Renting serviced apartments and condos in Kuala Lumpur
RentNow Serviced Apartments boast great facilities
Renting serviced apartments in Kuala Lumpur is the most hassle-free way for expats to secure housing in the city, and there is no shortage of condos and apartments for short-term rent in KL. Some high-end options charge hotel prices for multi-bedroom layouts designed for the whole family, while other studio condos in unfashionable areas are available at discount prices.
People arriving in the city for work may find that their companies have arranged to stay in a serviced apartment complex near the office. This choice is usually extremely convenient but may only be available on a complimentary basis for a short period. And rather than engage in the lengthy business of finding an estate agent and signing a long-term lease, many people choose to remain in the convenient world of KL serviced apartments.
Tips for finding Kuala Lumpur serviced apartments
Most serviced condos in Kuala Lumpur are more than happy to put people up on a month-by-month basis, although occasionally minimum stays of three months are required. Staying in a serviced apartment in KL is advantageous for longer term guests as it allows expats who are not terribly familiar with the city to assess a neighbourhood before signing a longer term lease.
Luxury developments are springing up everywhere in Kuala Lumpur as space in the more fashionable neighbourhoods gets swallowed up and people move farther away looking for the best value for money. This trend means that supply often outstrips demand, and some real bargains can be found if potential tenants are willing to sacrifice a little on location or amenities.
Bangsar is arguably the most desirable area for expats to live. It has a plethora of chic restaurants and nightspots, great shopping plus a huge range of leisure facilities such as health club and tennis courts. It is also well placed for escaping the city for the weekend.
All this comes at a price, naturally, and many of the lower-end KL serviced apartments in the surrounding area have been torn down and replaced by luxury equivalents. Many are simply glorified hotels with prices to match, and coming back from work every day to find a different gaggle of snap-happy holidaymakers roaming the lobby may become a little irritating.
Most apartments come with full Western kitchens
Mid to low range condominiums around Jalan Ampang can range from one to three bedrooms and from 40sqm to 90sqm. Three and four bedrooms condos normally feature from 90sqm to 100sqm with vary wildly according to how modern the building is, and proximity to LTR metro system. This by far the easiest way of navigating the city so it is wise to check out how easy your regular journeys would be when considering any number of serviced apartments in Kuala Lumpur. More on getting around KL.
A studio condo in Bangsar or Kenny Hills in a luxury block will cost from RM3,000 with prices dropping considerably as you move towards the city. There are some decent bargains to be found in the less fashionable areas such as Chinatown and Little India which are still extremely central and directly on the LTR routes.
It pays to wander the street yourself and ask local advice in the neighbourhood where you are thinking of moving as many of the cheaper options do not advertise via the internet or English language newspapers. Foreigners are normally charged a premium for these and normally the same standard of luxury can be found for a fraction of the cost if you are willing to sign up a longterm lease.
So while serviced apartment living is a great choice for a short stay, unless you have money to burn it is probably better to engage a property agent and find somewhere more suitable for much less cash. Maid costs and amenity bills are normally minimal, so the extras costs serviced apartment tenants have to pay does not normally represent great value. More on real estate agents.
