PUBLISHED : 1 Mar 2025 at 05:37
The Thai government has issued a significant warning to foreigners purchasing condominium units with the intention of renting them out as hotels, emphasizing that such actions violate Thai law. This announcement was made by the deputy government spokesman.
This warning follows multiple reports regarding Chinese nationals renting out their condominium units to tourists, contributing to a growing concern over the disturbance caused in residential areas.
Residents, particularly in the Sukhumvit area, have raised complaints about issues stemming from short-term rentals, including excessive noise, cannabis use, and damage to shared property. The complaints were found to originate from tourists who had booked their stays through online rental services.
Concerns were amplified by the practice of providing digital keycard access to tourists through lockboxes, which was reported to compromise the safety and security of resident tenants.
In response to these issues, some condominium management offices have attempted to mitigate the problem by banning the installation of public lockboxes within the premises; however, many owners circumvented this by placing them in public spaces nearby.
The deputy spokesman stated that foreign ownership of condominium units and offering them for daily rentals without the necessary legal permissions is a violation of the Hotel Act 2004. Offenders could face fines of up to 20,000 baht, in addition to daily fines until compliance is achieved. Furthermore, most condominium regulations explicitly prohibit short-term rentals.
The Ministry of Interior has directed the Department of Provincial Administration to closely monitor condominium properties and carry out inspections for any irregular activities. Legal actions will be taken against violators, regardless of nationality.
Furthermore, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has confirmed the presence of several Chinese investors renting out condominiums in high-demand tourist destinations. Inspections around key roads in Bangkok have already uncovered instances of lockboxes that breach local regulations, leading to further investigations.
The BMA emphasizes the need for condominium management offices to remain vigilant in reporting any suspicious activities and to rigorously enforce existing rental regulations. They also stress the importance of raising public awareness about the legal ramifications and societal impact of illegal rentals. Authorities encourage citizens to report any violations.
It is also noted that regulation is required for online rental services to ensure compliance with local laws.
