How to Sell a Condo in Kuala Lumpur in 2026: Steps, Costs and RPGT

Most owners think selling starts when the listing goes up. In practice the money is made or lost earlier: in the price you set, the timing of the sale against your RPGT holding period, and how clean your paperwork is when a buyer appears. This guide walks through a typical subsale in Kuala Lumpur, from deciding to sell to handing over the keys.

Step 1: Know your numbers before you list

Before talking to buyers, get four things in hand:

1. Your redemption sum. Ask your bank for a redemption statement, and check whether your loan is still in its lock-in period. Settling early during lock-in usually costs a penalty set out in your loan agreement.
2. Your holding period. RPGT depends on how long you have owned the unit (see Step 5). Selling a few months later can sometimes cut the tax to zero.
3. Your title status. Find out whether the strata title has been issued in your name. If not, the sale is usually done by deed of assignment and needs the developer's (and your bank's) consent, which adds time. Leasehold units may also need state consent to transfer.
4. Your tenancy. A sale does not end an existing tenancy. Decide whether you are selling with the tenant (attractive to investors) or with vacant possession (better for own-stay buyers).

Step 2: Price it from transactions, not listings

Asking prices on portals show what sellers hope for. Buyers, their banks and their valuers look at what units actually transacted for. Compare units in the same building with similar size, floor, view and furnishing, and expect the bank valuation to anchor the buyer's loan — if your price is well above it, the buyer has to top up the difference in cash, which shrinks your pool of buyers. Our market overview explains how to read the latest numbers.

Step 3: Appoint a registered agent

Only registered estate agents (REN, PEA or REA) may market property for a fee in Malaysia, and you can check a registration number on the Board of Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers (LPPEH) website. The Board's scale sets the maximum agency fee for a sale at 3% of the price (minimum RM1,000). The actual rate is agreed in writing before marketing starts.

A good listing needs honest photos, the correct built-up size, the maintenance fee and the tenancy status. We handle this for owners in Mont Kiara, Damansara Heights and KLCC — see our services.

Step 4: Offer, deposit and the SPA

A typical subsale runs like this:

These timeframes are market practice set by the SPA itself, so read your draft carefully. Your own lawyer's fee follows the same Solicitors' Remuneration Order 2023 scale as the buyer's: 1.25% on the first RM500,000 and 1% on the next RM7 million, plus 8% SST and disbursements. Buyers pay the stamp duty on the transfer — our stamp duty guide covers their side.

Step 5: RPGT, the 3% retention and the 60-day rule

Real Property Gains Tax applies to the gain on disposal. The current rates for individuals, per LHDN:

What the rules mean in practice:

• The buyer retains 3% of the price (7% if you are a non-citizen) and pays it to LHDN within 60 days. If your tax is lower, the balance is refundable.
• You must file Form CKHT 1A within 60 days of the disposal through e-CKHT on MyTax — even when no tax is due. Since 1 January 2025 RPGT is on self-assessment, and the tax must be paid within 90 days of the disposal. Late filing can attract a penalty of up to three times the tax.
• Deductible costs include the stamp duty and legal fees you paid when buying, the agent and legal fees on the sale, and money spent enhancing the unit — keep the receipts.
• Exemptions: every individual gets RM10,000 or 10% of the chargeable gain, whichever is higher. Citizens and PRs also have a once-in-a-lifetime exemption on one private residence — usually best saved for a sale with a large gain inside five years.

Foreign owners should also read our guide for foreign buyers.

Worked example

A Malaysian owner bought a condo for RM800,000 (plus about RM28,000 in stamp duty and legal fees) and sells it for RM950,000 in the 4th year of ownership, with a 2.5% agreed agency fee:

The same sale in the 5th year would cost RM11,496 at 15%, and from the 6th year onwards nothing. Use our calculators to check loan and stamp duty figures on either side of the deal.

Step 6: Completion and handover

On completion the buyer's bank pays your bank the redemption sum first, and the balance is released to you through your lawyer. Before handover, settle maintenance fees and sinking fund up to date, quit rent and assessment (usually apportioned in the SPA), and utility bills. Hand over all keys, access cards and car park stickers, and notify the management office.

Budget 2027, tabled on 9 October 2026, did not announce changes to RPGT rates (as of October 2026, EY Budget 2027 summary). Its main property measure is a wider first-home stamp duty exemption for buyers, explained in our stamp duty guide.

Thinking of selling? WhatsApp us for a pricing view based on recent transactions in your building, or browse what is on the market now on our listings page.