By Sharen Kaur
KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIA's ageing buildings, shrinking maintenance budgets, and outdated upkeep practices are emerging as silent threats to the country's property market.
A new survey has exposed a worrying truth about Malaysia's real estate sector – behind gleaming facades and glossy project launches lies a maintenance crisis eating away at the country's built environment from within.
According to the findings, nine in ten buildings suffer from leaks and seepage, with roofs and walls topping the list of problem areas, while one in ten bathrooms and wet spaces are also affected – revealing a ticking time bomb that could undermine safety, liveability, and long-term property value.
The joint study by Nippon Paint Malaysia and the Malaysian Institute of Property and Facilities Managers (MIPFM) found that Malaysia's property industry continues to operate under a reactive maintenance culture, with waterproofing failures emerging as the most critical issue threatening long-term building integrity and asset resilience.
This study highlighted a dangerous "reactive maintenance" culture in Malaysia's property sector, where problems are only fixed once they become critical. The result? Rising refurbishment bills, unsafe buildings, and declining investor trust, highlighting the urgent need for Malaysia to shift from reactive fixes to preventive maintenance to ensure Malaysia's built environment remains competitive and sustainable in the years ahead.
Conducted in August 2025, the survey gathered insights from building managers, property managers, architects, and facilities managers responsible for residential and commercial properties nationwide. The findings paint a troubling picture of complacency and deferred upkeep.
More than 40 per cent of property professionals admitted to conducting building inspections only once a year, while another one in six does so quarterly – a frequency that leaves ample room for defects to fester unnoticed. As a result, minor leaks often escalate into costly structural problems, eating into sinking funds and accelerating asset deterioration.
The data shows 90 per cent of respondents reporting roof leaks – often due to poor drainage, worn membranes, or rainwater pooling – while another 90 per cent cited wall seepage and 70 per cent faced leaks in bathrooms and wet areas. These recurring waterproofing issues are not mere inconveniences; they signal deep-seated maintenance neglect that can compromise both safety and liveability.
Alarmingly, many professionals admitted to deferring waterproofing repairs due to cost concerns, a short-term decision that amplifies long-term damage. Experts warn that this cycle of postponement and patchwork repairs risks eroding not just physical assets but also investor confidence in Malaysia's property market.
The findings reveal that waterproofing failures go well beyond cosmetic flaws – they are a growing source of financial strain, structural decay, and reputational damage.
For property owners, postponing repairs drives up refurbishment costs and accelerates asset depreciation. For investors, recurring leaks signal declining quality and threaten long-term real estate value. And for tenants, persistent water problems undermine confidence in the safety, comfort, and reliability of their living and working environments.
"This survey gives us a clearer picture of the maintenance challenges facing the property industry," said Ishak Ismail, president of MIPFM.
"By identifying issues early, we now have the opportunity to work together with regulators, building owners, and solution providers to strengthen standards and improve long-term asset resilience. Ultimately, proactive maintenance benefits not only buildings but also owners, investors, and tenants."
Beyond individual buildings, the survey findings signal systemic weaknesses in Malaysia's built environment. Two-thirds of professionals said they were only moderately satisfied with their contractors and vendors, suggesting widespread concern over workmanship quality and accountability.
This lack of confidence points to deeper issues in the way refurbishment works are being specified, executed, and maintained, reinforcing the need for higher industry standards and more reliable long-term solutions.
"Waterproofing failures are not minor defects," said Tay Sze Tuck, general manager of Nippon Paint Malaysia.
"Addressing them early helps safeguard safety, manage costs, and preserve the value of the very assets we are trying to protect. To remain competitive and attractive to investors, Malaysia must continue progressing from short-term fixes to preventive protection."
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/property/2025/10/1288401/leaks-neglect-lost-value-malaysias-buildings-face-costly-wake-call
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