Trying to find somewhere decent to rent isnt easy.

Post by **Khundon1975** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:39 pm

Do many people, not pay the last couple of months rent, as most landlords don't have the deposit to pay back, having already spent it??

I know if I rented, that is what I would do, if I thought the landlord was going to rip me off and keep my deposit.

Post by **dtaai-maai** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:21 pm

Super Joe wrote: Many (all !?) of these rental contracts are not longer than 3 years so not registered at land office. Many have clauses in that say if the landlord wishes to sell at anytime then the tenant has 1 month's notice to vacate.
So many do not really have a 3 year rental contract but potentially a 1 month one SJ

However long your contract is for, surely there will always be a 'period of notice'? Usually 2 -3 months.

Fair enough - circumstances can change for both the tenant and the landlord.

After looking for a (very) long term rental from day 1, I'm on my 3rd house in 3 years. 1 and 2 were disasters - the Thai landlord sold the house from under us, and the Brit landlord felt it was his prerogative to let himself into the house whenever we went away for the weekend - apparently he was concerned about burglars lurking in the kitchen cupboards. I didn't see a penny (or baht) of either deposit, in spite of the fact that there was no damage beyond normal wear and tear.

I've struck it lucky this time (so far, touch wood) and seem to have a landlady (Thai) who is quite happy to receive her rent on time and know that the house is in good hands. If I was in any doubt about getting my deposit back, I think KhunDon's suggestion would be very sensible.

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:33 am

dtaai-maai wrote:However long your contract is for, surely there will always be a 'period of notice'? Usually 2 -3 months.

If you have 2-3 months, either side, that would seem fair'ish. Many contracts I've reviewed state 1 month, even for businesses, ie: Farangs here 'lease' (it's not a real registered lease) a business premise, spend 500k fitting it out and are on just 1, or even 2-3 months notice and they don't even know.

Same applies to renting a house as you may settle in, put in internet, UBC, A/C etc then be kicked out after 1 month. People should check the contract (I'm sure most of us TIT acclimatised people do) and make sure it's a notice period you are happy with, which may be 3-6 months.

We don't want to move the family and furniture in to be told to leave 2 months later. The contract duration, 3 years etc, is legally irrelevant is what I'm really getting at.

SJ

Post by **MrPlum** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:02 am

I recently moved and there was no sign of the deposit (10,000 thb, which I insisted on) being returned. I chafed about it and went to see the landlord. Despite taking great care in the house there were inevitably some things that needed repair. Turns out the deposit wasn't enough to cover the repairs. (It had high quality furnishings). My irritation evaporated, to be replaced by embarrassment and I offered to make up the difference. They refused.

Good landlord.

If you refuse to pay the rent... the last 2 months... can't they turf you out there and then? Aren't you in breech of your rental agreement and then wouldn't you guarantee the landlord would keep the deposit?

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:26 am

Believe law says after non-payment they have to wait 15 days then can serve you notice and cancel contract. If you can then faff around for the remaining 6 weeks you effectively get to keep your 2 months deposit.
We used to do it all the time in Hong Kong with the tiddlies, but wouldn't fancy trying it on with a Thai landlord, different 'jungle rules' apply here.

I'd cost it in if it were me and treat the house like I do my own, badly. Nothing worse than going out your way to keep it pristine only for them to nick your deposit anyway. Sure there are some good landlords out there that return deposits, but you don't hear too many of them stories.

SJ

Post by **Wanderlust** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:10 am

I have to say that the last landlady we had was absolutely fantastic! Before we moved in she made a whole host of improvements that we hadn't requested, and when she met me in person immediately said that she would change the toilet as it would be too small(!), which I have found is often the case in Thai houses, and while we were living there she was immensely helpful, even to the point of looking after our dogs for a week, and refused any money for it. When we left to move into the house we bought, we got a complete refund of our deposit despite the dogs having done some damage (scratches on doors, chew marks). If anyone wants her contact details please PM me as she has a number of houses, although I don't know if any are available currently. Incidentally she even negotiated on the rent, which is quite unusual as well.

Post by **Khundon1975** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:04 pm

MrPlum wrote:I recently moved and there was no sign of the deposit (10,000 thb, which I insisted on) being returned. I chafed about it and went to see the landlord. Despite taking great care in the house there were inevitably some things that needed repair. Turns out the deposit wasn't enough to cover the repairs. (It had high quality furnishings). My irritation evaporated, to be replaced by embarrassment and I offered to make up the difference. They refused.

Good landlord.

If you refuse to pay the rent... the last 2 months... can't they turf you out there and then? Aren't you in breech of your rental agreement and then wouldn't you guarantee the landlord would keep the deposit?

MrPlum

They could try to kick you out but after reading on several forums it seems that many people do it, especially in BK.

Personally, I would just get father in law to park a few BIB outside his house and ask for my deposit back. I guarantee they would pay up.

Post by **buksida** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:21 pm

I must have rented a good 6-7 different houses during my years in HH and have only ever had one deposit returned. I now don't expect it back so refuse to pay any more than a month in advance as a deposit - we have all of our own furniture anyway so I can't see how a landlord can ask for a huge deposit on an unfurnished place.

Now if it is furnished and you have to pay a huge deposit just think of all that lovely furniture than can go walkies if the landlord refuses to return it!

Post by **lazerlab** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:00 pm

There are so many vacant houses and condos in and around Hua Hin. It should be the renters market. A friend of me rented a house in Soi 36 without having to pay a deposit. Ha had to negotiate with the landlord for a while. But it was worth it. I am a Norwegian. Norwegians mostly by their homes. So why don`t do like us. Affraid off losing mony. Whats go down, must come up.

Post by **Vital Spark** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:29 pm

I have no problems with a contract in our current house, as we haven't got one, and we didn't pay a deposit. However, I decided to do a bit of research to help our Thai landlady with her next tenant (if she actually gets one!). I found a free bi-lingual contract on this site: www.slice-of-thai.com. It's free to download and the whole contract is split down the middle of an A4 sheet - half Thai, half English.

As the author states, it's not a legal contract - but surely it's better than nothing.

Just a thought...

VS

P.S. Does nobody want to rent our house? It's really very nice.

Post by **lomuamart** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:27 pm

I've been lucky in as much as I've only needed three places to live in over the last 11 years.
The first was a bar and I just had to move on. The second was a small place in the centre of town and no deposit was returned. I'd had that for five years. My wife and I simply packed up our bags and moved immediately.
The past few years have been good - close enough to the town centre but far enough away. Our owners are a young Thai couple and they're fine - so far.

Post by **Roel** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:50 am

Talking about "so far". I rented a house for almost three years and I went to see the landlady in her shop every 1st of the month to pay the rent in cash. On all occassions she was all smiles and we did a bit of social chitchat every time. When we encountered her in for instance the supermarket we received and returned deep wais and had a short pleasant conversation.

Then one day I received news that forced me to go back to Holland at short notice. I went to see her to give the required one month notice. I told her I would leave in the next few weeks but would of course pay the next month rent. I suggested that I would not come on the 1st but that she deducted that last month from my 3 months rent deposit.

She went beserk. She insisted that I paid her on the 1st and at the day I actually left I would get my deposit back. I told my neighbours and other Thais in the street what happened and they all told me I would never get any deposit back from her.

So I decided not to pay, stay one last month without paying rent and forget about the other 2 months deposit. But on the 1st in the evening I received a telephone call ordering me to come and pay NOW or leave the house immediately. We left.

Next day the neigbours called me that the landlady was there, running up and down the soi furiously shouting (apparently not only happens in the soaps) she would go to the police because the farang stole some of her furniture. She was refering to one of these make-up tables but there had never been one in the house. Luckily at the time we made the contract I insisted she mentioned every piece of furniture which she did in handwriting.

My girlfriend copied the contract and went to give it to Khunying landlady. No wais or smiles this time. She had a look at the contract, got in her BMW and left without a word. End of story.

Post by **jimbeam1** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:47 pm

Hi,
I am thinking of renting in Hua Hin for maybe 3 to 4 months. Does anyone know how much deposit would I expect to pay? Also does anyone know of a decent landlord. As I don't want any doggy dealings. In view of recent events.
jb1

Post by **STEVE G** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:51 pm

I paid one month’s rent as a deposit, and I believe that is pretty much standard.

Post by **dtaai-maai** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:53 pm

jimbeam1 wrote: As I don't want any doggy dealings.

Indeed, they can be a bit rrrrruff...

Sorry, jim, couldn't resist it. I doubt you'll get away with less than a month's deposit, but you can try, and I certainly can't see any reason why it should be more than that over such a short lease.