Hua Hin pool villa nominee raids net 13 foreigners

From the linked Aljazeera article

The enforcement push comes as some local businesses complain about being undercut by foreigners.

“There are foreigners who invest in villas and convert them into Airbnbs, and once they’ve developed them, Thai people can no longer touch them price-wise,” Thong, a prominent Thai businessman who asked to be identified only by his nickname, told Al Jazeera.

“This isn’t Thailand’s fault,” said Ramsden of Lawyers for Expats Thailand.

“No one put a gun to the foreigners’ heads. They come to Thailand, and most of their common sense goes out the window,” he said.

“This is about the people not following the rules. This crackdown is going to be better and safer for Thailand.”

2 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

That hotline is a golden opportunity for anyone to call and report on a neighbour they don't like. But it's also an opportunity for anyone to report on foreigners running an established company offering services - like a competitor

A completely pointless exercise if done purely from a vindictive point of view if the target of the vindictivism is not doing anything illegal (and not all foreign home owners are). If they are "owning" property illegally, so what?

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

Sadly the foreigners are the victims, but they were misinformed by the lawyers and sellers. Than you can't blame the foreigners for violation of laws, but those who advised them should be prosecuted.

In the US an enrolled tax agent can prepare and advise on a whole slew of tax laws and loopholes, even the ones that skirt the law, though no matter what advice and preparations are done by the agent, it’s your signature on the paperwork and you, and only you are held accountable by the IRS for anything that is questionable.

1 hour ago, L- Lifeline said:

think we will see in the coming months and years the investigation widen- and many ordinary folk will lose their homes

By "many ordinary folk", you mean many ordinary folk who decided to illegally attempt to circumvent the ban on foreigners owning Thai land? No one who purchased their property entirely legally using legitimate Thai companies is in any danger of losing that property.

14 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

A completely pointless exercise if done purely from a vindictive point of view if the target of the vindictivism is not doing anything illegal (and not all foreign home owners are). If they are "owning" property illegally, so what?

In Thailand, anyone can call in a tip. A complaint is a formal procedure and can only be initiated by a "injured party".

4 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I wish USA was for US citizens and legal immigrants only.

Up to this sentence I was clapping hands to applause for your reply.

But then this ominous sentence?

What do you mean by this? How do you feel the situation is at present?

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

So they can't be left out, and should be punished, as the foreigners mostly handle in trusting them

Those Thais involved in setting up illegal nominee companies are not being ignored, they are being prosecuted also, as is reported almost every time this subject comes up, including this report, but people like you choose to ignore it and continue your incessant Thai-bashing. Why?

20 minutes ago, thaibreaker said:

Might be some good opportunities for (legal) buyers coming up.

Crossed my mind already. Start @ 10M, out of my price range. That would have to be one hell of a discounted price.

Plus think of all the maintenance fees that won't be collected now, adding to fee you'd have to pay to cover the loss.

32 minutes ago, thaibreaker said:

Might be some good opportunities for (legal) buyers coming up.

I'm pretty sure that was the intention all along for the oligarch class, whom Anutin represents. And just like Trump's followers, Thais will applaud this move, even though only 1% of them will be able to take financial advantage of this. It will be the guy with 5 teeth defending the guy with 6 yachts as they say.

4 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Up to this sentence I was clapping hands to applause for your reply.

But then this ominous sentence?

What do you mean by this? How do you feel the situation is at present?

Seriously.

That statement isn't self explanatory enough for you.

If you're going to live in a country, especially as a guest, do it legally, or suffer the consequences.

Sadly, that's why laws are needed. Too many Ahole are criminals. Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time, or live with the consequences of your illegal choices.

@ronnie50

Seriously, Trump, he resides in your head, all day, all night.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by KhunLA

Off topic post removed. @ronnie50 if you don’t want to discuss the AN topic, don’t post, but stop posting off topic links to articles in other media outlets. Maybe you should and comment on their articles, rather than trying to deflect topics here.

Reminder of the topic “Hua Hin pool villa nominee raids net 13 foreigners”

You never bring over or spend money here that you cannot just walk away from... that is an age-old adage for this place and many long-timers will sign off on that advice.

So many have fallen foul of this through false promises and poor advice wanting to believe paradise is possible... it is, but there are many trap doors and caveats to nagivate through/past and only experience will teach you, so caution is advised.

Some people choose wisely and marry the right type of person, but many don't (or just spend/party themselves into becoming a cautionary tale), and if you do that and it lasts with the right person, then it's fair enough if you want to give your long-term spouse/partner something for when you are gone... but even then, she is not guaranteed to outlive you either, so we have come back full circle to the age-old adage again.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Sir Dude

30 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Gotta love the socialist Jew haters, any excuse to spread their hate.

Quite surprised really, didn't expect this poster to be a Jew hater, I should have known better, Jew hate is an essential part of socialism/liberalism.

Has nothing to do with Jew hate.

If the behavior of a large group of people is illegal and harming the local area, it's perfectly normal to point it out.

Ko Phangan is a tiny place, so it can be disrupted very easily.

49 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

The article says it all.. Thailand want to get rid of the foreigners

No, the article does not say that neither does it even suggest that...it's the chronic Thai-bashers, such as your good self, that say ridiculous things such as that.

53 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

even talking in public transport is being fined

That's just absolute garbage, what are you going on about?

2 hours ago, L- Lifeline said:

I think we will see in the coming months and years the investigation widen- and many ordinary folk will lose their homes

A deal will be offered I suspect on the lines- sign over your home OR we prosecute and will confiscate your home anyway!

I would suggest many foreigners will suddenly be telling their friends, "My girl is different" over the next 12 months, as they sell / transfer to the Thai missus. 😂

The Department of Business Development, and the various Land Offices, will be very busy in the near future.

47,000 Thai companies to be investigated. That's a lot of potentially illegal foreign ownership of property here.

"Returning Thai land to the Thai people."

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

A foreigner should be allowed to own one home and up to two rai of land. This would not have a negative effect on the market, and could end up helping to improve the Thai economy a bit.

These rather draconian investigations will simply deter foreigners from buying property in Thailand and further depress the market. It's simply not smart policy, and they're going after expats who are contributing to society on many levels. Anytime the laws are incredibly stupid people will try to find a way around them.

Going after the Israelis on Koh Phangan, that's a completely different story, when the proliferation of foreign owned businesses impedes on the local competition.

You don't seem to understand why the law exists.

To protect Thais, it is 'Thai land' afterall, so they aren't priced out of the RE market. Why do you think condos are so expensive per m² ? Because foreigners can afford to buy, and or rent them at silly prices.

1 minute ago, Liverpool Lou said:

That's just absolute garbage, what are you going on about?

The Italian kids in a recent news article.

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by KhunHeineken

5 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

That's just absolute garbage, what are you going on about?

The Italian kids in a recent news article.

Cobblers, they were not fined for just talking on the BTS.

And as this crackdown likely proceeds, one should be careful about gloating about this lest you find out you have been gloating with the wrong person.

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by JerryM

10 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

You never bring over or spend money here that you cannot just walk away from... that is an age-old adage for this place and many long-timers will sign off on that advice.

So many have fallen foul of this through false promises and poor advice wanting to believe paradise is possible... it is, but there are many trap doors and caveats to nagivate through/past and only experience will teach you, so caution is advised.

Some people choose wisely and marry the right type of person, but many don't (or just spend/party themselves into becoming a cautionary tale), and if you do that and it lasts with the right person, then it's fair enough if you want to give your long-term spouse/partner something for when you are gone... but even then, she is not guaranteed to outlive you either, so we have come back full circle to the age-old adage again.

The age old adage is, a foreigner can not own land in Thailand. It is Thai law. Once people understand this, or better still, accept this, they will remove themself from any potential financial loss.

Talking about old adages, one comes to mind, make / leave your money in your home country, and spend it in Thailand.

Thailand is no country for a foreigner to invest in. Too corrupt, too unstable, too many grey areas, too risky. Why bother?

5 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Cobblers, they were not fined for just talking on the BTS.

Obviously, the member was being sarcastic.

4 minutes ago, JerryM said:

And as this crackdown likely proceeds, one should be careful about gloating about this and lest younfind out you have been gloating with the wrong person.

Some time ago, I thoroughly researched foreign ownership of property in Thailand, and learned very quickly it was not for me.

It was not just the Thai laws around it, but the financials didn't even stack up. Basically, buying property in Thailand was a poor, and risky, investment.

The term, "rent is dead money" is not true in Thailand. Any purchase price money is safe in my home country, earning more in interest than what I pay in rent.

Thus, I rent, therefore, I can gloat. 😂

7 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Thus, I rent, therefore, I can gloat.

Like I said, one can gloat with the wrong person.

12 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

17 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Cobblers, they were not fined for just talking on the BTS.

Obviously, the member was being sarcastic

When it comes to that particular member, it was not obviously sarcasm .