Is it common to sign a rental contract with an agency instead of the property owner in Thailand?

Big red flag. I’m a condo owner, when I need to work with an agent, the tenant still signs the contract with me. The agent prepares the lease agreement and helps with the process.

Renting through an real estate agency, they talk to the owner, you would not even know who the owner is. You would be paying your rent to the agency.

If you are in bkk.....choose the BTS/MRT station you want to stay nearby .....walk around the area look for facilities that you need ....walkin to the juristic office of the condo you fancy renting....speak directly to them ...usually a 2mth deposit and 1mth advance is the norm to move in ....skip the agent and if can't be avoided....owner bares the agent fees not the tenant

Wait till you get here. Negotiate a one month deposit. You can use facebook market place and meet in person- get key then pay.

Be careful about that "assing" it's a slipper slope.

Contract only with the owner

Only pay the owner

Believe nothing else. Agents are not licenced or bonded

Contract with the agency instead of the owner is a red flag. You want your name on a lease with the actual property owner, not an agency acting as a middleman. Ask to see proof the agency is authorised to sign on the owner's behalf, or push to deal with the owner directly.

For immigration, a signed lease works for address verification regardless of online or in person signing, but get a hard copy too.

Before signing anything, I use Lease Shield to check the lease for risky clauses. Free to start.

What city are you looking at?

1yr is what they want but, there are shorter terms available. Ya, pay alittle more but, you have a way out if you find this location is not as good as another place.

Still low season now, take your time before signing. Walk the area day and night feel the vibe of the area. One year is a long time.

The most important advice is not to make any big deposit or contract ahead of time before you are in the country and can see the property.

It’s not a common problem but it is always possible that an online agent is completely fake and has no contact with the property at all. This is the difference between using a reliable booking company and an independent “agent”.

If it is honest,

There can be a big gap in communication between the local owner and the agency that can communicate online and help you with the paperwork. Owners may be hard to talk with. The agents take a big commission , but this can be a frustrating job so it’s not unusual to have them in the middle.

Even without a final contract, it can be fine to give any address at the immigration. They don’t check validity, just your plans.

Never ever sign anything before you arrive and see condo !!!!!

You might find a better deal if you stay here a couple weeks at an Airbnb and look in person. Sometimes you find condos that don’t have an agent and can speak with the owners. Owners will negotiate on price where an agent won’t.