What's the deal with the new rental laws and Bangkok apartments still overcharging for utility bills?

[SS1]

My gf just landed a job in Bangkok and helping her find a cheap apartment for her. She is in a hurry and found a nice place, but they're charging 8 baht per unit of electricity and 18 baht per unit of water. 

 

I recall this is illegal since 2018: 

 

 

So what's the deal with this nowadays - is this law basically just ignored by most apartment buildings and there is nothing you can do about it? 

 

 

Edited June 28, 2022 by SS1

[worgeordie]

The law only applies to Landlords that have 5 or more units

for rent ,

regards worgeordie

[SS1]

28 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

The law only applies to Landlords that have 5 or more units

for rent ,

regards worgeordie

This is clear, but apartment buildings are usually owned by one person and have +20 units so the law definitely applies to them. 

[worgeordie]

1 minute ago, SS1 said:

This is clear, but apartment buildings are usually owned by one person and have +20 units so the law definitely applies to them. 

In this case the owner may have proxies ,(family) as owners of

units , or they just don't give a ......

 

regards worgeordie

[TropicalGuy]

No Issue Here. Buyers Market.
Pay Electric & Water at Govt. Meter Rate Only. Or Walk Away. ????

[blackcab]

Large users of electricity and water pay a higher rate than smaller users. For an apartment building, their current cost will be just under 5 baht per unit of electricity and just over 16 baht baht per unit of water.

 

The apartment is allowed to charge a reasonable amount on top of their cost to cover equipment such as tanks, pumps, pipes, meters, wiring, etc.

 

18 baht per unit of water is not unreasonable at all as most people do not use many units of water. It is normally the cost of electricity that escalates quickly.

 

Water costs have not changed in a long time, however electricity costs vary each month, and with the current global situation I would not be surprised to see electricity prices rising.

[TheFishman1]

Tell her to find a different place my electricity is about 3.5 per unit and the water is just about free TIT

[FriendlyFarang]

On 6/28/2022 at 3:09 PM, worgeordie said:

In this case the owner may have proxies ,(family) as owners of

units , or they just don't give a ......

 

regards worgeordie

An apartment isn't a condo, the apartment building can't be split up on proxies or family members.

I doubt there are many apartments with less than 5 units, so the law should apply to nearly all of them. They just don't give a ....

[kennw]

On 6/28/2022 at 3:03 PM, SS1 said:

This is clear, but apartment buildings are usually owned by one person and have +20 units so the law definitely applies to them. 

So where is the enforcement? Or do the less privileged not warrant the attention? 

[emeraldruby]

On 6/28/2022 at 3:03 PM, SS1 said:

This is clear, but apartment buildings are usually owned by one person and have +20 units so the law definitely applies to them. 

I've never lived  in a condo block where one person  owned all the units- don't even know of one.

[emeraldruby]

14 minutes ago, kennw said:

So where is the enforcement? Or do the less privileged not warrant the attention? 

Good question- where is any enforcement? Police? City hall?

Edited June 29, 2022 by emeraldruby

[StayinThailand2much]

On 6/28/2022 at 2:35 PM, worgeordie said:

The law only applies to Landlords that have 5 or more units

for rent ,

regards worgeordie

Mine has almost 80 units, but no change. Still charging 8 baht per unit (divided into 4 baht + 4 baht "service fee").

[emeraldruby]

22 minutes ago, emeraldruby said:

Good question- where is any enforcement? Police? City hall?

I wasn't being ironic. it was a genuine  question to which I believe  there are genuine answers 

[natway09]

Caveat  Mentor

Ask the questions before signing

5 units I have rented in Bangers the electric bill came direct from the supplier

[Liverpool Lou]

14 hours ago, kennw said:

So where is the enforcement? Or do the less privileged not warrant the attention? 

Perhaps no one reports them!

[Liverpool Lou]

14 hours ago, emeraldruby said:

On 6/28/2022 at 3:03 PM, SS1 said:

This is clear, but apartment buildings are usually owned by one person and have +20 units so the law definitely applies to them. 

I've never lived  in a condo block where one person  owned all the units- don't even know of one.

There's a difference between "condo blocks" and "apartment blocks".  

[Liverpool Lou]

14 hours ago, emeraldruby said:

Good question- where is any enforcement? Police? City hall?

It takes someone to report them before there can be any enforcement.   Police are not charged with touring apartment blocks and checking electricity rates.

[Dante99]

You want laws and enforcement you should be not be in Thailand.

[Liverpool Lou]

14 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Mine has almost 80 units, but no change. Still charging 8 baht per unit (divided into 4 baht + 4 baht "service fee").

Mine has four buildings, each with nine floors and twenty units on each floor, every one gets a MEA electric bill.

[Liverpool Lou]

13 hours ago, natway09 said:

Caveat  Mentor

Ask the questions before signing

5 units I have rented in Bangers the electric bill came direct from the supplier

Those "caveat mentors" [sic], the bane of our lives!  

[kingkenny]

On 6/29/2022 at 9:02 PM, emeraldruby said:

I've never lived  in a condo block where one person  owned all the units- don't even know of one.

Don't confuse Condo and Apartments. Condo is generally units owned by many people, whereas an apartment building tends to be owned by one person, who in turn owns all the apartments inside,