# Kuala Lumpur office vacancy falls to 14.8% in Q2

- **Source:** Real Estate Asia
- **Published:** 2026-08-18T22:41:13.000Z
- **Author:** Staff Reporter
- **Original:** https://realestateasia.com/commercial-office/news/kuala-lumpur-office-vacancy-falls-148-in-q2
- **Topics:** Commercial & Industrial, Transactions & Deals, Sustainability & PropTech

## Featured rationale

Improved leasing momentum and limited prime, green-certified space may support rental growth, although 2.64 million sq ft due by end-2026 could lift vacancy to 16.4%.

## AI summary

Kuala Lumpur office vacancy fell 0.4 percentage point quarter-on-quarter to 14.8% in Q2 2026, with 250,000 sq ft absorbed and no new completions.

## Original article

Net absorption reached 250,000sq ft during the quarter.

Kuala Lumpur's office market recorded steady leasing activity in the second quarter of 2026, with 250,000 sq ft of net absorption and vacancy improving in the absence of new completions, according to JLL.

JLL said automotive and fintech companies drove quarterly absorption, while the market is expected to strengthen in the second half as pipeline transactions conclude.

With no new office completions during the quarter, the overall vacancy rate fell 0.4 percentage point quarter-on-quarter to 14.8%, signalling improved leasing momentum without additional competing supply.

JLL expects the 2026-2030 development pipeline to support rental growth as the availability of prime office space, particularly green-certified buildings, remains limited. The consultancy said the Malaysian Digital Location Recognition framework could accelerate the differentiation between premium and secondary buildings by establishing formal standards for technology readiness and ESG alignment.

Average office rents edged up to RM6.88 per sq ft per month in Q2, from RM6.86 previously, with increases recorded across several submarkets, particularly established locations such as TRX and Bangsar South.

Investment activity remained subdued and was largely driven by domestic buyers. JLL highlighted the RM45 million acquisition of Menara Liberty and the adjacent Menara Liberty Annex by ICE Holidays Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Golden Destinations Group Bhd, from Liberty General Insurance. The properties are intended to consolidate the company's operations at a new headquarters.

Looking ahead, JLL expects Kuala Lumpur to add 2.64 million sq ft of office space by the end of 2026, which could push vacancy to 16.4%. Despite the incoming supply, the consultancy expects premium locations and buildings with future-ready specifications to outperform as occupiers increasingly prioritise quality.

Older office buildings, meanwhile, are expected to face growing competitive pressure as the flight to quality intensifies.

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 吉隆坡写字楼空置率于第二季度降至14.8%

2026年第二季度，吉隆坡写字楼市场录得稳健租赁活动，净吸纳量为25万平方英尺，空置率在无新

该季度净吸纳量达25万平方英尺。

仲量联行（JLL）称，2026年第二季度吉隆坡写字楼市场录得稳健租赁活动，净吸纳量为25万平方英尺，且在无新增竣工的情况下空置率有所改善。

仲量联行表示，汽车与金融科技公司带动了季度吸纳量，随着管道交易陆续完成，市场预计将在下半年走强。

由于该季度无新增写字楼竣工，整体空置率环比下降0.4个百分点至14.8%，显示在没有额外竞争供应的情况下租赁势头改善。

仲量联行预计，2026至2030年开发管道将支撑租金增长，因优质写字楼尤其是绿色认证建筑供应仍然有限。该咨询机构称，马来西亚数字区位认证（Malaysian Digital Location Recognition）框架可通过确立技术就绪度与ESG契合度的正式标准，加速优质与次级楼宇之间的分化。

第二季度平均写字楼租金小幅升至每月每平方英尺6.88马币，此前为6.86马币，多个子市场录得上涨，尤其是TRX与南班加（Bangsar South）等成熟地段。

投资活动依然偏淡，且主要由国内买家驱动。仲量联行特别提到，Golden Destinations Group Bhd旗下子公司ICE Holidays Sdn Bhd以4500万马币从Liberty General Insurance购入Menara Liberty及毗邻的Menara Liberty Annex。该物业拟用于整合公司运营并作为新总部。

展望未来，仲量联行预计吉隆坡至2026年底将新增264万平方英尺写字楼空间，或将把空置率推高至16.4%。尽管供应即将入市，该机构仍预计优质地段及具备面向未来规格的楼宇将跑赢大市，因租户日益优先考量品质。

与此同时，随着“向优质迁移”加剧，较旧写字楼预计将面临日益增大的竞争压力。