I'm looking to buy a plot of land with a good view. At the moment the plot right next to it is building a house that looks to be in violation of the building code. It's a 3 story building but it's certainly closer than 3 meters to the wall, probably closer to 1m. The house is 80%+ built, so it don't think they'd be able to change it at this point. I guess I could complain and have them block off all the windows, but this would ruin their view and I'd probably have quite an enemy as a neighbor. The current owner of the land is also unhappy with the situation and did not give permission. Any suggestions?

 

 

11 minutes ago, maskedman2 said:

I'm looking to buy

Don't buy there.

 

problem solved.    

 

You can either live with it, or just buy another plot of land.

Buying it in the hope that you can change it will just cause headaches.

10 minutes ago, Iamfalang said:

Don't buy there.

 

problem solved.    

 

The rest of the area is really nice. My wife seems concerned that someone knowingly violating the rules wouldn't be a great neighbor. 

37 minutes ago, maskedman2 said:

The rest of the area is really nice. My wife seems concerned that someone knowingly violating the rules wouldn't be a great neighbor. 

Ask the current owner to report the neighbour.

Don't buy into problems 

Forget it.

 

 

This can happen in the new plot of land too.

Also remember...conflict resolution is terrible here.

You think the authorities will step in (in time) to stop someone building inches away from your wall?

Not gonna happen.

..and you will get an enemy for life. 

 

A 3 story house can be a good idea until you get older.

Those stairs can be killers.

But, if they have 6 kids bludging off them.....?

Leave, cut any losses, and buy another plot, maybe offer moral support to the owner to go and complain to the authority.

 

Spend more money and buy a larger block/s so you can situate your new build further away from the boundaries. 

 

Land is dirt cheap here (compared to western countries) ... even in the tourist areas.

9 hours ago, maskedman2 said:

The rest of the area is really nice. My wife seems concerned that someone knowingly violating the rules wouldn't be a great neighbor. 

If someone is knowingly violating the rules, then it's NOT a really nice area.  Looks nice and is nice is NOT the same.    Looks nice, great location, but the drop grenades on my house every day!!!!!  Seems nice, looks nice, but every day they throw rocks threw my windows!!!!   lol

 

Now I sort-of hope you buy and stay there....I want to read about how this nightmare unfolds.  

Build a 3 storey wall that blocks all their windows!

We had a 400 sq. m. plot, in an area of low-rise residential buildings, on which we were intending to build a small house for rent. 

 

A 4 floor hotel building went up only a metre or two from our boundary. No response from local authority (?) despite complaints from us and 3 others already living there. Backhanders maybe?

 

All worked out well for us - not so much for the residents now in shadow. Less than a year later, the hotel wanted our still-vacant plot so we sold it to them - for 2,250,000฿, nearly 4x the price we bought it for 2 years earlier and well above the local price for a plot like that. 

10 hours ago, Iamfalang said:

Don't buy there.

 

problem solved.    

 

Or, even better, don't buy in Thailand

Thailand has plenty of nice plots of land. I think it's wiser to look elsewhere.

I'm surprised there are rules.  Anyone know where I can find a list?

You can't have it all..

In my area and many others it's a 2mtr rule from house to boundery, but that does not include any roof overhang, as long as the rain run off does not go onto other property. I'm not sure how this rule applies to 'high' buildings though.

Don’t buy the land that’s the simple answer !

1 hour ago, Boomer6969 said:

Or, even better, don't buy in Thailand

I’ve purchased  properties in Thailand and have walked away with good profits . I now have a secluded beach front property with several foreigners who have given me their contact details should I wish to sell with that in mind I regard your comment “ don’t buy in Thailand “ as a stupid remark 

2 hours ago, Tropposurfer said:

Leave, cut any losses, and buy another plot, maybe offer moral support to the owner to go and complain to the authority.

 

Spend more money and buy a larger block/s so you can situate your new build further away from the boundaries. 

 

Land is dirt cheap here (compared to western countries) ... even in the tourist areas.

Land is dirt cheap? Lmao 

Compared to L.A ..maybe.

Agri land is 10 times or more expensive here than the average western country.

1 mil per Rai is not unusual here in the south....far away from the sea and from a town

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Tropposurfer said:

Land is dirt cheap here (compared to western countries) ... even in the tourist areas.

No it is not. Maybe farmland in the middle of nowhere, but not near populated areas. 

 

There is NO chart in Thailand, because it's as transparent as mud wrapped in metal.  lol 

 

250,000 to 700,000 USD in America is how many Americans come to Thailand and relax.   It's why I'm here.   And all you falangs get all excited about MAYBE making a few dollars with zero laws to protect the falang.

 

Buy America.   Oh, you think you missed it AGAIN?  Wrong.  Housing Prices going to 10 billion.  

1 hour ago, JayBird said:

I'm surprised there are rules.  Anyone know where I can find a list?

 

Building Control

https://old.ieat.go.th › Program_IEAT › pages › Keyword

NoList of LawsLaws

1Building Control Act, B.E.2522 (1979)Details

2Building Control Act (No.2), B.E.2535 (1992)Details

3Building Control Act (No.3), B.E.2543 (2000)Details

View 70 more rows,,,, 

 

 

1 hour ago, crazykopite said:

I’ve purchased  properties in Thailand and have walked away with good profits . I now have a secluded beach front property with several foreigners who have given me their contact details should I wish to sell with that in mind I regard your comment “ don’t buy in Thailand “ as a stupid remark 

Never count your profit until the money is in your bank account!

First mistake......and it is huge.....is,      'I'm looking to buy'     ......never, never buy in Thailand, only ever rent.

 

And it is no good hoping to be one of the lucky few who 'claim' to have done well/made money etc.....they are the exception.

3 hours ago, Tropposurfer said:

Land is dirt cheap here (compared to western countries) ... even in the tourist areas.

 

You must have an eXcessive amount of money to call the land here DIRT CHEAP.

13 hours ago, maskedman2 said:

Any suggestions?

Look for another plot?

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

In my area and many others it's a 2mtr rule from house to boundery, but that does not include any roof overhang, as long as the rain run off does not go onto other property. I'm not sure how this rule applies to 'high' buildings though.

Like everything in Thailand, the rules don't matter as there's no enforcement.

2 hours ago, MartinL said:

We had a 400 sq. m. plot, in an area of low-rise residential buildings, on which we were intending to build a small house for rent. 

 

A 4 floor hotel building went up only a metre or two from our boundary. No response from local authority (?) despite complaints from us and 3 others already living there. Backhanders maybe?

 

All worked out well for us - not so much for the residents now in shadow. Less than a year later, the hotel wanted our still-vacant plot so we sold it to them - for 2,250,000฿, nearly 4x the price we bought it for 2 years earlier and well above the local price for a plot like that. 

Not sure how that helps the poster?