What should I do if the seller of my leased property in Thailand is unresponsive after I wired funds?

Thailand lease property leasing real estate fund repatriation wire transfer issues chanote lease expat experiences legal advice in Thailand

Oct 3, 2023

a year ago

Chris ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Bank question - I recently wired in a sum for leasing property. Lease was signed but seller is ghosting me. Funds are still in my account. Because this was a long term lease the funds were designated specifically for this chanote. So…I’m told I CANNOT use the funds to lease other land. However I’d love to know if anyone has had a situation like this. I see two options;

1. Wire money back out (I will go to bank tomorrow and ask if there is any reason I cannot repatriate my funds).

2. Have the land office sign off on using the funds for another parcel.

Am I off base? And yes - I am discouraged to say the lease but Sabai Sabai.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is facing a dilemma after wiring funds for a long-term property lease in Thailand, as the seller has become unresponsive. They are considering two options: repatriating the funds or obtaining permission from the land office to use the funds for another property. The conversation includes comments from others sharing their experiences and legal advice related to property leasing in Thailand.

Jarek ************

Which city is that in? I was told by two different lawyers that only condominiums require international transfer set for property purchase and houses do not. I was looking into it in Hua Hin also for a 30 yr long lease.

a year ago

Chris ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Jarek ***********

hi. I’m still learning but the basic - when you do a lease as long as 30 years (the max) you have to then register it at the land office. Apparently the land office is VERY particular about these 30 year leases. I believe that is due to the length of the lease which gives a foreigner total control over the land (unless you make a crap lease agreement for yourself). As we all know Thailand is not a fan of foreign ownership of the land (I’m a fan of that too for cultural reasons).

a year ago

Jarek ************

@Chris ***

I think anyone buying a house would do a 30 yr lease. For shorter terms renting would make sense. Which place were you looking at getting the lease? I suggest you double check with another lawyer.

a year ago

Reply to

Jarek ************

Garrett ***********

Didn't know funds to lease land required money coming from abroad. Thought that it was just purchase of property?

a year ago

Chris ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Garrett **********

for 30 years because it would then need to be registered at land office (my lawyers words)

a year ago

Michael ********