KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — As rental costs rise and hefty deposits put traditional housing further out of reach, some Malaysians are choosing an unlikely alternative: living in hotels for months, or even years.

For some, hotel living offers a way to avoid large upfront rental costs and long-term tenancy agreements. For others, it provides flexibility and convenience that conventional renting cannot match.

For 38-year-old legal consultant Fareez, who requested that only his first name be used, the decision was straightforward.

He moved into Swing & Pillows Danau Kota, where he paid RM1,150 a month and stayed for a year.

The biggest draw was simple: no deposit.

“That’s the first reason. I was living alone and didn’t need a large space. Then I saw an advertisement for the hotel on social media and went for it,” he said.

Like many renters, Fareez found the upfront costs of securing a home increasingly difficult to justify.

He said he had previously rented a house and was frustrated by unexpected expenses, particularly fluctuating utility bills.

At the hotel, his monthly payment covered wifi, electricity and water, making it easier to manage his finances.

Unlike room rentals that often involve sharing common spaces with strangers, Fareez said the hotel provided a self-contained living arrangement without the need for long-term commitments.

“One of the things I enjoy most is having access to the lounge area. It’s a comfortable space where I can relax, unwind and spend my free time without having to leave the property.

“If renting a house became easier and more affordable, I would definitely rent a house. The challenge today is that rental deposits are simply too high,” he said.

While some choose hotel living to avoid the upfront costs of renting, others are attracted by the flexibility it offers.

For Su, a personal assistant who requested anonymity, the decision was initially born out of necessity.

Her first experience with long-term hotel living came after relocating to Kuching, where strict rental requirements made securing a home difficult.

“I needed special guarantees to rent a property there because I was also affected by a natural disaster shortly after arriving. It was difficult for me to gain the trust needed for a long-term rental contract,” she told Malay Mail.

Faced with the possibility of homelessness, Su chose what she saw as the safest option — a hotel.

She also said hotels were simply more readily available than homestays where she was staying.

“At one point, I was spending around 70 per cent of my income on accommodation. It was expensive, but it gave me a roof over my head,” she added.

Before moving into hotels, Su said she had rented rooms in shared accommodation but found herself returning to hotel living because of privacy concerns.

Unlike traditional tenants who must worry about utility bills, maintenance issues, deposits and long-term contracts, she cites simplicity as a key attraction.

“For me, it doesn’t really matter where I live. If you’re careless with money, you’ll spend a lot whether you’re renting a room or staying in a hotel. But with a hotel, you don’t have to think about housing commitments.

“You just pay and stay,” she said.

For Su, the appeal goes beyond convenience. She admitted that one reason she continues choosing hotels is because she enjoys changing environments.

Her lifestyle is also made possible by the fact that she already owns a house, which she rents out to others.

“I don’t really think about renting because I already have my own property. Staying in hotels is my choice because it means less cleaning, less maintenance and fewer commitments.”

Over the years, Su has stayed in numerous hotels, including a lengthy stint at Borneo Hotel.

Depending on the property and room category, she estimates long-term hotel living can cost between RM800 and RM1,500 a month.

Not everyone who tries hotel living, however, comes away convinced.

Twenty-five-year-old telemarketing executive Puteri Nurbalqis initially viewed hotel living as a cost-saving alternative to renting but later changed her mind.

Puteri has been staying at Reno Hotel in Kuala Lumpur for the past six months, paying about RM650 a month for her room and another RM150 for electricity.

Like many others who choose long-term hotel stays, she was drawn by the absence of a rental deposit.

“I chose to stay in a hotel instead of renting mainly because there was no deposit required. At first, I thought it would be cheaper than renting a house, but I realised I was wrong.

“There are also many foreigners staying there as well. It wasn’t really a problem for me, but sometimes the overall environment felt uncomfortable,” she said, adding that thin walls often meant hearing noise from neighbouring rooms.

She said the discomfort went beyond noise, as the surrounding environment affected her daily routine and left her reluctant to venture out even during the day.

The hotel’s location near her workplace and the city centre made commuting convenient, but she felt the benefits largely ended there.

“It did affect my lifestyle. Most of the time after work, I would just stay in my room and relax. I wasn’t very comfortable walking around the area alone, even during the daytime, so I spent more time indoors than I normally would,” she said.

Having never rented a house before, Puteri said the experience convinced her that traditional renting would likely be a better long-term option.

“If renting became easier or more affordable, I would choose to rent a house or apartment because it offers more privacy, comfort and stability,” she added.