |
| The Establishment The units in this development are smaller, at around 830 sq feet, but the development offers easy access to public transportation with a direct link to the Bangsar LRT station. | Jalan Ang Seng | RM2,310 – RM3,300 |
| One Menerung This high-end development is located just next to the Bangsar Shopping Centre and the Pusat Bandar Damansara MRT station is about a ten-minute walk away. | Jalan Menerung | RM11,000 – RM27,000 |
| The Loft Bangsar With only 15 units, this exclusive upscale development has units with built-ups of more than 3,300 sq feet. | Jalan Penaga, Bukit Bandaraya | RM7,500 – RM18,000 |
Ampang
Closer to the Kuala Lumpur city centre, Ampang is another area popular with expats, and it has the amenities to cater to this population. There is an abundance of Western dining and shopping options here and in the neighbouring Ampang Hilir area. Many embassies are also in this area. The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) is located here, while the Alice Smith International School is about 10km away.
| Property | Location | Rental Price Range |
| Arte Plus The built-ups of units in this development are smaller but it has units of up to three bedrooms and rent is relatively lower. ISKL is about ten minutes away. | Jalan Wawasan 2/12, Bandar Baru Ampang | RM1,450 – RM3,000 |
| M City The bigger units in this development consist of duplexes with more floor space and up to four bedrooms. | Jalan Ampang | RM1,700 – RM7,500 |
| Astoria Ampang This development has units with up to four bedrooms and the sleek design caters to a modern living. | Jalan Ampang Kiri, Off Jln Ampang | RM900 – RM4,900 |
| Rimbun This luxury development has units with floor spaces of more than 3,551 sq feet. The ISKL is a five-minute drive away around the corner. | Jalan Ampang Hilir | RM15,000 – RM22,000 |
| Brunsfield EmbassyView This condominium is located along the busy Jalan Ampang and offers spacious units of at least three bedrooms. | 273, Jalan Ampang | RM4,200 – RM15,000 |
With the information we shared on the process of renting a property for expats and some of the popular areas to live in, we wish you all the best in your house hunting in Malaysia.
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