DO not take advantage of a “nice” Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) by subletting low-cost units, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor today told tenants.

“There are 40,000 people who are requesting for low-cost homes. We want to give them to the people who are eligible.

“We are pleading to those who have migrated and (those who) can afford (to stay elsewhere) to give us back the units,” the Federal Territories minister said after launching the Civil Servants Housing Scheme (PPA1M) in Bukit Jalil.

He was commenting on the issue of high rent in the Klang Valley, which has driven Malaysians to seek out rooms and flats in low-cost housing schemes.

DBKL regulations prohibit the principal tenant from subletting their units, but many do so despite the threat of eviction as third-party tenants are willing to pay more than double the rent of RM124 a month.

The subletting of low-cost flats – an open secret in People’s Housing Projects (PPRs) – was driven by demand, in view of the high prices in the Klang Valley, where it was impossible to rent a flat for less than RM500 a month, said those interviewed by The Malaysian Insight.

Tengku Adnan urged tenants of low-cost units to not keep them as a means of getting extra income.

“These people (who stay in PPRs) are in the debt category. Over the years, when their income increases, they can afford to buy their own houses, and they should leave.

“The (low-cost) units are just a temporary living arrangement. When they get better income, they should move out.”

He said his ministry was in the midst of formulating a new concept, namely “council homes”.

“For these homes, they (tenants) can only rent for five years. After five years, they will be able to afford their own units.

“We already have the Federal Territories Affordable Housing project and other projects, which they can buy. Sometimes, they take advantage because we are too nice.”

Tengku Adnan said DBKL would take action against those found to be breaking the law.

“We have a special team going around to address the issue. They are not only going around in the daytime, but also at night, to see if any tenants are subletting their units.

“If we find that they are subletting their units, we will end the rental agreement and take back the units.” – February 6, 2018.