PETALING JAYA (March 13): The average cost of rental for expatriates in Kuala Lumpur (pictured) has seen an increase in 2018 after a sustained decline between 2015 and 2017, according to international research house ECA International in a press release today.

Data based on ECA's September 2018 Accommodation Survey, which was based on the average rental price for an unfurnished, three-bedroom apartment in the mid-range of the expatriate market had revealed that the average rental cost for expatriates now stands at US$1,621 (RM6,632) per month, an increase of US$112 from the year before.

“The domestic economy has been comparatively weak in Malaysia over the past few years, and the delivery of large stocks of properties to the rental market was not balanced by weaker demand. Rents for apartments staged a recovery in 2018,” said ECA International regional director of Asia Lee Quane.

Nevertheless, Kuala Lumpur is still very affordable for a major city in the region, he added,

Across the border in Singapore, rental prices for expatriates have continued to drop and are now at an average US$500 cheaper per month than in 2016.

The report noted that rental prices for an unfurnished, mid-market, three-bedroom apartment in areas commonly inhabited by international executives in Singapore average US$4,215 a month, a drop of 1.3% compared to the previous year.

“Reductions in the population of non-residents in Singapore, a key driver of rental demand, has led to continued drops in rental prices for expatriates. On top of that, recent announcements in the Singapore Budget 2019 have further limited the proportion of foreign workers that companies in the services sector can employ, to 35% by 2021. This seems to imply that the downward trend in rents will continue, as the availability of properties increases with little anticipated rise in demand,” Quane noted.

Meanwhile, the most expensive location in the world for expatriate rental was Hong Kong, with typical expatriate accommodation costing an average of US$10,929 per month.

One of the contributing factors to this is the limited availability of housing, which has been a long-term issue for the Hong Kong housing market.

“Rent increases are not just limited to central Hong Kong anymore either; rents are expected to rise throughout outlying neighbourhoods in 2019 too, as international firms seek more affordable office spaces and leverage options in cheaper suburbs,” Quane highlighted.

Taking one spot just below Hong Kong is Tokyo, which has seen rental costs rising at an even quicker rate compared with Hong Kong, with typical expatriate accommodation now averaging US$8,668 per month.

“While Tokyo’s rental market has been historically tight, 2018 saw a significant upturn in the rate of rent increases. A rise in tourism, coupled with the accompanying increase in landlords preferring to lease out accommodation on a short-term basis, have contributed to rising costs in recent years.

“With both the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympics set to be hosted in Tokyo, we have observed a major surge in business interest in Japan's capital. All of these factors will contribute to the increasingly limited availability of suitable rental accommodation in Tokyo, with rent increases expected to continue into 2019,” Quane pointed out.

Coming in third place is Shanghai, with rental price averaging US$5,305 per month.

With a new property tax mooted to be introduced in Shanghai from 2020, many landlords are now choosing to sell their properties rather than to continue renting them out.

“This has led to a reduction in the availability of rental accommodation, prompting some rent increases,” said Quane.

Meanwhile first time entry, Bangkok into to the top 10 list is due to a continuation of foreign investment in Thailand, the report said.

“Thailand remains a popular regional destination for many MNCs. However, they have been joined by new globalising companies from China, which has led to a higher demand for rental accommodation from an expatriate population that typically rents in a relatively small geographical area in central Bangkok.


“Furthermore, the growth in tourism in Bangkok has also had an impact on rental prices, given the increase in the number of properties being converted from long-term to short-term rental to cater to this demand,” explained Quane.

Refer from www.edgeprop.my

By Kevin Eichenberger

Sleep is one of those things youngsters seem to think they can do without – but for those of us who do adulting on a daily basis, adequate rest can prove difficult to come by.

World Sleep Day is on 15th March, so sleep is slightly more on our minds than usual – but in our increasingly fast-paced world, sleep can sometimes be hard to come by. Whether the reasons are stress, worry, or ambient noise, there are some things an aspiring sleeper can do to the bedroom to ensure a restful slumber.

Opaque Curtains

​It probably goes without saying that one of the usual suspects getting in the way of sleep is light. For those who operate during the night shift, it is usually the fault of that sphere of hot plasma in the sky – for urbanites, it is generally due to the glare of city lights – and the only way to prevent either artificial or natural light from streaming in and poking you in the eyeballs is to hang a set of heavy-duty drapes over the windows.

Soft Lighting

​Besides the presence of light from the external world, the most common impediment to decent sleep would be the quality of light sources within the room itself. Artificial light fixtures tend to be available in varieties known as “cool bright” or “warm white” – the former is appropriate for surgical theatres and any other situation where details need to be expressed or security is paramount, while the latter produces a softer light that is more suited for relaxation.

Subdued Screens

It may seem obvious but electronic screens in the bedroom inspire the kind of activities that prevent restful sleep from happening. Falling asleep while watching television might be a necessary bedtime activity for some people but the fast-moving imagery and bold colours of modern programming are definitely not conducive for sleep. If a television screen in the bedroom feels like an absolute necessity, a cloth cover – or some discipline in the form of a screen curfew – may be required.

Low Temperatures

Body temperatures fluctuate during the course of the day – and being animals that evolved on a planet that cycles neatly between the heat of the day and the cold of night – sleep tends to be easier when the body is cool. Low ambient temperatures can be artificially achieved with a fan, an air-conditioner, thin fabrics on the bed – or even a careful choice of mattress.

​A quality mattress keeps body temperatures low with the use of materials designed to conduct heat away from the body and the open-cell construction of memory foam. If the expense of a high-quality mattress seems out of reach, consider putting in an air-conditioner – or introducing a quiet fan to the bedside.

Fuzzy textures

The tactile sensations that come with a high-pile carpet or a quality bedspread may be reassuring even for those without furry pets – but they entail a delicate balance to be found between the comforting feel of fur and the kind of fibres that trap heat. For best results, keep fuzzy fibres away from the bed, and any fabrics that do end up on the mattress should be smooth to the touch in order to facilitate sleep.

As we have pointed out before, some plants put out more oxygen than they take in during the night. These varieties of plants can be introduced into a stuffy bedroom to increase the amount of breathable air – and you will find the natural forms and colours to be more conducive to sleep than a blank and featureless space devoid of any organic decoration.

Do you wake up feeling tired after what should have been a great night’s sleep? Maybe you should re-think your bedding

The article is refer from starproperty.my