What generally does 'Serviced' mean in Malaysia? is it inclusive of untility bills? is it just a cleaning and maintenance service?
The rental of a serviced apartment in Malaysia covers usage of all utilities and a periodic cleaning service, usually one or twice weekly. In essence, it is similar to a hotel room except for absence of room service, hotel lobby & other niceties. Charges may be quoted on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. A minimum stay of one week is common & there is often a discount for longer stays.
Do any forum members have any opinion or experience of the 'Mont Kiara' area?
I have experience as a tenant, owner-occupier & as a landlord, all in Mont Kiara over the last 12 years. Currently in the 2nd year of the MM2H program & still staying in MK. It is popular among expats for its proximity to KL, international schools, medical clinics & ambulance service, high quality accomodation (mainly high-rise condos) & excellent security (CCTV, 24-hour mobile security patrols with guard dogs, besides gated/guarded security provide by individual condos. However, this all comes at a cost - high property prices, over-development, traffic problems. I would move elsewhere if not for the wife.
Is it possible to rent apartments/condos for 3 or 6 months rather than 12? - We are trying to give ourselves a base so we can find the right property to commit to for the first 12 months?
Leases shorter than a year are common, though not the norm.
Some apartments specialise in short-term rentals e.g. the Dorchester studio apmnts, located at Plaza Hartamas, right behind the Hartamas Shopping Centre which is 5 minutes drive from Mont Kiara. Very nice location, with plentiful shopping & eating places at one's doorstep, popular with single expats on short term stays, & reasonably priced, with furnished single room studios asking for Rm 1400 pm.
Use of a short-term rental property prior to purchase commitment is highly recommended, in my opinion, unless you already have a very firm idea of where you wish to stay (usually dictated by the wife, for family reasons!).
When we spoke to the real estate agents about purchasing we found out that we (in some cases) have to pay them a 'finders' fee, is there any extra fees that we need to pay to letting agents for finding the property/introduction, or is it just the rental?
The standard practice is for the owner/landlord to pay a letting commission to the estate agent amounting to 1 month's rent for a 2-year lease. For these longer term leases, the tenant pays for the preparation & stamping of the lease agreement.
When a prospective tenant is introduced to a vacant property which is managed by another agent, usually on an exclusive basis, the commission is split between the two agents. In any case, it is the owner/landlord who pays the commission, not the tenant. Any other proposed "fee" is a rip-off, so beware.
Given what I have described above, you should have deduced that agents will naturally be biased towards properties which they have exclusive access to or where they are dealing directly with the owner so as to avoid splitting the commission with another agent. You would be well advised to do some ground preparation yourself (with a copy of the Star's classified section) & prod your agent if necessary.
I am unclear as to whether document preparation charges are applicable for short-term leases of serviced apartments. Prior to my departure from Malaysia 2 years ago, I stayed for a week in a 1-room, serviced apartment managed by Kiara Realty within one of their many MK condos. I signed a 1-page "agreement" at no cost. If I recall correctly, I had my credit card swiped (as in checking in at hotels), but I would not recommend that you do the same with any other agent.
Can anyone recommend a letting agent / company that may be able to assist us with finding a property that meets the above criteria?
We need to find somewhere that definately has a good gym, broadband, pool, and offers good links to shops etc until we purchase a car (we decided against importing - too much hassle)?
A gym & pool is standard for the MK condos. Quality varies in accordance with the rent. All are within walking distance to shops. Taxis are plentiful, but service can be a pain in the back, as in the rest of KL.
Broadband is available at many wifi hotspots in KL but not in any of these rental units except on a subscription basis, to the best of my knowledge. You may wish to consider the latest offering in wireless, mobile internet service. Available only in KL, it requires a lump sum payment up front for a 13-month contract. However, it is totally mobile & you can use it in your future home within the Klang Valley - do remember to check for coverage! Details are given in a separate topic in this website.
A good agent will get you anything you want at the best available price without any rip-offs. You can PM me to get one or two names that I can safely recommend.
Good luck with your relocation!
Topic: Moving over in March - General Advice Needed (Read 455 times)
August 14, 2007, 04:48:53 PM