recived my Deposit back In Full both times when renting here in Thailand. Both times were one year rents.
My wife rents out a house and one renter wanted to leave the contract early and stay and until going to the airport at O Dark Thirty in the morning, She agreed and did an inspection the day before and gave a total refund as the renter had a family and had lost his money in a bussines deal. Sad story.
Turns out among other things they hid their kids broke the back off a one year old sofa and they did a temp fix so she would not notice. . Now no refunds until people move out and a real inspection can be made.
Lots of great renters and owners but their are bad ones.
see a lawyer not sure the below applies as your not married but it does if married.
You can not own but if the "wife" Will states your her Beneficiary and Executor you can have your name in the Chanote which allows you to sell the property, or keep the property with no time limit. You will need the Will written by a Thai Lawyer and go to Probate Court when your wife pases. I been there and although my passed without warning she left behind a will written Will. BTW we had been married 31 years when she passed and it was a first marriage for both us with no children