Looking for..... 'Your place in the Sun'

Perhaps he can help you

This is a very beautiful island and when people visit here, stay for a short while and maybe have seen some of the stunning scenery, it often occurs to them that here would be a fine place to build their .......                                                            " Place- on our island -in the Sun".

I am assuming that this is being read by non Malaysians, such as myself, and it has to be understood that that there are certain conditions attached to the acquiring of any property.
It has to be understood by everybody that arrives on this island, that most or all of the land is a Malay Reserve. That means that the only people who can own it are ‘Bumiputera’, Malaysians who are of Malay family descent.

My first piece of advice is that it would be very foolish indeed to accept the casual offers during conversations sitting on the beach, or in a bar nearby, from certain people who say they can sell you houses or land. There had been a number of instances of people being entirely misled and probably losing quite large sums of money.
We all regret this, and it does nothing for the reputation of Langkawi, but then one always asks the question- if you sat in the same circumstances in your own country would you listen to such a person? You would not, and would find an estate agent and/or check everything with your own lawyer.

Strange as it may seem, before there did not seem to be any active, what we would call ‘estate agents’ or ‘property agents’, those who have a proper qualification in order to deal with such complex matters.
However particularly for those who are not Malaysians, it happens there is now one such company on Langkawi with whom many people are now consulting, and where they will be given fullest explanations and guidance.
You will see if you refer to their web-site a wide range of properties on offer.

Now we must emphasise again that to begin to think of any of the undoubtedly wonderful opportunities, there will have careful thought given to what is possible.

As part of the wish to allow foreigners to stay longer in Malaysia the Tourism Ministry now have a scheme which is known as “Malaysia My Second Home".
This has a number of requirements, all of which can be seen on their website.
This will enable a person or couple to live here and go in and out of the country with multiple visa, but is mostly aimed at those who wish to be in the major cities where there is a range of property available to buy, rent or lease, in certain areas..
This scheme would seem to be aimed at people who would retire here, but still wish travel occasionally.

However we are only concerned with what is possible here on Langkawi.
There are a couple of condominiums in Kuah, and one on a beach beyond the airport, that are allowed to sell, a certain percentage of the flats within them, to non Malaysians, feehold.

What has to be realised is that Langkawi with a little help is now just on the cusp of, as I said in the home page, a fantastic raising of its ‘World-Wide Profile’ as a place to have a Holiday Home.
A beautiful place surrounded by great scenery, sea and beaches, jungle covered mountains, and peaceful good people, enough to do and enjoy,  with little or no hassle.
And there aren’t many other places like this left!!!

Of the flood of enquiries for property that are now being directed to Langkawi, from all over the world, it would maybe thought to be only from the UK with its historical connections to this country, but the range of European countries sending requests for details has been fantastic. A few from places many wouldn’t recognise. Interest from the Far East is less but growing, mainly confined to Europeans based in these countries.

The potential for a developer to acquire a good site, and then build the right type of house with sufficient garden and good access seems to be huge. Many of those wishing to have their ‘place in the sun’  do not want the hassle and worry of actually having a house built.
There is one developer who is looking at doing just such a project, and once again they are not from Langkawi, but have come looked and decided to invest.

We come now to the difficulties. As the land will have to remain in Malay title it is possible to make a long term rental agreement with the owner, with rights preserved for 99 years.

Where many possible buyers come from this is a perfectly acceptable.
We might just point out that living in London this is normal too, especially as our friend the Duke of Westminster probably owns most of the property that you might want to occupy in the same way!!!
One could employ a Bumiputera company to purchase the land and then make a long term rental agreement with them, if you know them, and have good trust in their ability to administer this correctly and honestly.
For a long term foreign developer, this will be the best and most efficient way to operate.
To invest in such a local company, that specialised in land purchase, could well be a very good long term potential, for any ‘outsider’…

To a person who wishes at have, as we hear so often, a ‘Holiday Home’ then one could find a piece of land, enter into the long term ‘rental agreement’, with the owner or Bumiputera company, which automatically renews every three years.

We would like to emphasise, that the law here is similar to British law, and one is able to get agreements  on land and property to be properly registered.
Taking the best advice, all legal documents will be drawn up, scrutinised and checked by independent lawyers, in a way with which you will be familiar.
The English language is widely taught and used and certainly all Government Departments, Land offices, and particularly your Estate Agent will be happy to conduct it in that language.

Then a person would have to arrange for the building of the ‘dream’……….
Once again the utmost caution is advised as it would be anywhere in the world that qualified and competent builders have to be employed. There are a number on the island whose previous work can be seen.

Finally, when all this has been sorted and you have found your 'Dream House in the Sun' you can come and go as you wish, for the usual short periods on holiday.
Or perhaps send other family members or friends to enjoy Langkawi, and stay in a good house.

The Visitors entry pass is valid for three months which will usually be sufficient for ‘holidays’, should you wish to extend this on occasions then a short easy ferry trip to Thailand and look around for a few days, go ‘shopping’ in Hajai, and on return a further three months is given…
As mentioned those with retirement in mind should consider the ‘Malaysia My Second Home’ programme to cover the extended stay. But the rules of getting a home remain the same.

Do send us a message if you are interested and it will be passed to those able to assist, or I will do my best to comment/advise.

In the mean time dream on..........