Bangkok Clamps Down on Illegal Sukhumvit Condo Rentals

[webfact]

A random condo in Bangkok's Sukhumvit area. File photo for reference onlly.

 

In a sweeping action to uphold local housing laws, the Director General of the Department of Provincial Administration, Chaiwat Juntiraphong, has zeroed in on Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area.

 

This move is part of a concerted effort to clamp down on illegal daily rentals, particularly in four specific condominium units. The crackdown comes amid a slew of complaints registered with the Damrongtham Centre, focusing on issues like noise and compromised security.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated this operation to rein in rule-breaking and soothe public discontent.

 

The mission, spearheaded by Ronarong Thipsiri, Deputy Director General of the Department, along with administrative officials and territorial defence volunteers, has now identified property owners unlawfully operating as hotels sans proper licensing. These individuals face not only hefty fines but also potential legal ramifications.

 

Authorities have been vocal about the disturbances illegal rentals can cause within communities, alongside noting the safety risks they pose. As part of the ongoing campaign, residents are encouraged to report any dubious rental activities to the Damrongtham Center or local offices to facilitate prompt investigations and solutions.

 

Beyond Bangkok’s borders, the ripple effect of this enforcement has reached Pattaya. There, concerned locals have reached out for media attention, seeking assistance for their condominium woes, highlighting the broader issue of illegal rentals across Thailand.

 

Under the Thai Hotel Act B.E. 2547 (2004), properties such as condominiums fall under stringent regulations when offered for under 30 days without a hotel license. Originally crafted for the hotel industry, these laws ensure safety compliance and competitive fairness, though enforcement has not always been consistent.

 

In a related narrative, a popular Facebook page spotlighted a concern involving Chinese property owners who purchase condominiums and rent them out short-term, bypassing formal hotel registration.

 

These issues have been particularly notable in units marketed through platforms like Airbnb, turning residential buildings into de facto hotels. Reports indicate that Chinese investors are major players, owning multiple units, sometimes as much as half the apartments on a floor.

 

The ongoing saga of illegal rentals has increasingly vexed local residents. They live in buildings that, due to constant streams of tourists arriving with suitcases in tow, feel more like hotels than homes. The broader impacts underscore a need for continued vigilance and responsive action from authorities to protect community integrity and safety, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-14

 

 

[Hardcastle P]

Don't expect sales to increase ,I suggest some Thais will not be happy with this Airbnb is it business. 

[proton]

Airbnb should be banned everywhere, not good for legitimate Hotel businesses, residents or the local communities where most of the homes are rented to tourists trying to save minimal amounts of money. You never know who the hosts are and they can cancel your stay at the last moment. 

[Naroge]

And those "four specific condominium units" are ?

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, proton said:

Airbnb should be banned everywhere

Or just where and when it's illegal to do so?

[phil2407]

Why don’t they just ban Air BNB in BK - too much work to inform Agoda, booking.com etc! 
& no doubt the apartment bosses / managers in this as well 

either sort it or ban all Thai properties from Air BNB & tell them  to remove them & do what they do if caught stealing from a shop - x10 whatever the rent is 

[ChipButty]

I would be quite easy for Airbnb to comply with the rules and that would be nobody can book under 30 days, the platform dont allow it, 

[CygnusX1]

4 hours ago, proton said:

Airbnb should be banned everywhere, not good for legitimate Hotel businesses, residents or the local communities where most of the homes are rented to tourists trying to save minimal amounts of money. You never know who the hosts are and they can cancel your stay at the last moment. 

If you banned Airbnb and similar services in Croatia and Montenegro, you'd destroy their summer tourist industry overnight, as most accommodation on the coast is in privately owned apartments. These people have been renting out their apartments in high season long before the internet existed, let alone Airbnb, and without all of the controversy currently in Thailand. It's true you run the risk of your stay being cancelled at the last moment, but it's not yet happened to me after dozens of successful stays over several years. The monetary savings are huge, and you have the advantage of a kitchen.

[carlf]

I agree that these short term rentals often really diminish the quality of life for the others in a building.  It should be strictly limited if not banished.  If the government was truly serious about wanting to control this, they would propose a phone number or website where you could denounce the practice, and better yet, propose a small compensation.

[ronnie50]

3 hours ago, Naroge said:

And those "four specific condominium units" are ?

The ones without hi-so connections with the local authorities. The article singles out Chinese, and they may well be a major cause of this (buying condos with no intention to live in them - just a place to stash their wealth). But I've stayed in Thai-owned condos in Hua Hin that are rented out short-term - usually minimum is 3 nights. The place I stayed had signs in common areas of the complex clearly stating in Thai and English that short-term rentals were not allowed. My observation was that many of the units were doing this anyway, and the Juristic Person office was in on it and would distribute keys as needed to short-term renters.

[ronnie50]

32 minutes ago, carlf said:

I agree that these short term rentals often really diminish the quality of life for the others in a building.  It should be strictly limited if not banished.  If the government was truly serious about wanting to control this, they would propose a phone number or website where you could denounce the practice, and better yet, propose a small compensation.

It happens in many countries though with popular tourist cities. Some local/regional governments ban them, particularly if there is a shortage of long-term rentals. 

[Caldera]

They should fine AirBnb for any booking they allow on their platform despite falling short of 30 days. It shouldn't take them long to implement a change that prevents such bookings once they are being fined. 

[Brick Top]

Last week , myself and a few owners made a police report about a foreign owner renting out his home which is in a complex .

We got fed up with the constant stream of noisy airbnb guests useing our common area and pool and treating everything disrespectfuly .

The police to our surprise took the matter very seriously after we showed them evidence of short term renting and inappropriate behaviour of these short stay renters.

They have now issued an arrest warrant for the owner of the property informing us what he has been doing is total illegal. 

 

[Naroge]

22 hours ago, Brick Top said:

Last week , myself and a few owners made a police report about a foreign owner renting out his home which is in a complex .

We got fed up with the constant stream of noisy airbnb guests useing our common area and pool and treating everything disrespectfuly .

The police to our surprise took the matter very seriously after we showed them evidence of short term renting and inappropriate behaviour of these short stay renters.

They have now issued an arrest warrant for the owner of the property informing us what he has been doing is total illegal. 

 

Happy to see that there is hope. Just have to push it.