HomeRent your property

Learn more about Renting your Property in Malaysia

Renting out your property allows you to earn extra money while also requiring you to be responsible. It is also important to remember that there are no explicit rules governing tenancies in Malaysia. The lease agreement is the legally binding contract between you and your renter, as well as the only instrument that governs the tenancy. Before renting out his apartment or house, a landlord must take several steps. With Themis Partner we provide you all the documents you need to rent your property or manage your tenancy, written by our professional team. Real estate has a wide variety of figures such as Residential Lease, Commercial Lease Agreement, Sublease Agreement and more.

Table of contents


What types of property can be rented in Malaysia?

The country’s burgeoning market is rapidly expanding. Property prices are now low owing to the Malaysian government’s move and are expected to rise rapidly as a result of several initiatives. When investing in real estate in Malaysia, there are two important variables to consider: first, where to invest, and second, what type of property to invest in. You can rent a property for residential or commercial purposes as follow:

Residential property: Condominium unit, apartment, house, villa, or room
Commercial property: Office, warehouse or factory

Commercial land titled properties that are protected under the Housing Development Act are an exception to this provision (HDA). These forms of property may be commercially titled, but they are considered residentially titled since they are protected by the HDA. These commercial property categories include projects like SoHo (small office home office), which are the most prevalent and popular sort of investment. Shop lots and retail are also included in this category. Commercially titled properties are solely for commercial use, and the apartments are often rented out.

What is the duration of a lease in India?

1. Residential Lease

Tenancy agreements are classified into two types: short-term and long-term. It is considered a short-term stay if you have a tourist visa or a term visa and will be in Malaysia for less than 12 months. Local property owners are often more interested in renters who want to stay in Malaysia for an extended period of time, as the minimum tenancy duration is one year, with a maximum of three years. The longer you remain, the more likely your landlord will be to negotiate a lower rental rate and better terms and conditions.

2. Commercial Lease

Commercial lease longer than three years are permitted, but are limited to a maximum term of 99 years for the entire land and 30 years for a portion of the land.
There is no automatic security of occupation, but the parties can discuss and agree to an exercisable option for lease or tenancy renewal prior to the term’s expiration.

3. Property Rental Directories

In Malaysia, there are no particular rules governing Airbnb. However, the legality of Airbnb is clarified by the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing, and Local Government, where Airbnb is described as an internet transaction between a host and a visitor. If your rental length is less than three months, it is advised that you use short-term accommodation services such as Airbnb and Booking.com, or hotels.

What is the difference between renting and leasing?

Traditionally, the term “tenancy” has been used for short-term rentals. When such a letting is for a longer length of time, it is referred to as a lease. A tenancy is defined as a period of up to three years under our National Land Code, which only pertains to peninsular Malaysia. Any more than that, it’s a lease. The lessee benefits greatly from the registration since his interest in the title is effectively made known to third parties. Any subsequent fee is subject to the terms of the existing lease. A tenancy, on the other hand, is exempt from registration.

As a result, if a third party purchases the land or creates a charge, that person may be unaware of the unregistered tenancy.

Whether there is a tenancy that is not needed to be recorded by its nature, or a lease that should have been registered but is not, a person holding a charge or purchasing the property may be unaware of the previous transaction.

Can a foreigner rent a property in Malaysia?

Yes it is possible, when we know that Malaysia encourages foreigners to invest in properties for investment purposes as it is the only country in southeast asia where foreigners can own land. Also, they must know the conditions of leasing or renting his property and be informed about setting a rental value. There are a lot of advantages to invest in Malaysia as listed below:

➤ Appreciation potential is higher and higher
➤ Any appreciation of Ringgit will have good effect on returns
➤ Prices per square meter in remains low
➤ To own land combined with low prices makes Malaysia one of the best places to buy real estate in Asia

How to rent out your property in Malaysia?

Malaysia, frequently neglected in favor of Thailand and Singapore, has one of Asia’s most business-friendly, innovative, and deregulated real estate markets. The landlord’s responsibility is to ensure that everything in the property works all of the time, not just to collect rent:

➤ Maintain the property's structure and exterior
➤ Maintain a yearly Gas Safety inspection
➤ Appliance and furniture inspections
➤ Handle water and power supply difficulties

While renting out your property or a portion of it may be financially advantageous, it does come with its own set of responsibilities. Here is a checklist to go over before renting out your apartment. The list is equally beneficial to experienced and first-time renters.

Step 1. Determine the rental price

You may search real estate websites online and filter for details that are similar to your home. If you are still undecided, contact a few real estate agents in the neighborhood and inquire about rental pricing for your sort of home. Consider your property’s negative and good aspects, since they might affect the price.

Step 2. Finding your ideal tenant

Why is it critical to understand the sort of renter that will choose your property? This will assist you in deciding whether to rent the property semi-furnished, completely furnished, or unfurnished.

Step 3. Make a viewing appointment

You should explain some elements that would be included into the leasing agreement, such as who pays if the roof leaks. You should also find out how long the prospective renter intends to remain.

Step 4. Collect the deposit and sign the rental agreement

Take a deposit and sign a Residential Lease Agreement, Land Lease Agreement or Commercial Lease Agreement to secure the rental. While the contract is being created, you will need to collect a deposit (about two or three months’ rent) and then sign it.

What are the landlord's responsibilities?

A landlord’s responsibilities often include:

➤ Paying property-related fees and levies such as cukai tanah, cukai taskiran, maintenance fees, and so on.
➤ Maintaining the property's fire insurance as well as main infrastructures such as plumbing, electrical wiring, and so on.
➤ The landlord is not permitted to enter the flat without the tenant's consent. The landlord also has no authority to insist that the renter let him or her in without a solid cause.
➤ As a landlord, though, there are some "unspoken regulations." Common sense practices include respecting your renter's privacy, fostering two-way communication, and reacting quickly to your tenant, especially in an emergency.

As landlords, you obviously want to avoid any problems with your prospective tenants. As a result, before confirming your renter, you should establish your own standards and only pick tenants that meet your selection criteria. It’s also a good idea to look into your potential tenant’s background, such as his or her credit history or employment history. Consider obtaining recommendations from former landlords or agencies.

Is it possible to sublet your property?

Subletting is often not permitted in Malaysian rental agreements. However, you may always ask your landlord whether this is something he or she is willing to allow you to do. Remember that government housing can never be lawfully rented to a third party, although private housing can. It is always dependent on what your landlord says about the scenario, which reduces their bother and is also excellent subletting practice. You may be tempted to begin subletting without alerting the landlord, but if things go wrong with your renters or they think anything is amiss, they may end up evicting you.

Subletting your flat puts your home at risk of theft, property damage, and other hazards for which you will now be held accountable.

Once you’ve found a suitable tenant with whom everyone is in agreement, make sure everything is in writing. As soon as they are verified, request references, a security deposit, and a written agreement for them to sign. This will help to avoid any problems.

What to do if a tenant breaches the lease?

Tenancy disputes can be complicated in Malaysia because there is no existing regulation addressing rental agreements. Despite the lack of a legal framework for tenancy agreements, Malaysia does have a few measures to resolve tenancy disputes, such as the Contract Act of 1950 or the Civil Law Act of 1956. Property owners may not evict their tenants or reclaim control of the house/room without a court order under Section 7(2) of the Specific Relief Act 1950. A landlord is barred from changing the locks or evicting the tenant without the proper court paperwork. Furthermore, if they do so, they may be sued for trespassing by the renter. When a conflict develops, the first thing you should do is review the tenancy agreement, and then you may need to seek the advice of a lawyer.

Share information

Ready to get started ?

Overcome real estate obstacles with legal, secretarial and brokerage services

Request a quote