Common Mistakes While Renting a Place in Thailand

This article is going to talk about mistakes expats like us tend to make while renting a place in Thailand.

You Pay Yearly Instead of Monthly

Some people may want to pay the rent for a whole year instead of paying by month. For whatever reasons, it’s not recommended.

The room owner may not have enough money to return to you if you need to move out before the end of the contract. And the amount of money can easily be more than THB100,000.

If this happens, it’ll be quite difficult to get your money back, especially when you need to move to a new country. Even if you are still in Thailand, the court process would take a lot of time. And think about the costs of hiring a lawyer, preparing documents, going to court, and so on.

You Do Not Keep Payment Evidence

You should keep all payment slips every time you pay the rent. It can be the receipt issued by the apartment or condo, a bank transaction, or even an ATM receipt. It will be very useful if you paid the rent but the owner claims that you haven’t.

This happens regularly when you rent an apartment lacking good management.

You Do Not Discuss What You Need to Pay

The rental contract should clearly state what you need to pay, and what the owner needs to pay. Normally, you need to pay for extra furniture that’s not in the room and any damage you cause, while the owner should pay for major maintenance or repairs to existing furniture and appliances unless the contract says otherwise.

For example, if the air conditioner breaks from normal use, the owner usually needs to pay for it. If the room doesn’t provide a water heater but you want one, you need to pay for it. If you are not sure what you need to pay for, ask the owner first.

An expense that’s often ignored is the cost of damage caused by accidents. For example, if you go on vacation and the water line suddenly leaks, causing damage to the condo or other condos, who’s going to pay for it? Settle that ahead of time in writing.

You Added Too Many Decorations to the Room

The rental contract usually mentions what you can and cannot do when it comes to decorating the room or adding new furniture. It’s often said that you are not allowed to make any holes in the condo walls. However, we like to think it’s okay to make small holes for a shelf inside a bathroom. The owner can use this against you and not return your deposit.

Some tenants may feel the need to redo the floors or paint the walls. This may make the room look nicer, but the room owner may keep your security deposit or charge you extra.

Therefore, it’s always best to ask for the owner’s permission every time you want to decorate your room. Make it a written agreement if possible. It might not need to be a written contract signed by both parties. An email exchange could be sufficient.

You Do Not Communicate with the Owner or Management

Every time an accident happens, inform the owner immediately. It can be a small case of water leaking, a broken water heater, or so on. Lack of communication with the condo owner in this situation can make the damage worse.

There are some reports that tenants do not inform owners after the roof leaks in heavy rain. After a period of time, the damage from the water leak intensifies. And you, the tenant, will pay the price.

You Neglect the Contract

Rental contracts in Thailand vary. Some may only be available in Thai. If it’s available in English, many times it’s in broken English, making it difficult to understand the meaning.

However, you should always read the contract carefully before signing. Bring a Thai speaker with you to prevent miscommunication. Sometimes the room owner includes certain clauses, such as unannounced inspections by the owner, or the prohibition of having friends stay with you.

You Do Not Keep the Condo Clean

As mentioned previously in the related fees section, you usually need to pay for the cleaning fee after you move out. This doesn’t mean that you don’t need to clean the room during your stay. Quite the opposite is true. It’s recommended to keep your condo clean. Stains and damage can easily happen when the room goes unkempt for a long time. And some stains may be impossible to remove. The owner can fine you for this.

You Did Not Prove the Room’s Ownership

Many people in Thailand invest in condos for rental purposes. Sometimes, they may have sold the condo to a new owner, but they still rent it out to you. And the new room owner does not have a clue about what’s going on.

When the new room owner finds out that you are living in his room without notice, you can be sued. And when that time comes, you may not be able to contact the previous owner.

It may sound unbelievable but it is true. So, when you are looking for a place to live, check that the owner is really the owner. A house registration book may show who is registered at the address, but it does not prove ownership. For a condo, ask to see proof such as the title deed or ownership documents, and make sure the owner’s name matches their ID. If they’re unwilling to cooperate, check with the office. You can also ask maids or security guards about the condo. They are your information hub.

You Ignore Maids

Maids are your best source of information. They know a lot more than you can imagine and should be the first person you should approach when you need to find any information. This includes where to find handypersons, the rental cost of your neighbors, available rooms with cheaper prices, and much more.

Always keep a good relationship with maids.  

You Are Careless When Going on Vacation

Floods happen inside condos from people not turning water valves off when leaving for a few days. Every time you leave for more than a day or two, turn off the water valves under the sinks, behind the toilets, on balconies, or any other place that has an accessible water valve.

It’s also important to unplug any unused electronics, especially an electric stove. If not, this can cause an electrical fault.

Open a curtain and let the sunlight come in. This is to prevent the room from getting too dark and humid, which causes mold.

If you need to leave the room for more than a month, it’s recommended to ask the condo maid to clean it once in a while. This is to make sure the room is kept in good order. You definitely do not want to come back only to find dust and mold all over the place.