Of the 14 projects we track, 10 are freehold and 4 are leasehold. Tenure affects financing terms and resale more than it affects daily life — and in the city centre you often do not get a choice, because the supply is what it is.
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The actual split
| Project | Tenure | From | Per sq ft | Ready? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWNK Houze | Leasehold | RM705,000 | RM1,523 | Q2 2026 |
| Dawn | Kuala Lumpur City Centre | Freehold | RM717,000 | RM2,049 | Q2 2029 |
| Centrix | Leasehold | RM907,800 | RM1,610 | Q2 2028 |
| Phoeniz Suites | Freehold | RM1,016,400 | RM2,100 | Q2 2029 |
| FACE Suites Kuala Lumpur | Freehold | RM1,212,000 | RM2,164 | Completed |
| Golden Crown | Leasehold | RM1,280,000 | RM2,051 | Q4 2026 |
| Pavilion Square | Leasehold | RM1,319,000 | RM2,617 | Residence 2029 | Office 2027 |
| Oxley Tower 1 | SO Kuala Lumpur | Freehold | RM1,449,000 | RM2,384 | Completed |
| Core Residence | Freehold | RM1,442,207 | RM2,311 | Completed |
| Orion Residences | Freehold | RM1,450,000 | RM2,953 | Under construction |
| The Conlay Residences | Freehold | RM1,460,000 | RM1,973 | Completed |
| CloutHaus | Freehold | RM1,548,800 | RM2,821 | Q1 2029 |
| Oxley Tower 2 | Jewel KL City Centre | Freehold | RM1,784,000 | RM2,631 | Completed |
| Royal Lexis | Freehold | RM1,897,000 | RM3,311 | Q3 2029 |
What tenure actually changes
Financing
On a leasehold title the remaining term matters to the bank. A long balance is treated much like freehold; a short one shortens the tenure a bank will lend over, which raises the monthly instalment. Ask for the remaining years, not just the word “leasehold”.
Resale
Your future buyer faces the same financing question. That is the real mechanism by which tenure affects price — not sentiment, but what the next buyer’s bank will approve.
Daily life
Nothing. Freehold and leasehold units in the same building have the same lifts, the same service charge and the same view. The difference is on paper and it shows up when you finance or sell.
What it does not change
- The service charge. That is set by the building, not the title.
- Whether a foreigner can buy. That is the state’s minimum purchase price and state consent, both independent of tenure.
- Construction quality or facilities. Unrelated.
Reading the table properly
Notice that tenure does not sort neatly by price. Some of the more expensive projects on our list are leasehold and some of the cheaper ones are freehold — because location dominates. If a freehold title matters to you, treat it as a filter applied after location and budget, not before.
What to confirm
- The remaining term, in years, in writing.
- Whether the strata title has issued, and if not, when it is expected.
- The land title category — residential or commercial. It is a separate question from tenure and it affects utility tariffs and assessment rates.
- What your bank will lend over, given the remaining term.
Questions
Is freehold always worth paying more for?
Not automatically. If the leasehold balance is long, the practical difference for a buyer holding ten years is small. Location, layout and service charge usually matter more.
What happens when a lease runs down?
An application to extend is made to the state, with a premium payable. The important point for a buyer is that a short remaining term affects financing long before it affects occupation.
Can a foreigner buy leasehold?
Yes. The restriction for foreign buyers is the state’s minimum purchase price and state consent, not the tenure.
Does tenure change the service charge?
No. That is set for the building.
Which resells more easily?
Freehold is generally easier because the next buyer’s financing is simpler. But a well-located leasehold with a long balance can outsell a poorly located freehold.
Tenure and prices are as published by the developer, last checked 24 September 2026. Confirm the remaining term and title category with your lawyer before signing.
The number that actually matters: years remaining
“Leasehold” on its own tells you very little. A 99-year title with 92 years left behaves almost like freehold in the market. The same title with 55 years left is a different asset, because the next buyer’s bank starts shortening the loan tenure it will approve.
A rough guide to how banks see it:
| Remaining term | How financing usually behaves |
|---|---|
| Over 80 years | Treated much like freehold |
| 60–80 years | Generally fine, though some banks shorten the tenure |
| Under 60 years | Tenure starts to be cut, which raises the monthly instalment |
| Under 40 years | Financing becomes difficult and resale narrows sharply |
Indicative only — each bank sets its own policy, and the property and borrower both affect the answer.
What to do with a new leasehold project
On a launch the balance is usually long, so the practical difference is small during your ownership. The question to ask is not “is it leasehold” but “how many years will be left when I sell”. If you buy a 99-year title today and hold ten years, your buyer still sees a long balance. That is a very different position from buying an older leasehold building.
Strata title is a separate question
Whether the individual strata title has issued affects transfer and financing independently of tenure. On a new project it often issues some time after handover. Ask where it stands; do not assume.