Renting a condo

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Hi Feebee, usually 'flats' do not have facilities like swimming pool and gym like what the condos have to offer. Yes, they are smaller and cheaper than condos generally and the security might not be that good. Most of the 'flats' were built as medium and low cost housing complexes by developers of condominiums as it's required by the govt that they do their civic contributions to the 'housing-needy population' eg if you look at Tg Park Condominium on Tg Tokong Rd (across from Island Plaza) next to it is a 5 yr old colorful lower highrise - that's the medium cost flat.
Some not so generous developers would build the med/low cost flats away from their higher end condos where land is cheaper. I've visited a sick person in one of the units in a low cost flat complex in Tg Bungah (1Brm, 1 small bthrm - like a sink right next to a toilet and the shower head sticking out from the wall in between the tiny space available, a livingrm cum tiny kitchenette) that was just RM300/mth

Regards,
BB

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Try this

http://www.apartment-penang.com/2007/10/sri-perdana-condo-penang.html

Look at the comments on that page and there is someone looking for 1700 rent - seems pretty good

Cheers

JJ

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Hi Feebee, you might consider the Midland condo at  Burma Rd ( a traffic artery)
Pros : next to Midland 1-stop shopping centre; bus stops  to city centre or Batu Ferringhi;   next to Berjaya Hotel; 2 convenience stores downstairs; opposite Adventist Hospital, 15 minutes walk to  Gurney Plaza Shopping Mall; 5 mins. walk to morning market, 15 mins. walk to banks, Pulau Tikus municipal market,
Cons: no swimming pool, gym etc

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Thanks respondents, much excellent information and links.   Can't beat local knowledge.  I have given up the idea of getting a smaller apartment as there are so few.  I now understand that one needs a condo rather an a flat to get a pool, [and that's essential], and condos are 3/2 style everywhere.  It remains to get a 3/2 in my price range, [up to 1000RM], and I have seen several such advertised.

BJ Court seems to fit the bill as it's next to shopping and buses.

Given BJ as a model, could anyone suggest other condos in similar situations. 

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NO no I must resist all the obvious BJ Jokes

 

JJ

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hi, feebee,

And welcome to the site. Friends of mine have rented in a condo near the airport. Unfortunately I don't remember the name, so I'll try and find out.

They have 3 bedrooms and it costs RM700 per month. The landlord wanted RM900, they bargained down. It's fully furnished, and pleasant.

So, although a 3 bedroom may be larger than you want, it isn't necessarily going to be so much more expensive. 

Many thanks Thermos for starting this useful thread. Hi, Thermos, how's it going? 

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JJ - I don't understand.  If there are serious problems with BJ Court I would like to know them.   

Scott - thanks, that all makes sense.  Also, from another thread, I have discovered that one the spare bedrooms could usefully be turned into a drying room.  700RM furnished sounds very good and I would be interested to know the name.  Also, do they get aircraft noise?

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 I doubt that there is much aircraft noise as mainly the planes land and take off towards the sea (wind permitting) and come nowhere near Georgetown.

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JJ - I don't understand.  If there are serious problems with BJ Court I would like to know them.   

Sorry That one must have gone over your head - no nothing about BJ Court - when you get to 10 posts I will send you a PM with a blow by blow explanation of the (now failed) joke

Cheers

JJ

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JJ Ah, now I understand about the 10 posts [qualifying number].

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Hi Feebee, you might consider the Midland condo at  Burma Rd ( a traffic artery)
Pros : next to Midland 1-stop shopping centre; bus stops  to city centre or Batu Ferringhi;   next to Berjaya Hotel; 2 convenience stores downstairs; opposite Adventist Hospital, 15 minutes walk to  Gurney Plaza Shopping Mall; 5 mins. walk to morning market, 15 mins. walk to banks, Pulau Tikus municipal market,
Cons: no swimming pool, gym etc

Thanks rmyu, I have gathered the data on this and it's now on my shortlist of 3.  According to the 2 estate agents I checked, it does have a swimming pool.  This is essential for me as I swim every chance I get, which usually means at least 4 x a week.

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Hiya, People, I am considering living in Malaysia for at least 10 months of the year.My basic occupational pension amounts to just over RM6000.In addition my wife receives a similar amount of occupational pension.This does not include RM2500 state pension that we will recive when 65, which is 7 years from now for me.
We already have a substantial property  in Malaysia,plus a condom both of which are paid for.

We are planning of build our own bungalow on a piece of exclusive land we own and paid for within Country Heights, Kajang.This would cost us approximately RM1,300,000.Funds for which we already have.

Given we will still have 2 landed properties back in UK worth over £850,000  in current times.

Our children have both studied in UK, and currently  my youngest has one more year to go before he goes off to UNI locally in UK

What sort of life style can we expect?Would the joint income of RM12,000 be more than sufficient for us for an above average life style,including health insurance and short holidays to nearby countries from time to time, and a trip back to UK about once if not  twice a year?

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Hi EM

Welcome on the forum. Hard to say what an above average life style is that differs from person to person. But IMO you can live a nice life here on RM 12,000. Rent for a nice furnished condo 3BR/2BR in a good neighbourhood will be around 3000/3500 here in Penang in KL it will be heigher I suppose. The remaining 8500 is enough for the rest you want. Medical insurance however will, if you opt for an expat insurance, take a decent chunk out of it...

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Just a couple of things in response to previous posts from FeeBee and Scott...

FeeBee, am I right in thinking you are/were living in Thailand? In the past I had also considered living in Thailand so I wondered what made you decide to leave and come to Malaysia? Both countries and their retirement schemes for expats have their + & - 's. Although I have visited Thailand numerous times as a tourist (and briefly as a volunteer teacher) I have not resided there. I imagine dealing with officialdom in Thailand is more difficult given English is less widely understood?

Scott, sorry I didnt respond to your question put to me in July re how are things going. I was back in London at that time catching up with friends and family.
I returned to KL in August and immediately set about looking for a condo in KL. I decided to share with a Malaysian friend and we identified the area we preferred right down to a specific condo. We found a very efficient and reliable agent operating in the condo and she showed us around several in our price range. The first was the best. Fully & nicely furnished, LCD tv, all mod cons and a balcony which was one of my must haves. That was RM2000 + gas/water/elec. We offered RM1800 but they wouldnt budge from RM2000 - maybe because the Landlord saw an Angmo, so we agreed on the asking price because it was so good. We were THEN told that was the rent for a 2 year contract. We said no, 1 year. They said if 1 year its RM2100. I said RM2050 if we can move in within 5 days but as they couldnt allow us to do that we got peed of with haggling and took our second choice. That was an equally pleasant 3bed/2 bath, f/f and with a better view on the top floor. RM2K pm. All in all its very nice. Its a 15 min drive from Mid Valley so not too far out.
So, subject to the goodwill of my friends at immigrasi, I'll be here for another year at least!

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Hi Thermos
Thailand is fine, but the visa is 1 year.  Thus, each year as one approaches visa-time, one has to cope with the thought that one might soon be homeless.  This is an uncomfortable position.  Malaysia's visa is 10 years, and even better, renewable.  It is effectively a "lifetime" visa.

Thus, as one gets older, and progressively less capable of starting a new life somewhere else, the "lifetime" visa becomes ever more attractive.

However, with regard to your point about language, it is not an issue as the Thai Immigration speak sufficient English.

Hope that helps.