NE Thai company producing floating homes - Thais and foreigners ordering "Hobbit" dwellings

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath reported that business was booming for a Khon Kaen, NE Thailand, company that is producing made to order floating homes.

 

The media called them Hobbit houses.

 

The floating homes and larger restaurants known as "phae" in Thai are proving popular with both Thais and foreigners.

 

Pong Hingkok, 58, the owner of Sapsiri 2019 Co Ltd in Hua Thung sub-district showed the media his production facility that is on 10 rai of land.

 

The floating homes have three meter wide tubes called HDPE.

 

 

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[BobBKK]

Float them where?  no regs I guess? 

[Purdey]

I would like to know if foreigners can park these anywhere without issues with police and land department. There's no land so you would think you could get away with it, but there will always be a catch.

[ThailandRyan]

Wait didn't a foreigner try and build himself a sea stead floating house he then anchored out in the ocean off of the coast here in Thailand and then get himself arrested as well as the home dismantled.  If I remember right he was selling them as well.......

 

Must be only a Home a Thai can build....

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-seahome-movement-idUSKCN1S50UP

Edited March 24, 2023 by ThailandRyan

[billd766]

I can see 3 problems with the floating "hobbit" homes.

 

1   Electrical power hookup.

2   Incoming water hookup.

3   Most importantly, waste water and sewage disposal.

[hotchilli]

29 minutes ago, Purdey said:

I would like to know if foreigners can park these anywhere without issues with police and land department. There's no land so you would think you could get away with it, but there will always be a catch.

Visa/ your home address?

[ignore it]

TAT is rumored to be discussing a special Elite Visa promotion and is hoping to send a delegation to Hobbiton in the Shire.

[Srikcir]

24 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Wait didn't a foreigner try and build himself a sea stead floating house he then anchored out in the ocean off of the coast here in Thailand and then get himself arrested as well as the home dismantled.  If I remember right he was selling them as well.......

 

Must be only a Home a Thai can build....

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-seahome-movement-idUSKCN1S50UP

As I recall, the anchored homestead lay beyond Thailand's sovereign territory - exceeding 12 nautical miles. But floated within Thailand's Economic Zone. Legally according to Thai authorities, it's location violated Thailand's EZ because residents could catch seafood from the homestead within the EZ that would belong to Thailand as a natural resource. 

Also note as I recall, the homestead was owned by a married couple - Thai wife and foreign husband. So there was some ambiguity as to violation of the EZ, ie., by foreigners.

Also that the homestead that was floated out to sea by a Thai boat/tug and legally manufactured in plain view in Thailand. The couple had advertised selling and creating a "neighborhood" of similar homesteads for the same area. Again potentially disturbing Thailand's economic interests without permission.

Regardless, I believe that the Thai Navy unilaterally removed the homestead (to protect Thailand's sovereignty which was not at issue?).  But I don't think anyone was prosecuted.

[Snugs08]

Ah a new entry for thai's pointing at things ...

Edited March 24, 2023 by Snugs08

[ThailandRyan]

29 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

As I recall, the anchored homestead lay beyond Thailand's sovereign territory - exceeding 12 nautical miles. But floated within Thailand's Economic Zone. Legally according to Thai authorities, it's location violated Thailand's EZ because residents could catch seafood from the homestead within the EZ that would belong to Thailand as a natural resource. 

Also note as I recall, the homestead was owned by a married couple - Thai wife and foreign husband. So there was some ambiguity as to violation of the EZ, ie., by foreigners.

Also that the homestead that was floated out to sea by a Thai boat/tug and legally manufactured in plain view in Thailand. The couple had advertised selling and creating a "neighborhood" of similar homesteads for the same area. Again potentially disturbing Thailand's economic interests without permission.

Regardless, I believe that the Thai Navy unilaterally removed the homestead (to protect Thailand's sovereignty which was not at issue?).  But I don't think anyone was prosecuted.

So then the floating Hobbit rafts will be allowed......is that your point.  I know there are actual floating villages in some places, but no true Houseboat communities outside of the ones I know of in the US.

[LosLobo]

16 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So then the floating Hobbit rafts will be allowed......is that your point.  I know there are actual floating villages in some places, but no true Houseboat communities outside of the ones I know of in the US.

"A community not a commodity, a property developer is trying to remove Chelsea houseboats".

 

 

Home of Chelsea Houseboats | Chelsea Reach Boatowners' Association (chelseaboats.co.uk)

[nglodnig]

14 hours ago, billd766 said:

Most importantly, waste water and sewage disposal.

The last bit is easy - you're on the sea remember?

Edited March 24, 2023 by nglodnig

[billd766]

8 hours ago, nglodnig said:

The last bit is easy - you're on the sea remember?

Not necessarily on the sea but on water.

 

It is NOT OK to pump untreated sewage into the water, especially right where you live. You will have waste toilet water complete with its contents which smell and will stick to any surface. Grey water from the washing machine plus water from washing, cleaning your teeth and from having a shower.

 

It would all need to be treated and pumped to a septic tank on land, which will need emptying at least once or twice a year.

[patman30]

where to float them?
then how long before you need to pay someone rent to keep them there

will just leave this here
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2161255/saiyok-floatel-ordered-to-stop-floating-in-30-days

[mackayae]

Koh Chang boat chalet.

[DILLIGAD]

Once met a French guy at Fishermans Village on Kho Chang and he had a floating house attached to the jetty. He insisted that he had full ownership papers because its not on Thai land.