Dual-Key Condos Explained: The Maxim The Address Type C (865 sq ft)
A dual-key unit is two self-contained living spaces under a single strata title, each with its own entrance, living area, bedroom and bathroom. At Maxim The Address in Johor Bahru, that is the 865 sq ft Type C, priced from RM816,000. It lets one owner collect two independent rents from one purchase, or live in one half while the other half helps pay the mortgage. For income-focused and multigenerational buyers it is the most flexible layout in the development, and this guide explains exactly how it works, what it costs relative to the other unit types, and who should and should not choose it.
Key takeaways
- One title, one loan, one set of purchase costs, but two lockable homes inside: a main unit and a compact studio-style sub-unit sharing a private foyer.
- Type C is 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 865 sq ft, from RM816,000 (about RM911 psf), with two car park bays and three air-conditioning units included.
- Three ways to use it: rent both halves, live in one and rent the other, or let the whole unit to a single household as a standard three-bedroom.
- At RM816,000 it clears the RM600,000 foreigner threshold in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, so Singaporean and other foreign buyers are eligible (levy and state consent apply).
- The trade-off is a higher entry price and psf than the studios, a thinner resale pool than the Type A, and the work of managing two tenancies.
How a dual-key unit works
From the corridor you enter a small private foyer. Off that foyer are two separate front doors. Behind one is the main unit, with its own living and dining area, kitchen, bedrooms and bathroom. Behind the other is the sub-unit, a self-contained studio with its own living space, sleeping area, bathroom and usually a kitchenette. The two halves do not connect internally, so each can be locked and occupied independently, yet the whole thing sits on one strata title with one owner, one loan and one monthly maintenance bill.
That structure is what makes the layout different from simply renting out a spare room. A room tenant shares your kitchen, bathroom and front door. A dual-key tenant has their own, which means you can charge a proper studio rent rather than a room rate, and you can house a tenant while keeping your own privacy intact.
Three ways to use the Type C
| Strategy | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Rent both | Two separate tenancies, two rents, from one purchase and one set of buying costs | Yield-focused investors who want the highest gross income from a single title |
| Live in one, rent the other | Occupy the main unit; the studio’s rent offsets a meaningful share of the instalment | Owner-occupiers who want a tenant to subsidise their own home |
| House family | Parents in one half, adult children in the other, independent but under one roof | Multigenerational households who want privacy without a second purchase |
| Single household | Let or occupy the whole unit as a conventional three-bedroom | Owners who want the option value without managing two tenancies today |
The fourth row matters more than it looks. Because the Type C can always fall back to being an ordinary three-bedroom, choosing it does not lock you into the dual-key strategy. It gives you the option, which is why it appeals to buyers who are not yet sure whether they will live in Johor Bahru, rent out, or both.
The investor maths, in plain terms
Consider the same RM816,000 purchase under the first two strategies. Renting both halves produces two rental streams and the highest gross income the unit can generate, but it also means two tenancy agreements, two sets of move-ins and two tenants to look after. Living in the main unit and renting the studio produces one rent, which goes directly against your monthly instalment, so your effective cost of living in a new freehold-standard development near the border falls without you having to leave.
What to test before you commit is whether the combined rent from two tenants beats the single-tenant rent for a three-bedroom by enough to justify the extra management. In most markets it does, because studio rents per square foot run higher than family-unit rents, but the gap varies with demand. Run your own numbers on the Maxim The Address ROI calculator, and read our investment analysis for the yield assumptions we use.
Who rents a dual-key in Johor Bahru
The tenant profile for the studio half is different from the tenant profile for the main unit, and that is the point. The studio suits a single professional or a couple, typically someone commuting across the Causeway or working in the JB city centre, who wants a self-contained space at a studio price. The main unit suits a small family or a pair of sharers who want two bedrooms and a full kitchen. Because the two halves attract different tenants, a vacancy in one does not empty the whole unit, which smooths your income compared with a single-tenant three-bedroom. Our guide on commuting from Maxim The Address to Singapore explains why cross-border workers are a core part of the rental demand here.
Pros and cons
Pros: two income streams from one title; mortgage-offset flexibility for owner-occupiers; strong multigenerational appeal; open to foreign buyers; only one set of legal fees, stamp duty and loan costs; a built-in fallback to a standard three-bedroom.
Cons: a higher absolute price and psf (about RM911) than the studios; a thinner resale pool than the Type A because dual-key buyers are a narrower group; two tenancies mean more administration, more wear and more turnover; the sub-unit is compact and suits singles or couples rather than families.
Financing, costs and paperwork
Because the Type C is one strata parcel, you apply for one housing loan, pay one set of legal fees and stamp duty, and receive one assessment and quit rent bill. The maintenance charge is calculated on the whole parcel’s share units, not per half, so it does not double because you have two tenants. What does change is your income tax position if you rent both halves: rental income from each tenancy is declared, and the usual deductions for interest, maintenance and repairs apply. Foreign buyers should factor in the RM50,000 levy and the state consent process; our foreigner eligibility guide walks through both, and the cost-to-buy breakdown lists every upfront fee.
Managing two tenancies without it becoming a second job
The practical objection to dual-key is administration. Two tenants means two agreements, two deposits, two utility accounts to split and two people who can call you at midnight. The solutions are straightforward: use separate sub-meters or a fixed utility contribution in each agreement so bills never become a dispute; stagger the two tenancy start dates so both leases do not end in the same month; and, if you are overseas or simply busy, use a rental management service. We cover the options and what they cost in our rental management guide. Note that short-stay letting on commercial-title units has its own rules, which we explain in is Airbnb legal at Maxim The Address.
Who should choose the Type C, and who should not
Choose the Type C if you are a yield-maximising investor who wants two rents from one purchase, an owner-occupier who wants a tenant to subsidise your stay, or a family that wants independence under one title. Choose something else if you want the cheapest possible entry price, the simplest single tenancy, or the widest resale audience; the Type A or Type B will serve you better on those counts. Our comparison of which Maxim The Address unit to buy sets all the layouts side by side.
Frequently asked questions
What is a dual-key unit?
Two self-contained homes under one strata title, each with its own entrance, living area, bedroom and bathroom, so you can rent both halves, or live in one and rent the other.
Which Maxim The Address unit is dual-key?
The Type C: 865 sq ft, 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, from RM816,000, with two car park bays and three air-conditioning units included.
Is the dual-key worth the higher price?
For income and flexibility, usually yes: two rents from one title, or a tenant offsetting your mortgage. It carries a higher psf than the studios, so it is a flexibility-and-yield choice rather than the cheapest entry.
Can foreigners buy the dual-key unit?
Yes. At RM816,000 it is above the RM600,000 foreigner threshold that applies in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, so it is open to foreign buyers including Singaporeans, subject to the RM50,000 levy and state consent.
Do I pay double maintenance fees on a dual-key unit?
No. Maintenance charges are based on the parcel’s share units, and the Type C is a single parcel. You pay one maintenance bill regardless of whether one or two tenants occupy it.
Can I still rent the whole unit to one tenant?
Yes. The two halves can be let together as a conventional three-bedroom, which is the fallback that makes the dual-key layout low-risk to choose.
Reviewed by Jason Chan, Malaysia property consultant (DMS Team). Unit specifications and prices are taken from the developer’s materials at time of writing; figures are indicative and not financial advice.
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