Price isn’t the only expense you should consider when it comes to renting a condo in Thailand. There are many other fees that can add up. Here are some common costs.
Common Fees
Security Deposits
In practice, many private condo rentals in Thailand still ask for a two-month security deposit plus the first month’s rent. However, residential landlords who operate a rental business with five or more units are subject to Thai residential lease rules that generally cap the security deposit at one month’s rent and advance rent at one month’s rent. Check what applies to your landlord before paying.
The security deposit will be returned to you at the end of the contract after the owner or management company makes sure you didn’t break anything inside the room.
Usually, on short-term contracts you should get your full deposit back once the contract is over. But on longer contracts, where wear and tear is common, you might not get your full deposit back. To increase your chances of getting your money back, you should:
Carefully inspect the room before signing the contract. If you see any damage, tell the owner immediately. If there are any exceptions, write them down and have both parties sign off on the agreement.
Take pictures of everything inside the room, including furniture. It will come in handy if there’s any dispute later on.
Always keep the owner informed of what’s going on inside the room. If there’s a water leakage, tell them.
Decorate the rooms conservatively. Many places do not allow you to paint or put holes in walls.
If you are not sure about something, ask the owner.
Give the owner a thirty-day notice before moving out. This is commonly required in the contract.
Always keep evidence of your rental payment every month. It can be in the form of a bank transfer receipt or receipt from the condo. Mistakes may happen. Sometimes the condo claims that you haven’t paid your rent even though you did.
Internet
Sometimes the internet is included in your rent. But most of the time you need to get it yourself. There are mainly three situations you would find yourself in if this is the case.
You need to use an internet card from your apartment. Inside there will be a username and password. The price is similar to what a normal internet package costs. But it’s shared internet, which has poor connection. If you need internet for work it’s better to avoid this card.
The property already has a contract with an internet provider. And you have to buy a package from this internet provider. There is no problem with this situation. But most of the time, unless you can use the internet from a cable, the internet will be slower and unstable.
You are free to choose whatever internet package you want. This is the best option out of the three.
Electricity
The most ideal situation would be to pay your electricity bill directly to the Metropolitan Electricity Authority in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan, or the Provincial Electricity Authority elsewhere. You can also usually pay through payment channels such as bank apps and convenience stores such as 7-Eleven. Household electricity tariffs are progressive and include Ft and VAT, so the effective price changes; many households pay roughly THB4 to THB5+ per unit depending on usage and the current Ft.
However, a number of properties charge you a fixed rate for electricity. Some may charge you THB5 per unit, which can be slightly higher than the usual rate. But some may charge you much more, such as THB8 per unit.
And look over your bill closely. There are dishonest owners that overcharge for the amount of electricity you use. If you use three hundred units one month, for example, the owner may charge you four hundred units instead.
If you suspect you’re being tricked, take a photo of the electric meter for your room every month. You could see how many electric units you use each month and then calculate the cost you need to pay.
Water
Similar to electricity, the best option is to pay the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority directly if you live in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, or Samut Prakan, or the Provincial Waterworks Authority elsewhere. Some condos also set their own water rates. And some may have a fixed amount you must pay every month, no matter how much water you use.
However, you don’t need to be too concerned about water. Water here is cheap. Many tenants pay less than THB200 a month for water.
Management and Parking Fees
In addition to the cost of renting, you may need to pay management and parking fees. The amount can be a few hundred baht to over thousands per month. This is especially true when you rent the condo.
Management fees are charged on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes the owner includes them in the rent. And sometimes the contract says you need to pay them yourself.
If the condo wants to charge you a parking fee and you don’t have a car. Negotiate with them. You may not need to pay for it. If they still insist that you need to pay, ask around. Maybe one of your neighbors is looking for a parking space and is willing to pay for it.
Hidden Fees
The hidden fees that follow add up, so be sure to talk to your owner about them ahead of time. The total cost can easily eat up the majority of your security deposit.
Cleaning
The owner of the condo will expect you to leave the room in similar condition to when you went in. And even if you clean the room before moving out, the owner may still want to charge you a cleaning fee.
For a small room, the cleaning fee may be a few hundred baht, but it can be more depending on the size of the condo, the building, and the condition of the room. Some strict owners may charge you more for spots on the floor, tape on the wall, and so on.
To avoid excess cleaning fees, thoroughly clean the condo. If the owner is happy with you, these costs will be lowered or maybe even waived.
Renovating
The owner may come up with additional excuses related to renovating the room, such as having to paint, change doors, make new keys, and so on. The total costs can easily be more than THB5,000.
Staying on good terms with the maintenance staff in the building you rent in can also decrease this fee. If you treat them kindly, they may advise you on minor touch-ups before moving out.
Fixing Furniture
At the end of your lease, if the kitchen cabinets under the sink get warped from water, the owner may charge you for them. It doesn’t matter that you think it should count as regular wear and tear. Same with wooden bathroom doors. You may pay for those as well.
To lower the cost of renovating expenses, always inform the owner whenever any problem or damage happens in the room. Sometimes the owner will fix it for you and you won’t have to pay.
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