Checklist on Finding Accomodation in Thailand

Check list on Finding Accomodation in Thailand

Real Estate Agents
- In Thailand, it is always the owner of the unit that pays to the agent and never the tenant. If you are renting an Apartment or House directly from an individual, the rent may be hiked a little to compensate for the commision paid to the agent. However if you are renting an Apartment managed by a compnay, the rents are mostly fixed and not negotiable. And so you may have more to gain using an Agent as he/she may give you a free drive and make your search effortless.
Telephone.
- Find out the number of lines the PABX is connected with and the number of rooms in the apartment. One simple test is to call the apartment for inquiries a few times at different times to check the congestion level. Some apartments have very few lines attached to their PABX. Including Luxury Apartments !. This is no longer a limitation by the telephone company but a penny saving effort by the apartments. Telephone companies offer sofisticated lines for commercial use.
- Check if the apartment disconnects the lines after 15 minutes. Some disconnect after 5 minutes of use. This is also another penny saving effort by the apartments. If you intend to use the lines for Internet connections, this might be a concern for you. No apartment will inform you this and you will find out only after moving in.
- Check the cost of a local call. Most apartments charge a rate of 5 baht for 15 minutes of usage. For individualy owned apartments or houses, the charge would normaly be the telephone company's charge of 3 baht per call. Calls are not timed by the telephone companies but you may need to pay the 100 baht rent to the telephone company.
- Check the cost of making an International call. Calls to Malaysia and Laos are not International calls. Most apartments would charge a 20 % surcharge on your bill. Also check if you can make International calls directly from your room. Not all apartments support this.
- Most importantly, is the PABX automatic. Can calls be directed to your room directly. If not, then check if the operator operating the PABX can speak English. Otherwise your non-thai speaking incoming calls will have a tough time getting to your room.
- If you stay for long, you might want to subscribe to your own telephone line directly from the telephone company to save cost. Almost all apartments will not allow you to connect your own line. You will only be able to do this for individualy owned units. But if the unit is an apartment, then you may have to cough out a few thousand baht to the apartment maintanence to allow you to do the wiring.
Maintanence Fees.
- Most apartments managed by a company include the maintanence fees in their rents. But if you are renting one directly from an individual, check if the apartment has additional maintanence charges. This is usually 10 % of the rent. Houses do not have maintanence charges.
Value Added Tax.
- Check the rent quoted includes V.A.T. The rate is 7 %.
Credit Card Payment
- If you prefer to pay by credit card, then check if your card is accepted by the Apartment. Many apartments charge an additional surcharge of 3 to 5 % depending on the commision charged by the Card company.
Electriciy
- Most apartments charge at a rate between 4 baht to 5 baht per unit which is slightly higher than the rate charged by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.
- Do you have electrical items that require earthing. Many older buildings are not earthed but may have a three pin socket only to accomodate the pin without the earth connection.
- Lightning arrestors. You definately need to check this out or you might loose your electrical items to lightning. Most houses do not have one.
Restaurant
- Even if you plan to eat out most of the time, there will be some times when you need to find food. While some apartment restaurants operate 24 hrs, others only operate during normal hours. Check out if their operating times are convenient for you. Many close at 9 pm making it inconvenient for late nights. Some open late making it inconvenient for breakfast. Alternatively find out the restaurants around the area from the apartment owner.
T.V Reception
- Apartments of the lower rates usualy only offer the 5 local thai channels which does not have any English programs. Some apartments provide cable television at an additional fees while some include them in the rental. If you are renting from an individual, you may have to subscribe to a cable operator which costs about 800 baht per month and also 2,500 baht installation charges. Cable operators broadcast some channels like the Discovery Channel both dubbed in Thai along with the English language. This is actually a stereo broadcasting where one channel is Thai and the other English. So you need either a T.V or Video player with Stereo Receiver. Not just any stereo set though. The technology must be able to separate the left and Right channel to give you either the Thai or English language. German Stereo is one of them. Otherwise you would only receive the Thai language. You will not be able to hear one language from one speaker and the other language from the other speaker from a stereo receiver that does not support the spliting of the channels. Technology is widely available in Thailand but be aware that some cheap stereo sets don't have the technology.
- Request to use one of the apartment's T.V. sets and scan through all the channels yourself. Most apartments can never provide you with accurate information.
Parking
- Most apartments allow you to park your vehicle for free while a few charge a fee if space is scarce. Old apartment buildings usually don't have sufficient parking space and it may be a headache finding a space everyday. The cheaper apartments lack security.
Short term accomodation
- Short term accomodation is very difficult to find. Most apartments insist on a minimum 3 months stay. Only the more expensive or luxury units will be able to offer such options.
- If you are coming from outside Thailand, it would be very convenient if the apartment offers you a serviced room for a week allowing you time to purchase all the items necessary to furnish your room. And again when you leave, you have the option of moving into a service room while you dispose your items collected during your stay in Thailand.
Others
- Hot water, western toilet bowl, Swimming Pool, Gymnasium, Transportation convenience, Adjacent structures, 24 hrs Mini Mart, Laundry service, security and safety.

Back To Living in Thailand
Information for Foreigners coming to Thailand for the purpose of Employment, Business and Residence.

This page last updated on 22nd March 1997.