Accommodation in Thailand

Expats moving to Thailand will find that the accommodation options available to them are as diverse and richly varied as the country itself. Boasting a robust rental market, there is no question that, with a little patience and leg-work, you will able to find yourself a reasonably-priced, comfortable place to stay while in Thailand.
 

Types of Accommodation in Thailand
 

All types of accommodation are available to rent in Thailand, from high-rise apartment buildings, to condominium complexes, to seaside shacks, and stand-alone houses on large plots. The price and quality of rental accommodation will vary enormously, although there are plenty of excellent deals to be found. Expats should bear in mind that traffic in Thailand's urban centres – especially in Bangkok – can be abominable, and so it's always recommended that foreigners seek accommodation in close proximity to the workplace, to their child's school or to areas of interest.
 

The following are reasonable estimations of monthly rental prices in Thailand:

• For an upmarket apartment in the CBD of Bangkok, or a nice place on the island of Phuket, or in Pattaya, on Thailand's eastern seaboard, expect to pay anywhere from 1,000 USD to 2,000 USD a month
• For a basic, one-room apartment in a more outlying area of Bangkok, expect to pay between 200 USD and 400 USD a month
• For a place in rural Thailand, you can find unbelievable deals – sometimes from as little as 100 USD a month
   

Renting Property in Thailand
 

Since foreigners are not technically allowed to own property in Thailand (see below), local landlords are sensitive to expats' rental needs, and do a good job of advertising available properties.  Renting property in Thailand is, by all accounts, a very easy process: the rental market is large and varied, with plenty of housing available, and often at very good prices.
 

Whether you decide to find your own place – by searching the Internet, looking through local newspapers and 'For Rent' publications, or even just walking around neighbourhoods you like the look of, and making inquiries about places to rent – or whether you engage the services of a real estate agent, you will have no problem in finding a suitable home to rent in Thailand.
 

Note that lease agreements in Thailand might not always be exactly 'formal' – and that there are no set-in-stone general principles, concerning deposit money, length of rental contracts, etc.  However, it is important to bear the following in mind:

• Bargaining is – mostly – not an option when it comes to rental prices. Many landlords would rather their properties went without tenants for long periods of time, than compromise on the rental price they have advertised
• If you strike up an 'informal' rental agreement with your prospective landlord, it's still a good idea to get a real estate agent to draw up a basic rental agreement for you and the landlord to sign. This will ensure that both parties are aware of their responsibilities regarding the property, and will provide you with protection against unfair eviction.
• If you have to part with deposit money, make sure you take plenty of photos of the place, and conduct an inspection of the property with the landlord in attendance, pointing out to them any problems with the place. This should help to make sure that your deposit is refunded in full.
• You will have to pay your own electricity, water and telephone bills while in Thailand. Energy shortages in Thailand mean that electricity is surprisingly expensive – so be sure to conserve power whenever possible.

Buying Property in Thailand
 

Buying property in Thailand is basically not an option for non-permanent residents.
 

As a non-permanent resident, in order to purchase land in Thailand, you'll need to invest 1 million US dollars – over and above the purchase price of the property – into Thai government-authorised investments (such as government bonds), for a minimum period of five years.  While if you wish to buy a condominium (i.e. you are not purchasing any 'land' per se, only a building), the following restrictions apply:

• The funds to purchase the condominium must come from overseas – they cannot be earned in Thailand
• In aggregate, foreigners can't own more than 49 percent of the floorspace in the condominium complex. So if you find a condo you like, but 49 percent of the complex is already foreign-owned, the purchase of your condo unit will, quite simply, be blocked by authorities