A bungalow tenant in Subang Jaya has disappeared without a trace after quietly moving out, leaving the homeowner with a hefty loss of MYR 58,000 in unpaid rent and utilities.
Datuk Seri Hanni Borhan (43, a housewife), stated that the rent was supposed to cover installment payments for the mortgage and was paid directly into the bank, leaving her unaware of the unpaid dues until notified by the bank.
Speaking to mStar, in addition to the unpaid rent, there is potentially an additional loss of MYR 50,000 in repairs due to poor management of the property.
The entire house was left in a mess
The tenant, a couple from Taiwan, turned the bungalow into a dormitory for international students.
They left the property in disrepair, with damage throughout, including a malfunctioning pool pump that led to algae growth, a main water heater that ceased to work, and damaged gate hydraulics that prevented full opening.
Furthermore, trash and miscellaneous items were found accumulated in the corners of the bungalow.
She estimated that the repair costs would amount to MYR 50,000, including the hiring of personnel to clean the entire mansion and the swimming pool.
Police report has been filed
Regardless, Hanni stated that after attempting to contact the tenants without any response, she consulted a lawyer and filed a police report.
She mentioned that she rented out the mansion to the couple in November 2022, and it was only last year that they requested to extend the lease to a three-year term, meaning the lease had not yet expired.
“The tenants’ reason was that it was difficult to find another house at that time, and there were no issues with the initial rent payments.” She said.
She expressed that she would take this experience as a lesson, emphasizing the importance of conducting thorough checks on potential tenants before renting out the property. In the future, she will also require prospective tenants to provide proof, such as company information, to prevent being deceived.
