Is a 3-month deposit for renting a house in Thailand common?

Aug 31, 2022
2 years ago
Rogerio ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Renting a house, contract is saying 3 month deposit, is this common?

Always thought it was 2 months.

This is in Thai, and being organized with my Thai gf, so it's not necessarily a foreigner thing.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The general consensus among respondents is that a 3-month deposit for renting a property in Thailand is not common and may even be excessive. The standard practice typically involves a 1 or 2-month deposit in addition to the first month's rent. Thai law stipulates that landlords can only charge up to 2 months' deposit, and if they own more than four properties, they are limited to asking for 1 month's deposit. Many individuals recommend negotiating for a lower deposit and caution against potential issues with getting deposits refunded.
Caroline ******
Not common. 2 months or 1 months
Emily *******
First payment of 3 months is common but that includes the first month's rent and a 2 month deposit
Steve **********
Law sats if owner has more tha 4 units, only 1 month security, and must be govt elect rate.

Many try to charge 2 mos and if no meter the charge more than the 4bt/kwh.

Not worth fighting, its a buyers market....plenty of condos avail

Or go to hotel and ask long term rate....many will provide.
MoMo ***********
It could be" 2months deposit and 1 month advanced for rental". I guess thats what the 3months coming from.
Steve *******
It's up to the landlord. You can tell them you want it lowered and see what happens.

I never pay more than 1 month, as it would be pretty impossible to get your money back if the landlord refused and you already left the country.
Jo **********
Ken ********
Normally one month I've seen 2 but I'd question 3
Siddhartha *********
There seems communication gap between you and gf! But not important here!

Yes deposit is 2 months and 1 month rent in advance! So totally you pay 3 month upfront, most of time first month when you check you only pay utility bills and when you end contract they deduct rent and utility bill from deposit , it can also be via a versa!

I will suggest you that this is normal.

This is Thailand! Once a foreigner always a foreigner
Maxim ***********
2 months deposit + 1st month rent is very common, this is most likely where your 3 months come from. A lot of misinformation in the comments about being a recent change or 1 month only law is incorrect info. It's been like this for 4-5 years at least that I know of. It's always whether 1+1, 2+1 or 1+2, whatever the phrasing. Anything less then 1+1 is extremely rare.
Steve **********
@Maxim **********
read rental laws changed 6 year s ago 1 mo sec if owner owns more than 4 units. Govt elect rate ( carefull summer elect bill can be as high as rent.) Have seen buildings her with low rent but 8 bt / kw elect
Paul ********
@Maxim **********
To be clear, I didn’t say that requiring two months deposit was a recent change.

Rather, I an saying that recently a much higher percentage of owners and agents have been choosing to ask for two months deposit + first month’s rent, where they were more likely to ask only for one month deposit + first months rent just a couple years ago.

There is in fact a one month only law for owners and agents with five or more properties they lease out. This change came into effect and was published in the Royal Gazette in 2018, and was well-discussed in the press. Whether this law is widely adhered to is another matter.

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Ryan *********
I recently entered a contract with this arrangement: 1 month deposit (rent) plus 1st month and last month rent: in total 3 months worth of rent paid in advance. So, it’s rare but not unheard of. My advice:

If everything about the landlord and property gives you a good feeling don’t let it be a deal-breaker. If you already have some concerns try looking for something else.
Todd *********
@Ryan ********
there is the common sense approach to this. It’s always a negotiation. Someone is turning over the keys to a several million baht property to someone they don’t know… it provides some security and peace of mind to owner while allowing the renter to secure the property they want. I think most of those would turn out well for both parties
Tal **********
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Brandon ************
@Tal *********
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"It is important to note, the new law is careful to define a residential leasing business operator as:

“A business operator that leases at least five or more property units in one or more buildings for residential use. Property types, include condominiums, apartments, houses and any other type of property used for residential leasing (Excluding Hotels).”

The definition of a “Business Operator”, should mean that in practice the law will only apply to apartments and professional landlords with more than 5 rental properties. However, for those affected the new law imposes a series of new restrictions and regulations!"

"The new law will mean that Landlords will only be able to request 1 Month Security Deposit, thus potentially leaving them exposed to extra irrecoverable liabilities in the case of a bad tenancy."
Brandon ************
@Tal *********
this link doesn't tell anything it just says there's lots of new provisions but doesn't explain what they are.
Tal **********
@Brandon ***********
Read again... it says about the deposit
Brandon ************
@Tal *********
show me the exact wording that explains because all I see are lines that say "new provisions" but zero explanation
Pete **********
One month only don't get ripped
Brook ********
They are trying to pay the real estate agent commission.

Counter offer one month deposit and first months rent in advance.

It’s a renters market.
Steve **********
@Brook *******
it sure is. Paid 1 mo long term 3 yrs, govt elect rate.. great place
Mike ******
Thai law says you can require upto 2 months of deposit, but a renter will ask for 3 months in advance and the 3rd is payment for the first month. Some renters only ask one month deposit in an older home with furniture of little value.
Brandon ************
@Mike *****
Thai law says you can only ask for 2 months if you own or manage 5 or less properties. If more than that you can only ask for 1
Jo **********
not common, i have seen 3 months that’s it. But some people are gross grubs so to protect against that they up the deposit
Edgar ************
3 months deposit LMFAO also known as the foreigner tax. Tell that racist scam artist to shove that deposit up his ass.
Jo **********
@Roderick ************
by saying this you are racist
Edgar ************
@Jo *********
I am black, how can I be racist?
Jo **********
@Roderick ************
any human can be a racist. It does not depend on the color of your skin.
Ryan ***********
Alessandro **********
Refuse it. Max deposit is 2 months
Steven ***************
@Alessandro *********
bollocks . understand the " law " before making a call like that.
Jeff *********
@Steven **************
I don’t think it’s the law
Marshal *********
@Jeff ********
it is, and if they own a certain number of condos then it's reduced down to a 1 month deposit maximum.
Alessandro **********
@Steven **************
if you're so stupid to do 3 months deposits go for it and get lost
Paul ********
It is becoming increasingly common for landlords to require a two month deposit. But this is a relatively new development.

Three months deposit while not unheard of, is rare. Perhaps the property is furnished lavishly with very expensive pieces.

Or maybe, the landlord is just greedy.
Darren *********
Three months is excessive. One is the norm. Also, getting your deposit back here can be challenging..
Mithlesh *********
It is scam to keep your deposit. Better leave this deal. Once they get deposit , they can decline to give you back , based on stupid reason.
Steve ********
I've only encountered two months, but if they're asking three you can decline. Depends how much they want you as a tenant
David ***********
I only paid one month but it's up to the owner, but I guaranteed you will never get it all back, Thai, s don't like giving money back they will find something wrong when you ready to hand it back
John *******
@David **********
I had three rental arrangements in London - ripped off twice. I’ve had six rental arrangements in Thailand. Ripped off never. 😊 And three months deposit is not unusual. Don’t like it … don’t sign. I wouldn’t, personally. It’s a tennant’s market.
Jo **********
@John ******
you have open an balanced perspective!
Milan ********
@David **********
never had problem with deposit
Jo **********
Kuan ******
@Jo *********
there is nothing racist .. always bad apples amongst the population. I avoid small landlords in Thailand who only owns 1-2 properties. These lots are the worse.. lack of exposure to the world which made them very difficult to deal with and these will definitely forfeit n never return your rental deposit.
David ***********
@Jo *********
I'm married to a Thai I suggest you read up what racist means you knob
Jo **********
@David **********
well there are almost infinite definitions of how racism could be interpreted. i would say to make such a blanket statement without any humane consideration to truth, qualifies as either hate speech or racism. On one note you are right Thai’s are not a separate race but some one debated. My wife who rents several of her buildings gives back a deposit always. But according to you she doesn’t because she is Thai
Ryan ***********
@Jo *********
my wife who was my then gf our bitch landlord kept 20k and kicked us out 20 days early just after we had paid rent she gave us 6 days to move out or she would get the police and claim our stuff as hers during those 6 days I spent 4 days a Bumrungrad in the hospital with severe Norovirus and E. coli
Jo **********
@Ryan **********
ok fair point as you tell a story about a rotten person but another poster said all Thais do this. My wife who owns several buildings never would. Bad people everywhere
David ***********
@Jo *********
speaking the truth nothing racist about it good bye
Jo **********
@David **********
Thais don’t give money back? Generalizing based on race. My wife and her family are Thai they always give money back. Stop racist
เจสัน ******
Research Thai Rental Law 2018. Thai Royal Gazette 16 February 2018. Effective 1st May 2018.
Chris ********
One month plus first month up front if they rent out 4 condos or more (I think it's 4 or more). But small number landlords can ask for 2 months deposit and 1 month upfront
Renaud ***********
One is the law
Steve **********
My owner wanted two months deposit I said no I’ll do one. We agreed on 1.5

Negotiate it.
Stuart *********
Absolutely not common. Usually one (or max two)month deposit and one month upfront for rent. Bearing in mind that in many instances the chances of getting your deposit back is a flip of a coin do you want to potentially lose that money when the lease ends. Some landlords are great and will return the deposit. Many many stories of those that aren’t.
Andy **********
Laws limit the deposit to 4 or 6 weeks maximum I think.
Brandon ************
The law says 2 months maximum, unless the owner or agent has more than 5 properties, then they are not allowed to charge more than 1 month deposit (they all break this law).

Most common is 2 months deposit plus first month rent, so you pay 3 months at one time, but that covers your first month of rent. I've never heard of 3 month deposit, and I would refuse.
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