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Rental nightmares in Malaysia

Hello everyone,

Finding a place to live in Malaysia can be exciting, but it doesn’t always go as planned. From misleading listings and apartments that look nothing like the photos to strange landlords, hidden rules, unexpected roommates, or issues that only become apparent after moving in, expats can end up with some unforgettable stories.
If you have ever had a rental experience in Malaysia that went wrong, or simply a story you’ll never forget, we would love to hear about it:

Have you ever arrived at a rental that was completely different from the listing?

What is the strangest or most surprising thing you have discovered in a rental property?

Have you ever had to leave a place because it felt unsafe or unlivable?

Did you deal with pests, noisy neighbors, strange building rules, or difficult landlords?

What warning signs should newcomers watch out for before renting in Malaysia?

What advice would you give other expats to avoid rental disasters?

Share your insights to help fellow expats and soon-to-be expats.

Thanks,

Cheryl
Expat.com Team
See also

When I first moved to Malaysia, I rented an apartment in a dodgy condo building. While I was overseas travelling the place got broken into and a lot of my replaceable valuables were stolen. I spoke with the landlord who fitted a second set grill door and after that no more issues.


Apart from that, I was always a landlord and later joining several owners committees I realised that very often it is the tenants who are the problem and less so the landlords.

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