Report Deposit Dispute Turns Ugly: Ukrainian Renter Wrecks Thai Condo, Then Vanishes

[ChrisY1]

4 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Actually, there are no sides or different stories at all regarding this. If the tenant refused to leave, and trashed the condo, then it´s double fault for the tenant. If it was a deposit problem, then it´s single fault for the tenant as there are no need to trash the apartment for 32k baht. That you oppose the legal way. This is pure vandalism, and should not be tolerated in any kind of way.

The legal way....you mean sue the agency that rented this unit to the woman? Do you live here?

[SlimeLand]

I'd be willing to bet that the owner refused to return the deposit... Hence the response. 

[BritScot]

Anyone who has rented in Thailand  knows this scam or the massive electric bill which coincidently is the same as the deposit! Mind you it is the same in the uk, landlords just hate paying you back your deposit!!! But in the uk there is a safe deposit system and you can fight for your deposit back. It took me 6 months but I finally got it back.

[newbee2022]

I would like to hear HIS version. 

Probably a bit different 😂

[Scouse123]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Photo by Praphaphan Meesomboon

 

A Ukrainian woman has reportedly vanished after wreaking havoc on a Phuket condominium, leaving the owner with damages totalling more than 350,000 baht.

 

The startling incident came to light after Praphaphan Meesomboon, the property owner, shared shocking images of the ruined flat on Facebook on April 30. The series of photos showed a trashed apartment, prompting a flurry of reactions on social media.

 

Praphaphan detailed in her post how she'd rented out the condo a year ago through an agent to the now-missing tenant. The lease agreement, beginning on April 15, 2023, was supposed to end on April 15 this year, but the tenant refused to leave when the term concluded.

 

The chaotic state of the unit was discovered after the tenant finally departed, notifying Praphaphan that the key was stashed away in a rubbish bin.

 

 

 

With the exit of the tenant, the apartment was left in a deplorable condition. Photos reveal a floor strewn with ripped-up pillow feathers, walls scrawled over with dark blue marker drawings, and a slew of battered or dirty appliances.

 

Curtains were found in tatters while a slashed mattress and graffiti murals added to the devastation. One significant clue noted was the word "swindlers" scrawled on a wall among crude sketches, alongside the number “32,000” printed near the bed.

 

Online speculations have run rife, linking the property damage to a potential misunderstanding or dispute over a security deposit. Netizens suggested that the tenant might've deposited 32,000 baht at the lease's onset, anticipating a refund that never materialised.

 

However, Praphaphan has not confirmed any issues regarding the deposit and remained silent about the identity of the agent managing the rental.

 

As investigations continue, key questions linger about the tenant's location and motive behind the destruction. Meanwhile, Praphaphan is faced with the costly task of restoring the flat to its former condition, a financial burden running north of 350,000 baht.

 

Photo by Praphaphan Meesomboon
 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-01

 

 

 

 

How much reduction for the bag of oranges left behind?

 

Actually, if you look properly, the condo has been trashed, but look through the damage, and it's been kept relatively clean and in good condition.

 

Looking at the floors and surfaces.

 

I think this is a classic case of trying to pinch the deposit, hence the owner keeping schtum regards deposit.

[Magictoad]

3 hours ago, Hakuna Matata said:

 

What I don't like about Ukrainian women is that they may become furious and hysteric all of a sudden if they don't like something. They may be very aggressive. Beware!

 

On the plus side, they are very sexy and perform very well during sexual intercourse. They enjoy sex very much.

No and I don't believe in generalisation either.

[Colki]

She will be caught and will regret her little tantrum. Clean up and repair costs certainly excessive.

[Mavideol]

2 hours ago, swerve said:

Wonder where she is now, and if she'll get away with this.  Minimum is blacklisted.

smells fishy....

 

However, Praphaphan has not confirmed any issues regarding the deposit and remained silent about the identity of the agent managing the rental.

[steven100]

she should send the property owner a bill for the art work

[ronnie50]

17 minutes ago, Colki said:

She will be caught and will regret her little tantrum. Clean up and repair costs certainly excessive.

Caught for what? Did she commit a criminal offence - or a civil offence? Scribbling on the walls and throwing ripped feather fillows around in a private property is hardly a criminal offence. Do you think the local police or Immigration should hunt her down for this?

[Denim]

Deary me. It all happens in Phuket doesn't it.  Never a dull moment there. If you want a life full of excitement Phuket is the place for you.

[ronnie50]

At least we know who NOT to rent from in Phuket.

[ChockyTheCat]

We don’t know the real story yet but Thai Landlords are notorious for not returning any deposit, sounds like this could be the problem here, and they’ve taken revenge.

This happened to me many years ago, I left the house in better condition than when I moved in, but she lied and refused to return any money, I took her to court and won but it took a long time and I would loved to have taken revenge like this !

[happydreamer]

Im of the thought process that things like this rarely happen to innocent victims.  We all know the scams, we all know how the supers go missing and non-responsive when it comes to deposits.  That deposit was gone the month it was given.  The owner never had any intention on giving it back and overstaying two weeks certainly didn't help the vandal in getting the deposit back.  

I would never do something like this, but I can see how someone who is less stable emotionally would.

[worgeordie]

As the Landlord is quiet about the deposit , I suspect the landlord did not want to refund

the deposit ,that's why tenant would not move, the tenant not getting their 32,000 Baht,

less any outstanding bills for water,electric ,took it out on the Condo , not the thing to do

...but understandable ,when you don't get a refund.

 

regards worgeordie

 

[NativeBob]

(32.000/2)*12 >>> about $5.800 made over a year. 

sorry, not made. rather collected

didn't pay even a satang of taxes

yet run to police for help and what? felt no shame

and no shame at all yanking 350K worth of damages

 

I stumbled upon this scum. and always ended up in fight. Well, except one case - the landlord was really almost noble person. But that b*tch should see it coming. Good lesson for the rest of them.

[ronnie50]

41 minutes ago, happydreamer said:

Im of the thought process that things like this rarely happen to innocent victims.  We all know the scams, we all know how the supers go missing and non-responsive when it comes to deposits.  That deposit was gone the month it was given.  The owner never had any intention on giving it back and overstaying two weeks certainly didn't help the vandal in getting the deposit back.  

I would never do something like this, but I can see how someone who is less stable emotionally would.

As I posted earlier, and as someone above has proved, there is a legal route in Thailand through the courts who will order the repayment. But what do you do if you're in a position where you need to leave the country soon and don't have the luxury of time to take the landlord/lady to court? This could be the case here and in many other cases - and the landlords bank on that time pressure to hang on to the money. If this owner has done this before, then she had it coming - Som Nam Na. (looked her up BTW, she's a minor internet influencer 'princess' with lots of followers but follows no one back.)

[Antifreeze]

5 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

While I get your point, in principle (about trashing the place), I disagree with your statement: "If it was a deposit problem, then it´s single fault for the tenant.."

 

How do you figure it's the 'single fault of the tenant' if she made the deposit in good faith and is now being denied a return of the money upon departure (pre-trashing)? The way it's supposed to work - and the Thai law backs this very well as I recall - is that upon vacating day, the owner or agent inspects the property together with the tenant to look for any damages (2 copies), and if none is required, by law, the owner is to refund the deposit (immediately or promptly - can't remember the exact words).

 

If there is any damage it is carefully noted and (3?) quotations for repairs are required in name of owner. The repair cannot be an 'improvement' to the original state when the tenant moved in. This is all spelled out in Thai law, and is in line with many western countries and their laws on tenancy, rights and oblications. Thre's also a time limit for all this.

 

The fact the tenant went to such extremes remaining in the condo, waiting a few days for her deposit to be returned, suggests the owner or agent told her she was not getting any deposit returned and they wanted her to leave. So then she trashed it. Not condoning her action. 

 

Most foreigners don't pursue their rights, and many (not all) Thai landlords just ignore/deny them and wait for them to leave the country (or so they hope).

 

My understanding is the Thai judges will actually side with the tenant in court - foreign or otherwise - if the owner is unfairly retaining the deposit (Note: if you use an agent to find a place and a lease, I've heard the agent usually gets one month of the deposit as their fee-for-service (eg. owner pays the agent one month). 

 

 

Agree. No return of the deposit then stay there to recover the deposit. Pressure increases to vacate, then she trashes the place and clearly writes swindle. 

[KhaoHom]

Like it or not there are now 40M of us. Some of us remember when it was 4M.

 

All these situations have repercussions

[KhaoHom]

7 hours ago, Hakuna Matata said:

 

The so-called "High Quality Tourists" from Europe. 

 

Slava Ukraine?

 

Old saying prolly total irrelevant here all things considered

 

... Don't still your d__k in crazy.

[thai006]

found her and before deport her to ukraine , she must pay all 

[KhaoHom]

Love to know illegal <12 mo rental

 

300k in damage 😂

[NativeBob]

1 minute ago, KhaoHom said:

300k in damage 😂

Probably down payment for her next business venture. That's how they run it. I know few ladies doing exactly that.

[soi3eddie]

10 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Actually, there are no sides or different stories at all regarding this. If the tenant refused to leave, and trashed the condo, then it´s double fault for the tenant. If it was a deposit problem, then it´s single fault for the tenant as there are no need to trash the apartment for 32k baht. That you oppose the legal way. This is pure vandalism, and should not be tolerated in any kind of way.

 

I don't condone crimilaity. Perhaps, if Thai landlords played fair regarding return of deposits in a timely manner, then this could be avoided. Let this be a lesson to unscrupulous Thai landlords. 

 

[happydreamer]

2 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

As I posted earlier, and as someone above has proved, there is a legal route in Thailand through the courts who will order the repayment. But what do you do if you're in a position where you need to leave the country soon and don't have the luxury of time to take the landlord/lady to court? This could be the case here and in many other cases - and the landlords bank on that time pressure to hang on to the money. If this owner has done this before, then she had it coming - Som Nam Na. (looked her up BTW, she's a minor internet influencer 'princess' with lots of followers but follows no one back.)

Som nam na ...indeed

[Rhys]

..any distant relation to the Elephant beach dude from down south and with the wife, do you know who I am?

 

[Gottfrid]

2 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

 

I don't condone crimilaity. Perhaps, if Thai landlords played fair regarding return of deposits in a timely manner, then this could be avoided. Let this be a lesson to unscrupulous Thai landlords. 

 

So, what do you know?

[Gottfrid]

9 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

The legal way....you mean sue the agency that rented this unit to the woman? Do you live here?

Yes, I´ve lived here for 27 years now. What about you?

[Gottfrid]

9 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

While I get your point, in principle (about trashing the place), I disagree with your statement: "If it was a deposit problem, then it´s single fault for the tenant.."

 

How do you figure it's the 'single fault of the tenant' if she made the deposit in good faith and is now being denied a return of the money upon departure (pre-trashing)? The way it's supposed to work - and the Thai law backs this very well as I recall - is that upon vacating day, the owner or agent inspects the property together with the tenant to look for any damages (2 copies), and if none is required, by law, the owner is to refund the deposit (immediately or promptly - can't remember the exact words).

 

If there is any damage it is carefully noted and (3?) quotations for repairs are required in name of owner. The repair cannot be an 'improvement' to the original state when the tenant moved in. This is all spelled out in Thai law, and is in line with many western countries and their laws on tenancy, rights and oblications. Thre's also a time limit for all this.

 

The fact the tenant went to such extremes remaining in the condo, waiting a few days for her deposit to be returned, suggests the owner or agent told her she was not getting any deposit returned and they wanted her to leave. So then she trashed it. Not condoning her action. 

 

Most foreigners don't pursue their rights, and many (not all) Thai landlords just ignore/deny them and wait for them to leave the country (or so they hope).

 

My understanding is the Thai judges will actually side with the tenant in court - foreign or otherwise - if the owner is unfairly retaining the deposit (Note: if you use an agent to find a place and a lease, I've heard the agent usually gets one month of the deposit as their fee-for-service (eg. owner pays the agent one month). 

 

 

Ok, I agree with you 100%. After that, please tell me how the tenant will be right after the action made.

[soi3eddie]

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

So, what do you know?

Bring back the confused emoji.