What are the challenges of renting a condo in Bangkok and how can I find a trustworthy agent?

Apr 9, 2024
7 months ago
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi everyone. I’m looking to rent a condo for 1 year contract in Bangkok, the area of Phraya Thai. I have had the run around from many Agents and in the end they say the condo has been rented. First thing they ask the price and where I’m from. As soon as I tell them they say that I can increase the price. And after, they charge me booking fees (which is a total of 1 month)even though I say I can put the deposit right away and that I don’t need the booking. I’m very confused, sad, overwhelmed. Does anyone know of an agent that is trustworthy? I need to move out of my airbnb by April 17. Thank you.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking to rent a condo in the Phraya Thai area of Bangkok but has encountered issues with agents who claim the condos have already been rented after requesting personal details and increasing prices. They express confusion regarding booking fees and are overwhelmed by the situation. Comments suggest avoiding agents when possible, dealing directly with condo owners, and that the rental market currently favors tenants due to a surplus of available units. The provided advice emphasizes the common rental practices in Thailand including the necessity of a booking fee, refundable security deposits, and potential discrimination based on nationality.
Daniel *****
Search DD property.
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Daniel ****
I will. Thank you.
Maple *********
22,000 per month, XT prayathai condominium. Pay 1 months booking and deposit 44,000 (2 months) when you finished contract if your room doesn’t have any problems this deposit will be paid back.
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Maple ********
Thank you.
Manuel ***********
You are getting so many uneducated answers, please read this and don’t pay attention to people who just comment for the sake of commenting.

When you want to rent an apartment you will need to pay 3 months worth of rent split as follows:

1. One month advanced, also known as the booking fee

2. Two months deposit, fully refundable at the end of your lease

The advanced month, also known as the booking fee, WILL COUNT as your first month of rent. This money IS NOT for the agent, this is for the owner and it’s your first month of rent.

If you pay a booking fee and the owner doesn’t want to rent to you anymore, the owner will refund your booking fee 100%

If you pay a booking fee and you don’t want to rent the apartment anymore (before signing the contact) you forfeit the booking fee to the owner (unless you agreed otherwise before paying for it).

Need to be even more clear?

Look at this example.

Say you go to see a room today, and right there on the spot you decide to sign the lease contract, meaning that you don’t need to book the room right? Because you are signing the full contract right away. You still need to pay 3 months which will be the 1st advanced month and the 2 months deposit.

I hope this is clear…
Ahmed *******
@Manuel **********
Hello Manuel, thanks for the feedback. If I cancel the contract before completing one year . The owner has the right for getting two months which paid as a Deposit? As an example my contract will be finished at the end of August however I will leave by June

Thanks for your help
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Manuel **********
It is very clear. Thank you.
Manuel ***********
Another thing. YES there is discrimination against certain nationalities, yes it’s aweful but it happens and it’s the reality.

Many cases the agent will tell you that the room “is rented already” because they don’t want to say to your face:

“Hey the owner doesn’t like your nationality so he doesn’t want to rent to you”

My advice is just continue searching, don’t think too much about it and move on.
Manuel ***********
Hey
@Ab *****
check your DM
Heather *******
The easiest and the best thing to do is ask at the reception of the condos you are interested in if they have any condos available for rent. I’ll be very surprised if they don’t. Don’t be afraid to offer less than the asking price either. Over several years I’ve done this and it has never failed yet
Kami ******
@Heather ******
I thought about this. How much do they typically go down? If the apartment is 80,000 is it too low to ask for 60,000?
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Heather ******
I will do. Thank you.
Bennett ********
In general, it’s a buyer’s market - there are tons of empty apartments for rent. No need to worry about losing out on an apartment.
Steve **********
@Bennett *******
tens of hundreds, the vacancy rate highest in my 20+ years
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *********
Wow!!! I have felt as if I’m at the loosing end. Thank you for that.
Steve **********
@Ab *****
it's a buyers market as haven't seen in decades....but to listen to an agent ' only 1 left 'or so expensive now due to demand.

Dint deal with agent, only owner.

If stuck with agent; write offer and conditions on paper for owner to see, tell him offer good 24 hrs, and walk away...but mean it !.....so many properties. Yet so many stories
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *********
I will do that from now on. Thank you.
Steve **********
@Ab *****
even if condo says 50% if it's all farang you pay 100% of maintenance.

Biggest decision on a condo, is " quality and honesty of jurisic ".

Talk to other tenants !
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bennett *******
Thank you.
Bennett ********
Try going into buildings you are interested in and asking at the front desk if any apartments are for rent. They should then refer you to the agent active in that building. We rented 2 years ago & the agents we met with just showed us apartments, no fees at all. The agent got a commission - from the owner - on the one we rented.
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bennett *******
Thank you.
Brandon ************
When you decide you want a room you pay 1 month to "reserve it". That's completely normal. When you sign the lease you pay 2 months. That covers the 3 months you pay to move into most condos (first month rent and 2 months security deposit). The first payment you make to the agent and the second payment you make directly to the owner. You never ask a Thai person to do something that's not the normal procedure or their head will explode. They don't think outside the box, they do things in the order they were told.
Vinay ********
@Brandon ***********
I think it is against the law to ask for more than 1 months deposit
Brandon ************
@Vinay *******
it's more complicated than that. But even when it is actually against the law, it's either pay the 2 months or keep looking for a different room. Someone else will pay the 2 months and take the room you wanted
Vinay ********
@Brandon ***********
I know as my gf has been looking. Technically the contract becomes illegal to enforce. I don't know if not paying the last 2 months is worth doing. We've never got full deposit back, even on car rental when returned in great condition. But I guess its just accepted and no one bothers
Brandon ************
@Vinay *******
I've never gotten less than my full deposit from 2 condo leases. But I always take the full insurance on car rentals because I don't trust those!
Vinay ********
@Brandon ***********
thats good. I didn't know you can get insurance for rent deposit
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
I have heard that this process it’s not that bad but I have had a really hard time. Thank you for your reply.
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
The agents told me that the booking fee is only for the owner and I don’t get any of it back nor use it towards the condo. Is that true?
Brandon ************
@Ab *****
the booking fee should go towards your rent. If that's not the case tell them to fuck off
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Christopher *************
There will always be a booking fee, how else do you think they are going to make money? Better off doing it privately.
Steve **********
@Christopher ************
deal with owner !
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Christopher ************
I also thought the Owner paid for it as well. One agent said that owner pays for it but still I need to pay booking fee and I will not be reimbursed. I feel she tried to confuse me. I just want to make sure I’m not taken advantage.
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
How do I do that?
Christopher *************
Get in touch with the owner.
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Us *****
What you explain doesn't make sense. I had agents begging for my service and would lower the price by at least 10% from asking. There is a huge over supply to demand. Would you mind sharing your race and which country you are from. I might know a few agents.
Steve **********
@Us ****
race ?
Us *****
@Steve *********
some landlords will only rent to certain race.
Us *****
@Ab *****
it doesn't make sense, I am from the states too and agents are begging for my business. There are plenty of places to choose from. Theynjust require a 2 montb security deposit. Is this what they wanted? Also what is your ethnicity?
Owen ********
Doesn't sound regular. Get a real estate agent you trust to contact and do the work. They will help sort out the commission
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Owen *******
Thank you.
Garrett ***********
No idea what you're talking about. Owner of the condo pays the agent, not the tenant.
Guy ******
@Garrett **********
sounds like they’re trying to make you panic sign at last minute. Just give them hint your not sure if your staying. That it’s getting too expensive. Also mention your considering another location that a family member is arranging this way they figure they better lock you down before you chose other area. Give them the panic sell feeling. Went through this in another time. Reality saying another offer came in. Always saying offer more they may be out bid. I smelled scam. So I automatically say. No God don’t want me to have it. Obviously. Agent realized I was stuck on avoiding competition that it has to be just right or I just stay where I was. You just say I’m looking at a completely different area. Be sure it’s not a rich area. Cause that will signal you can afford a lot more.

You should have made lots Thai friends by now I’m surprised you don’t ask them. Offer a reward for a referral
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Guy *****
No, I don’t have.
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
I was so confused as well. But they are calling it a booking fee to hold the condo for me. But I don’t understand why because I’m willing to sign and give the deposit but they still want to charge me for booking. So I’m not sure if that’s the regular and normal procedure. At this point I don’t feel sure and trust their procedure. They tell me that the booking is not refundable. So, I’m lost and a bit shaky.
Christopher ********
@Ab *****
the booking fee is supposed to be one of the deposits
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Christopher *******
Really? They are adding it with the two months deposit and 1 month rent but the booking fee doesn’t go towards the rent. In total they are charging me for two months deposit, one 1 month for rent and 1 month for booking. Thank you.
Bo *******
@Ab *****
Not aloud and scam from agent! Many agents are so bad not selldom woman!
Kool *******
@Ab *****
they are scamming you. What is your budget? I live in a complex just up the road from where you are looking, and they are honest.

***********************************************************
Christopher ********
@Ab *****
it’s a scam if it’s not going towards the deposit.
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Garrett ***********
@Ab *****
Just walk away and find another place. If you're already having issues with the agent at this stage, imagine the issues you'll have over the next year.
Steve **********
Attempt to deal with the owner.

Ask neighbors for contact with owner, have a thsi friend with you.

Agents are like ' Agents ' in any country....agents !
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *********
Thank you.
Stuart *********
Perhaps state what area of Thailand you are referring to. It’s a big country.
Corey ******
@Stuart ********
Perhaps read his post he said the area 👌🏻
Stuart *********
@Corey *****
Perhaps check out the edit history.
Corey ******
@Stuart ********
😆 will do
Ab ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
in Bangkok, the area of Phraya Thai. Thanks.
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