Gary Joy the CEO of Jakarta’s most trusted real estate agency, LetsMoveIndonesia answers your common questions about renting an apartment in Jakarta.
G.J Renting an apartment in Jakarta can be stressful. There are many different options to choose from and it is difficult to find reliable information and agents. In 2013 I experienced this first hand when I was looking for a new home. I became so frustrated with the service, I made it my personal quest to start an ethical agency that focused on providing honest and fair service.
In 2015 I founded LetsMoveIndonesia; a Property & Relocation Agency that focused on bringing better service levels to the sector and removing the bad practices that have dogged the industry for years.
During the 3 years we have been running, we are proud to have helped hundreds of expats find their new homes and become settled in The Big Durian.
We get asked many questions every day from clients, but here’s the answers to some of the typical things we get asked everyday.
What are the upfront costs and deposits to rent an apartment?
Traditionally, property owners have requested 12 months payment in advance, plus one month’s deposit. Whilst in the majority of cases, this is still true and preferable, some property owners are becoming more flexible and will do shorter upfront payments. Some will take 6 months; however, finding monthly or quarterly is still rare. If you negotiate with the payment terms, inevitably you will lose your negotiating power on the price.
Serviced apartments provide much more flexibility in this area, so if you are looking for monthly payments, we would recommend moving to a serviced residence.
How much does rent cost in Jakarta?
This is one of those questions we get asked frequently and it is one that is extremely difficult to answer. Unlike many major cities where there is a standard rate for area, in Jakarta the numbers vary hugely based on a variety of factors. Private Residences, literally next door to each other can have vast price jumps.
Things that can affect the rental price can include:
The age of the building
The facilities
The specific location
& The size of the apartment
Overall, I would say there are 3 price brackets that summarise the rental options:
Under $1000 USD is the mass market; recognisable apartment complexes include: Sudirman Park, Tamansari Sudirman & Tamansari Semanggi, Thamrin Residence, Taman Rasuna and The Wave.
$1000-2.500 USD is the typical expatriate budget; recognisable apartment complexes include: Denpasar Residence, Bellagio Residence, Setiabudi Skygarden, Setiabudi Residence, Somerset, Citadines, The Peak, Essence, Kemang Village, Residence 8.
$2500 upwards is the premium market where you can escalate from $2500 – $10.000 quite easily; recognisable properties include: Shangri-La Residence, Ascott, Oakwood, Kempinski, Fraser, Ritz Carlton, Marriot, Four Seasons, Da Vinci Penthouses, Capital Residence, Pakubuwono Residence and Pakubuwono Signature.
*Please note, depending on the size of the unit, some of these apartments will cross over into 2 areas.
*Please note, this is not a complete list, just some of the more well known complexes expats tend to live in.
How much do utilities cost?
This question is one we often get and there is no clear answer, although I can give you some approximations.
Internet & Cable TV should fit between 500.000 & 1 Million IDR depending on the package you buy.
Water and electricity will also vary depending on usage, small apartments should cost no more than 1 Million IDR. A typical 3-bedroom apartment could be up 2 million IDR.
AC Maintenance costs approximately 100.000 per unit. We recommend having all units serviced every 3-4 months.
Service/maintenance charges should be included in the monthly rental. If someone asks you to contribute or pay this, walk away from the deal.
Overall, if your company is paying your rent up front or you don’t want the hassle of paying bills every month, picking a serviced apartment is much easier option.
Is a car parking space included in the rent?
Car parking spaces for the lower apartments tend to include an additional charge, mid to premium level property usually has spaces included. Overall, it really depends on the complex, if you are unsure, a good agent should be able to give you the answer.
Where should I live?
The most popular question we get asked. I personally think this depends on where your main points of interests are. Usually, it comes down to Office or Children’s School.
You need to identify how long you are prepared to sit in traffic each day and look at the options that fit into that vicinity.
If you are unsure what your options are, then speak to one of the LetsMoveIndonesia team and they will be able to give you some advice.
Want to know more about renting apartments in Jakarta? Then check out our useful guides below by clicking the links:
Top 10 Best Apartments in Jakarta 2020 Part 1
Why rent an apartment, when you can rent a serviced one?
LetsMoveIndonesia’s Top Ten Apartments to live in in Jakarta 2019! (Part 1)
Jakarta’s best apartment complex to live in 2020!
How Kemang Village became the King of Kemang and Redefined the Area
Things you should know before renting property in Jakarta
If you have any other questions that you need help with then please don’t hesitate to contact Gary Joy. Our home finding service is completely free of charge, so you really have nothing to lose.
E: [email protected] T: 021 300 297 27
