Extremely high electricity bill for an Airbnb

[Renegade Sea Monkey]

Hi all,

 

I would be grateful for advice; not sure if this is the right forum but it seems to fit here. I rented an Airbnb in central Bangkok for 4 1/2 months. Like a lot of Airbnbs, the electricity/water charge is separate (I initially paid for the Airbnb rental, and then after the reservation ended and I moved out, the host sent me a follow-up request for money for the utilities -- it's an official message from Airbnb with the subject line "[The host] is requesting money"). The charge amounts to $1,750 (USD), equivalent to roughly 57,000 Thai baht. 

 

I work from home and like to keep the place cool, so I admit that I got the high electricity bill that I deserved! And I know that electricity in Bangkok is expensive. Nevertheless, it does seem rather high. I was expecting something around 40,000 or lower, based on previous extended stays at Bangkok Airbnbs. Also, I know an expat in the same building who rents from a local landlord, and his electricity bill is much lower (like me, he has a one-bedroom apartment). I liked the place and don't want to offend the host, but maybe I can ask the host to check it again? The host is transparent about it and sent me the reading for the meters right when I moved in, and then when I moved out; I'm attaching the pictures. 

 

I gulped when I opened the message from Airbnb and just want to make sure the price is fair. Thanks in advance for any responses. 

[soi3eddie]

Electricity in Bangkok is NOT expensive. My MEA bill worked out at 4.54 Baht per KWh (unit) last month. Based on your usage, of, apparently, 808 units - if I read you meter correctly - in 4 1/2 months, the charge should be 3,668 Baht (about $112 USD). If I got the decimal wrong, then 10x that at $1,120 is perfectly possible for heavy usage. 

Something doesn't add up. You should ask to see the actual bills from MEA and the juristic office water bill.

[Ohyesuare]

Does it say in the Airbnb, what rate they will charge you for electric? It seems like for 8085 units, they are charging you 7 baht per unit instead of 4.5-5. 

 

For a one bedroom condo/apartment, that usage does not seem possible even if you ran one or two ACs 24/7 the whole 4 and a half months, unless maybe you were doing it with all the windows open. It's possible this AirBNB owner just sends the same before and after photos to all long term tenants, if you didn't check and verify the meter in person, yourself.

[ukrules]

That 'before' photo could have been taken last year and I know you're definitely not paying the going rate - they always load it.

 

I once heard of a place that charged 9 Baht a unit - I think half their revenue came from electricity sales.

[ExpatOilWorker]

Ask for the MEASmartLife screenshot. It will show monthly consumption for the past 6 month.

Even better, if you have an electricity bill with the meter number, post it here, then I will check for you.

[scubascuba3]

3 hours ago, Renegade Sea Monkey said:

Hi all,

 

I would be grateful for advice; not sure if this is the right forum but it seems to fit here. I rented an Airbnb in central Bangkok for 4 1/2 months. Like a lot of Airbnbs, the electricity/water charge is separate (I initially paid for the Airbnb rental, and then after the reservation ended and I moved out, the host sent me a follow-up request for money for the utilities -- it's an official message from Airbnb with the subject line "[The host] is requesting money"). The charge amounts to $1,750 (USD), equivalent to roughly 57,000 Thai baht. 

 

I work from home and like to keep the place cool, so I admit that I got the high electricity bill that I deserved! And I know that electricity in Bangkok is expensive. Nevertheless, it does seem rather high. I was expecting something around 40,000 or lower, based on previous extended stays at Bangkok Airbnbs. Also, I know an expat in the same building who rents from a local landlord, and his electricity bill is much lower (like me, he has a one-bedroom apartment). I liked the place and don't want to offend the host, but maybe I can ask the host to check it again? The host is transparent about it and sent me the reading for the meters right when I moved in, and then when I moved out; I'm attaching the pictures. 

 

I gulped when I opened the message from Airbnb and just want to make sure the price is fair. Thanks in advance for any responses. 

You've not given any useful info for people to give advice. How many units have you used a month? what is the charge per unit? how long is AC on for? 

[SAFETY FIRST]

4 hours ago, Renegade Sea Monkey said:

I rented an Airbnb in central Bangkok

Airbnb are offering rentals without proper permits. 

Renting out properties without a hotel license. 

What do you expect renting from criminals. 

You rent from criminals you're going to get shafted. 

 

Next time find yourself legal accommodation. 

 

[CHdiver]

4 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Next time find yourself legal accommodation. 

Renting for one month or more is legal. No need for a Hotel Licence. Don't spread BS. OP rented for over 4 month. All above board.

 

If you rent via Arbnb, make sure you know how much you pay for water/electricity. Make sure you get to see the meter and make a photo. 6 or 7 Baht a unit for electricity is what most renter will ask. But do your research before you rent. 

[Quentin Zen]

5th floor, only fan, nice breeze from the balcony, didn't need the AC last month (first tme in many months)  I just got my record bill in ten years in Thailand.  

 

123 baht.   for a month.    yea, record LOW.

 

Record high is probably only about 1500 so I'm not the digital, nomad AC 24 hours guru.  

 

Airbnb.  never.   Every place always tries to get you when you leave......common everywhere.   my depoit here is only one month, I'll never do more.

[SAFETY FIRST]

20 minutes ago, CHdiver said:

Renting for one month or more is legal. No need for a Hotel Licence. Don't spread BS. OP rented for over 4 month. All above board

Hey big mouth, it's Airbnb, they are known for illegal rentals, dodgy as.... 

 

I hate these guys, I live in a gated housing estate, it was nice and quiet until 1 or 2 owners started renting out to Airbnb. Dozens of people partying in one house, partying all hours, loud music, drunks 

 

These are criminals, now demanding money from the OP 

[BritManToo]

5 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

Electricity in Bangkok is NOT expensive. My MEA bill worked out at 4.54 Baht per KWh (unit) last month. Based on your usage, of, apparently, 808 units - if I read you meter correctly - in 4 1/2 months, the charge should be 3,668 Baht (about $112 USD). If I got the decimal wrong, then 10x that at $1,120 is perfectly possible for heavy usage. 

Something doesn't add up. You should ask to see the actual bills from MEA and the juristic office water bill.

Agree,

808 units used at 5bht (max) a unit that's 4,000bht.

If it's 8080 units at 5bht (max) a unit that would  40,000bht.

[DonniePeverley]

You will struggle in a court room as airbnb rental is illegal in Thailand. 

 

However, your 'landlord' will also struggle as like i said it's legal to rent out short term like this. 

[JBChiangRai]

Check your T’s and C’s and see what it says about electricity. 
 

if it doesn’t say anything then you can ask to see the PEA/MEA bills and pay that, involve Airbnb in the process.  Checking the bills will also enable you to tell whether the opening reading was accurate or an old one.

 

You have uses 8,080 kwhrs, 7 baht per unit is not exceptional in a rented property, there are some people here paying a lot more than that in a housing estate.

 

 

[FritsSikkink]

8,080 kwhrs for 4.5 months is crazy. I had a house with 4 aircon's and paid between 4 and 6.5K thb per month.

[JBChiangRai]

Would I be right in assuming you had 2 air cons in the one bed apartment?  Did you run them both 24/7?  It's possible you could achieve that number of units if you did.

 

You really need to see those PEA/MEA bills (not to verify the rate unless the landlord's rate is not mentioned, but to verify the readings), you need to speak to AirBnB, presumably your bill has come via them and you need to tell them you dispute the meter readings (and the rate if he didn't specify one).

 

The landlord is likely to respond that he no longer has them if he's cheating you, be ready for that, with a copy of any of his bills you can probably get the history loaded into an app and see the meter readings on reading days.

 

 

 

[impulse]

5 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Airbnb are offering rentals without proper permits. 

Renting out properties without a hotel license. 

What do you expect renting from criminals. 

You rent from criminals you're going to get shafted. 

 

Next time find yourself legal accommodation. 

 

They're allowed to do 4.5 month rentals.  Without a hotel license.

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

9 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

They're allowed to do 4.5 month rentals.  Without a hotel license.

 

Yes, I do the same, rent my condos out long term without hotel license.

 

Where did I say that they were not allowed to rent to the OP? 

 

What I'm saying is the people who offer Airbnb rentals are criminals. 

 

 

[ZigM]

My wife recently showed me the monthly electricity bill from the month before I arrived. It was 300 baht. However, for the current billing period (1 month), since I arrived, it was 3,000 baht. So, yes, my presence has obviously increased the bill - by 10x.

 

57,000 baht for 4.5 months appears to be a scam to milk the farang (you). This happens a lot. I'd call the tourist police on 1155 to sort it out.

[impulse]

14 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

Would I be right in assuming you had 2 air cons in the one bed apartment?  Did you run them both 24/7?  It's possible you could achieve that number of units if you did.

 

You really need to see those PEA/MEA bills (not to verify the rate unless the landlord's rate is not mentioned, but to verify the readings), you need to speak to AirBnB, presumably your bill has come via them and you need to tell them you dispute the meter readings (and the rate if he didn't specify one).

 

The landlord is likely to respond that he no longer has them if he's cheating you, be ready for that, with a copy of any of his bills you can probably get the history loaded into an app and see the meter readings on reading days.

 

That's where my mind went.  I could have easily rung up the OP's bill in my one bedroom top floor apartment in Bangkok had I run both units 24/7.  I only ran them when I needed them (not when I was out at the office) and only the bedroom when I was sleeping, and I still paid about $150-200 USD a month.  But I liked to top floor so it was worth it to me.  And I paid the apartment more than the PEA rate.  Again, okay with me.

 

I suspect the OP would have cut back the usage for the other 3-1/2 months had he gotten a bill after the first month.  Live and learn.

 

[madone]

3 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

You will struggle in a court room as airbnb rental is illegal in Thailand. 

 

However, your 'landlord' will also struggle as like i said it's legal to rent out short term like this. 

it is not illegal you halfwit

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, madone said:

it is not illegal you halfwit

 

How are they even allowed to advertise on the Airbnb website if it's illegal? 

 

This is what AI has to say:

 

[ChipButty]

6 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Airbnb are offering rentals without proper permits. 

Renting out properties without a hotel license. 

What do you expect renting from criminals. 

You rent from criminals you're going to get shafted. 

 

Next time find yourself legal accommodation. 

 

You obviously dont know what you talking about, Airbnb is not illegal, anybody can rent out their property for over 30 days without a license or permit, he rented for 4/half months perfectly legal, 

[SAFETY FIRST]

23 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

You obviously dont know what you talking about, Airbnb is not illegal, anybody can rent out their property for over 30 days without a license or permit, he rented for 4/half months perfectly legal, 

Another big mouth who can't read English. 

 

I rent my condos out long term without hotel license. 

Have been for 20 years. 

Centre point and PKCP, bought of the plan from the developer, got another dozen now. 

 

Me and my family always lived in my house so rented out. 

 

[ChipButty]

10 hours ago, Renegade Sea Monkey said:

Hi all,

 

I would be grateful for advice; not sure if this is the right forum but it seems to fit here. I rented an Airbnb in central Bangkok for 4 1/2 months. Like a lot of Airbnbs, the electricity/water charge is separate (I initially paid for the Airbnb rental, and then after the reservation ended and I moved out, the host sent me a follow-up request for money for the utilities -- it's an official message from Airbnb with the subject line "[The host] is requesting money"). The charge amounts to $1,750 (USD), equivalent to roughly 57,000 Thai baht. 

 

I work from home and like to keep the place cool, so I admit that I got the high electricity bill that I deserved! And I know that electricity in Bangkok is expensive. Nevertheless, it does seem rather high. I was expecting something around 40,000 or lower, based on previous extended stays at Bangkok Airbnbs. Also, I know an expat in the same building who rents from a local landlord, and his electricity bill is much lower (like me, he has a one-bedroom apartment). I liked the place and don't want to offend the host, but maybe I can ask the host to check it again? The host is transparent about it and sent me the reading for the meters right when I moved in, and then when I moved out; I'm attaching the pictures. 

 

I gulped when I opened the message from Airbnb and just want to make sure the price is fair. Thanks in advance for any responses. 

The host is supposed to say on his listing how much per unit they are charging for the electric, I knew one guy was charging 10 baht, thats a bit much, 

[madone]

6 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

 

How are they even allowed to advertise on the Airbnb website if it's illegal? 

 

This is what AI has to say:

 

 

See that part at the end that says long-term accommodation rented on a monthly or longer basis?  

 

[DonniePeverley]

6 hours ago, madone said:

it is not illegal you halfwit

 

 

Have you not been watching any of the media of late? 

 

Whilst it goes on, it's illegal. 

[jas007]

Does your Air B&B agreement not specify what electric rate is being charged?

 

In any event, and for what it's worth, I'm in a 42 sq. meter condo  in the Pattaya area, and, except for one day when my aircon unit was being cleaned, it has been turned on 24/7 for almost the last three years.  I set it at 25 C and forget it.  Always on.  And the bills have ranged from 1600 baht a month to around 3300 baht a month.  

 

Your bill seems excessive, unless you had all your windows open and were trying to cool down your section of Bangkok. 

[koolkarl]

When you rent and leave an open ended bill like electricity, they you got what you asked for.