Bangkok Condo Owners and Agents Arrested for Illegal Rentals

[Cabradelmar]

All they need is an Airbnb account and they can find 100s (maybe 1000s) of condo owners and their agents offering short term rentals

[nakhonandy]

53 minutes ago, J Branche said:

"Their vision is to legalise and regulate small-scale non-hotel accommodations, much like similar European models, which could provide a sustainable framework for such enterprises to flourish legitimately."

 

So business as usual. Profits over Peaceful place to live.

If someone turns a Condo into an Airbnb next to a Politician I believe they would understand the challenges and noise issues some renters make.

 

I guess it's time to buy some more foam earplugs and Xanax.

Exactly, amending the hotel bill is not the way to go. It will just get abused in the large apartment blocks too.

Also, it probably won't be enforced. 

[NORDO]

"It would be interesting to see if AirBNB, Booking.com, Agoda.com etc will be charged with being accessories"

 

Not a chance, they are infamous for ducking out during any controversy. 

[kuzmabruk]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

might

In Thailand it is always “might” not “will”.  And might usually seems to mean “probably not”

[Seagull Sam]

And the moral of this story is don't buy in a busy tourist area. We arrive from our cold, cosy western homes where the authorities do everything by the book.

Governments everywhere tell us all what we want to hear. But... Will there ever be effective enforcement? Are the resources available? Are the wardens, police and local authority officer paid sufficiently well to avoid topping up their wages with a backhander?

Answers on the back of a postcard please. 

[samtam]

51 minutes ago, LOG54 said:

Hello

And what about the juristic manager and building manager responsability, as they knowingly tolerate these situations..

We are in a well known condo between Pattaya and Sattahip where those people accept anything, hords of Russians drinking and eating at the pool side (when clearly prohibited and reminded by boards all over the place), night parties forbidding people to sleep or enjoy a TV program unless being locked like prisoners inside their condo with AC on etc..

Some have purchased condos they rent short term to other Russians, then Sundays they invite friends residing outside to join them at the pool etc..

Guards are everywhere but don't do anything..

Not acceptable... But still have no choice except moving out (which we will do...)

I wonder why co owners don't really act against this type of thing as finally their condo value will go down and their life will get miserable due to noise and nuisances

Have a good day

 

It's not easy, and it's not cheap, and with the type of people you're talking about, it might be dangerous, but there is a remedy; if there are sufficient numbers of owners who want to agitate, they can sue the committee and the juristic person manager for not following the Condominium Act. 

[Spock]

Airbnb is legal and prevalent the world over. While I understand the inconvenience to condo owners of having noisy short term tenants, I am surprised Thailand has bucked the trend and banned rentals of less than 30 days. Decent management in the condo complexes affected is also obviously lacking in Thailand, allowing guest misbehaviour to occur and antagonising condo owners.

[10baht]

2 hours ago, proton said:

Good confiscate the condo's

F the condos , start confiscation motor bikes.

[10baht]

9 minutes ago, Spock said:

Airbnb is legal and prevalent the world over.

Airbnb is not legal in some places due to local regulations and concerns about housing shortages, neighborhood disruptions, and competition with hotels. Here are a few examples:

1. Singapore: Singapore has strict regulations on short-term rentals. Hosts who breach the laws can face fines of up to $20,000.

2. New York City: In New York, renting a home as a holiday Airbnb is illegal if you don’t live in the home.

3. Paris: Paris has imposed strict regulations on Airbnb, including fines for unregistered ads and restrictions on secondary apartments

[LOG54]

19 minutes ago, samtam said:

 

It's not easy, and it's not cheap, and with the type of people you're talking about, it might be dangerous, but there is a remedy; if there are sufficient numbers of owners who want to agitate, they can sue the committee and the juristic person manager for not following the Condominium Act. 

Hello

What I see of course owners is that they are quick to cry and complain but very few are ready for action..

Regarding the JM and building manager I repeatedly complain.. a few months ago about neighbours just under my condo partying every evening on their terrace, playing guitar, choirs, drinks, screams.. whatever..

First answer.. we should have evidence..

For god s sake your night guards are there !!?

2nd answer after I recorded at least 10 times during the night the noise inside my condo and sent through line

Answer... They don't speak English..

My answer ..use Google translate

3rd time I complained..

The terraces are not well sound proofed...

Then tell them to have the party inside, close their door and put AC on if they wish

4th time..

JM answer.. "we don't want to make enemies"...

My answer.. then leave the job if you are not able to do it..!!

Useless people.. only interesting in making money

 

Have a good day

 

[DonniePeverley]

24 minutes ago, Spock said:

Airbnb is legal and prevalent the world over. While I understand the inconvenience to condo owners of having noisy short term tenants, I am surprised Thailand has bucked the trend and banned rentals of less than 30 days. Decent management in the condo complexes affected is also obviously lacking in Thailand, allowing guest misbehaviour to occur and antagonising condo owners.

 

 

Nope. It's now illegal in many European countries. Banned now in Spain - because locals were suffering. Looks like Canada in Vancouver also looking to ban it (they've already banned foreigners buying property there).

[DonniePeverley]

These people who rent their condos out on short term rentals, contribute it to becoming an airbnb condo - will be the first to complain when their condo is not selling on the market. 

[ChipButty]

2 hours ago, CFCol said:

What are the rules for villas,rented out short term via airBnB etc.. we have ongoing problems with one rented out to partying kids.

The same, minimum rental period is 30 days, they need a license for STR, obviosly many dont bother, 

[ChipButty]

The condo managers are also in on it, they will rent the units out for the owners, Iv'e heard about 20% commission, 

[Purdey]

No foreigners singled out I see.

[samtam]

1 hour ago, LOG54 said:

Hello

What I see of course owners is that they are quick to cry and complain but very few are ready for action..

Regarding the JM and building manager I repeatedly complain.. a few months ago about neighbours just under my condo partying every evening on their terrace, playing guitar, choirs, drinks, screams.. whatever..

First answer.. we should have evidence..

For god s sake your night guards are there !!?

2nd answer after I recorded at least 10 times during the night the noise inside my condo and sent through line

Answer... They don't speak English..

My answer ..use Google translate

3rd time I complained..

The terraces are not well sound proofed...

Then tell them to have the party inside, close their door and put AC on if they wish

4th time..

JM answer.. "we don't want to make enemies"...

My answer.. then leave the job if you are not able to do it..!!

Useless people.. only interesting in making money

 

Have a good day

 

 

I sympathise with the lack of interest and response from your complaints, but unfortunately it takes a few vocal and likeminded co-owners to get together and formulate a strategy. Obviously you have to have mostly Thais involved. By the sound of it, (no pun intended), you are unlikely to be the only co-owner who has an issue with AirBnB, or similar short term renters. As I said, it's not easy, and you will go through hell to get something done.

 

We had a totally unrelated issue with the committee and their co-owner friends at my condo, involving a very important and rich family. It took about 2-3 years to get it resolved, and it was extremely unpleasant. But everything has been through 180 degrees, and it now works as it should, and what we did is now very much approved.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, CFCol said:

What are the rules for villas,rented out short term via airBnB etc.. we have ongoing problems with one rented out to partying kids.

Same.. they should be residential only

[LOG54]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

The condo managers are also in on it, they will rent the units out for the owners, Iv'e heard about 20% commission, 

To confirm your point, just one week ago, was walking my dog in front of the building. A taxi was there and an Indian guy sitting on the small wall with a luggage. A guard came parked his bike and accompanied the guy who was friendly with my dog.. we had a quick chat about India and he told me he was there for 2 nights only.. I walked out of the lift and he went higher with the guard.. so, obviously the management, using one condo employee, was helping short time rent..

By the way didn't hear any noise and never saw this guy anymore during those 2 days

Have a good weekend 

[Searat7]

Building Management is often complicit too by enabling access to short time visitors. I know of another instance where the management company owns a good number of condo units and rents out rooms just like a hotel. Visitors think nothing of going for a swim at 3 AM

[DonniePeverley]

10 hours ago, ChipButty said:

The condo managers are also in on it, they will rent the units out for the owners, Iv'e heard about 20% commission, 

 

This. 

[gjoo888]

15 hours ago, Andycoops said:

Who gives a stuff about developers...

Everyone who didn't build their house, condo, etc. themselves.

[impulse]

15 hours ago, zepplin said:

Why ? It’s not Airbnb or any other book platform responsibility to get a license, and the existing hotel license doesn’t work for small properties or apartments, it’s called piss poor planning as usual by the gov…

 

For the same reason you'd prosecute them if they were taking money to advertise someone selling cocaine.  They're taking money to advertise an illegal service that they should know is illegal.  All they'd have to do is require their advertisers to submit their hotel permit for rentals of less than 30 days.  No hotel permit?  No AirBNB ad.  Otherwise, AirBNB, Orbitz, etc. are complicit.

 

[ChipButty]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

For the same reason you'd prosecute them if they were taking money to advertise someone selling cocaine.  They're taking money to advertise an illegal service that they should know is illegal.  All they'd have to do is require their advertisers to submit their hotel permit for rentals of less than 30 days.  No hotel permit?  No AirBNB ad.  Otherwise, AirBNB, Orbitz, etc. are complicit.

 

You can still advertise on Airbnb, you just set the minimum stay to 30 days, same on any other OTA web site, 

[jwl53]

18 hours ago, CFCol said:

What are the rules for villas,rented out short term via airBnB etc.. we have ongoing problems with one rented out to partying kids.

I looked into this a few years ago, for a pool villa to come under hotel laws it has to have 4 or more bedrooms, that is what the lawyer said

[Chelseafan]

19 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Watch Condo sales plummet and developers start to squeal

 

And the so-called "crackdown" quitely stopped.

 

[Nairbem]

21 hours ago, Andycoops said:

Who gives a stuff about developers...

The ones who count on the envelopes!

[geisha]

On 3/7/2025 at 7:24 AM, CFCol said:

What are the rules for villas,rented out short term via airBnB etc.. we have ongoing problems with one rented out to partying kids.

Any short time rentals are allowed IF they have a hotel licence. If not, illegal.

 

[frank83628]

On 3/7/2025 at 1:24 PM, CFCol said:

What are the rules for villas,rented out short term via airBnB etc.. we have ongoing problems with one rented out to partying kids.

A bit different to a condo wherebits a shared space, but the renters should put rules in place. Ie, no parties, no loud music after 10, etc etc, A friend manages a few villas, they have strict rules regarding noise extra guests, etc, so far since COVID no problems.

[ChipButty]

7 hours ago, frank83628 said:

A bit different to a condo wherebits a shared space, but the renters should put rules in place. Ie, no parties, no loud music after 10, etc etc, A friend manages a few villas, they have strict rules regarding noise extra guests, etc, so far since COVID no problems.

Dont rent to groups of guys, especially Indians

[LOG54]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Dont rent to groups of guys, especially Indians

We have no indians renting in our condo but we have a lot of russians and I can tell you they are very noisy, partying, slamming doors all day long, then occupying all the pool chairs and inside the pool even some of them last year and this year with a very large mattress 2x2 nearly blocking the pool space with adults sitted on it and kids jumpint and splashing water then climbing again on this mattress

Situation worsened as at the beginning there were some co owners and some people renting also to russians for short term.. then I imagine these people told friends the place is nice... so more of them purchased and a lot more rented (the ones who purchased surely renting out when they are not there..) + the friends they bring from outside to use the pool..

This leads to a lot of evening/night gatherings with music, songs, alcohol and therefore also screams, loud laughs, screaming children running all over the gardens etc.. Peace is gone

Have a good day