How To Rent In Thailand

June 21st, 2009 Posted in Asia, Real Estate Tips ;

Renting in Thailand

Living abroad is something that most people want to do for at least some portion of their life, and which more and more people are deciding to do. As the Internet among many other things has seen the world become a lot closer, we all have a much better insight on other countries, their customs and the options they offer for someone looking to move there. Depending on the move you make, the “intricacies” of the whole process may not even need to be all that intricate. It is imperative, though, that you inform yourself of exactly what will be expected of you before you begin to put your plans into action. For example, while it may be relatively easy for a Canadian citizen to move to the US, or vice versa, moving between continents is not as straightforward.

The vagaries of property law often see a particularly large amount of tax levied on anyone looking to buy a house in a country where they have not lived before. This is one of the first things you should check before moving, as it can add another 50% to the cost of the house. Among the nations which place severe restrictions on non-nationals owning property is Thailand. To buy a property anywhere in Thailand, a non-Thai national will need to jump through a certain amount of hoops, and will invariably end up paying more than a Thai national. In order to avoid doing this, it makes a lot of sense to rent initially if you are planning only to spend a few years or less in the country. In becoming better acquainted with the country, it is also possible to learn a way to buy a property hassle-free, or monitor any changes in law.

Renting a property in Thailand, for Thai or non-Thai, is a lot more convenient and straightforward than purchasing. In fact, it is so straightforward that negotiation is very firmly discouraged. If you see a place advertised as being available at a certain price, you should not even consider trying to work the landlord down – most landlords will prefer to leave the property empty than rent it for less than the going rate. Why you would negotiate anyway is a matter for yourself – many rents for studio apartments in Phuket and Bangkok are in the region of $150, some even less.

If renting in Thailand it is worth being aware that all rental contracts are exclusive of things such as electricity, water and telephone bills, which are instead considered surcharges. However, considering the affordability of renting a property in urban or rural Bangkok it is hardly too much of a headache for someone with savings and a decent regular income to pay rent and bills and still have enough left over to live on without discomfort. Three bedroom houses in the more rural areas are available for little over $300 a month. At the other end of the market it is more than possible to spend four figures renting a condominium, but for that price quality is guaranteed.

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