Lease & Usufruct Providers

[Khun Bob]

Hi

In the near future I hope to be leasing or 'usufructing' some land which may have a dwelling on it. I have come across 1 or 2 providers that can set leases or usufructs up. What I would like to find out is who/what company provides these services and if you have had some experience with them ie you have received services from them, what your experience was like. If you could provide their company name, contact person and contact details, that would be very useful.

At the moment I know of 2 or 3 providers and I am tending to favour one, based upon what is written in Thai Visa. They also appear to be quite clear about what services are provided and what the cost will be. Whilst not the apparent cheapest, their reputation an attitude of the main person is very attractive.

I appreciate TV has sponsors, however the intention of this post is not to undermine their part. Nevertheless, I do hope that TV is based on openness for members to be able to discuss this as they wish. Well I certainly hope there is some discussion as my threads seem not to attract many comments recently...

Edited September 21, 2007 by Khun Bob

[Old Man River]

Hi

In the near future I hope to be leasing or 'usufructing' some land which may have a dwelling on it. I have come across 1 or 2 providers that can set leases or usufructs up. What I would like to find out is who/what company provides these services and if you have had some experience with them ie you have received services from them, what your experience was like. If you could provide their company name, contact person and contact details, that would be very useful.

At the moment I know of 2 or 3 providers and I am tending to favour one, based upon what is written in Thai Visa. They also appear to be quite clear about what services are provided and what the cost will be. Whilst not the apparent cheapest, their reputation an attitude of the main person is very attractive.

I appreciate TV has sponsors, however the intention of this post is not to undermine their part. Nevertheless, I do hope that TV is based on openness for members to be able to discuss this as they wish. Well I certainly hope there is some discussion as my threads seem not to attract many comments recently...

Bob, owning a condo (or about to own one of these high priced condos), I haven't gone this route. However, in checking it out, Sunbelt seems to have a straight forward service and let's you know up front how much it will cost. Dealing with attorneys for a number of years, you will be surprised at how valuable it is to know up front what you can expect and at what cost.

[scotsman]

Hi bob

I had a usufruct drawn up by sunbelt not that long ago on our property and they were very professional they tell you up front how much its going to cost. They keep you well informed by e-mail or in person I was very happy with there services.

regards

Scotsman

[Khun Bob]

Thanks for the replies

Although I didnt say in the first post who my current preferred supplier is the two replies I have had have just confirmed that. Sunbelt is a sponsor of TV, but what I like is the majority feedback on Sunbelt, the posts that Greg makes and how he comes across. I haven't met him but have sent a few emails and like what I have received.

Nevertheless, it is always worthwhile to be able to compare and this is where I am interested.

The list I have so far are :

Sunbelt

IsaanLawyers

SiamLegal

A guy in Silom (sorry dont have my notes at hand)

Are there any others - and any more comments on actual experience of setting up leases or usufructs with these service providers ?

Thanks

[Khun Jean]

A simple test is a question, if they answer wrong you know what they are trying to do.

Just ask. "Can you make a contract for 30 years + renewals".

If they answer yes, no problem, RUN not walk away.

If they answer yes, but suggest you think about the "four pitfalls", RUN away too. (There is a fifth pitfall!!)

If they answer, that depends on your particular situation, you might have a good one.

I used the words "four pitfalls" as a hint. Search for the topic that one of your shortlisted lawyers started and be the judge yourself if they are good enough to stay on that list.

Edited September 21, 2007 by Khun Jean

[Khun Bob]

Thanks for some advice on the evaluatio of lawyers - at the moment I'm just trying to establish who they are and get some feedback on them.

Lease is not my preferred option at the mo - I like usufruct - but for the purpose of foreigners having access and use of land for their life time, plus a possible lease time, this has not been proven - just like renewal options on 30 yr leases. I guess you could ask, what did foreigners who wanted some peace of mind over Thai land do 35 or more years ago - now if they are still alive how have they kept hold of the land. I think then they trusted their partner or used a company shell - but really I have absolutely no idea - still time will tell on leases and usufructs. It would be interesting to see how a usufruct is recorded on a chanote or what records the land department makes about this. Seems from some other threads some land department offices are not really that familiar with usufructs and the agents (lawyers) hired give some training to them on what to do.

So, who do you know that can assist with leases or usufructs and care to comment on you experience with them...

Thanks

[Khun Bob]

Who do you know that can assist with leases or usufructs, in addition to the providers already mentioned, and care to comment on you experience with them.

TIA

[dsfbrit]

Khun Jeans test questions are good advice. The agency you mentioned that has posted a thread not too far from this thread should be asked these questions if that posting is anything to go by.

I am a farang that bought land and house through the company route. I have spent the last 18 months since the nasty news about enforcing the land regulations checking out all the issues you are looking into now. A messy job and not something I really wanted to spend time doing.

After all my research, lots of emails and discussions, I have come to the following decision IF I decide I need to move my land/house from the company company.

- Usufruct - even though the 30 Year lease has been tested in the Supreme Court.

- Sunbelt - have been very helpful and well recommended - in fact I have only seen a few negative comments about them and that is mainly slow reponse to emails. I had that problem a couple of times as well. However, most of the other Lawyers offices I contacted either did not reply at all, or sent me a load of 'standard' nonsence about 30+30+30 year leases

Good Luck - my advice though is dont do what I did and buy land and house - BUY A CONDO IN YOUR OWN NAME.

But you probably don't want that advice - so good luck

Edited September 23, 2007 by dsfbrit

[xyborg]

I aksed Sunbelt for a Thai will for my wife and a bad debtor letter sent. This was 9 weeks ago and although I have paid almost 15000 baht I have heard nothing. My wife will be visiting them soon to give them a rollocking!!!!

[dsfbrit]

I aksed Sunbelt for a Thai will for my wife and a bad debtor letter sent. This was 9 weeks ago and although I have paid almost 15000 baht I have heard nothing. My wife will be visiting them soon to give them a rollocking!!!!

She must have a lot of assets, my Thai wife's Will AND my Thai Will (I have a separate Will for the UK) took about 2 hours in total .

Edited September 24, 2007 by dsfbrit

[xyborg]

<br />

I aksed Sunbelt for a Thai will for my wife and a bad debtor letter sent. This was 9 weeks ago and although I have paid almost 15000 baht I have heard nothing. My wife will be visiting them soon to give them a rollocking!!!!

<br /><br />She must have a lot of assets, my Thai wife's Will AND my Thai Will (I have a separate Will for the UK) took about 2 hours in total <img src="style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

nope she has a house a condo and 40 rai of land thats it and its all left to me obviously I will have to sell the land.

[Khun Bob]

Any more to add to the list ? :

Sunbelt

IsaanLawyers

SiamLegal

A guy in Silom (sorry dont have my notes at hand)

is all I have so far.

Seems that there doesn't appear to be many contenders at the better end of suppliers...

I think I could also add SamuiForSale as their website is good - what their service is like - dont know - and I am not interested in any place on or near Samui...

If you do mention a supplier, please do state their contact details and if they have provided a service to you, what your experience was.

[Lost in LOS]

I aksed Sunbelt for a Thai will for my wife and a bad debtor letter sent. This was 9 weeks ago and although I have paid almost 15000 baht I have heard nothing. My wife will be visiting them soon to give them a rollocking!!!!

same problem with them, friend and i both went in to find a good way to "own" our house. had an hour meeting, they said they will call us when everything is outlined and we never heard from them again...............

next.

[Khun Bob]

Any more to add to the list ? :

Sunbelt

IsaanLawyers

SiamLegal

A guy in Silom (sorry dont have my notes at hand)

is all I have so far.

Seems that there doesn't appear to be many contenders at the better end of suppliers...

I think I could also add SamuiForSale as their website is good - what their service is like - dont know - and I am not interested in any place on or near Samui...

If you do mention a supplier, please do state their contact details and if they have provided a service to you, what your experience was.

[tjo o tjim]

I didn't have any luck with e-mail to Sunbelt either, nor has anybody that I referred to them-- PM Greg for results. (Greg-- you need to dedicate someone to answering e-mails to the general mailbox! You are losing good business.)

I also consulted with SCM at One Pacific Place on Suk, and had generally good impressions of them. Not quite the same type of company as Sunbelt, but not all bad.

One of the things with lawyers here is that you pay a lot for what would generally constitute paralegal work in the US at a considerably lower billing rate. Fair game, but understand that the class of advice you get isn't much in the way of legal consul.

[Khun Bob]

I also consulted with SCM at One Pacific Place on Suk, and had generally good impressions of them. Not quite the same type of company as Sunbelt, but not all bad.

Could you provide some more details on this provider please ?

Also any other providers people know of and comments on their experience with them ?

Thanks

[Khun Bob]

Bump - any more offerings ?

[Khun Bob]

There must be some more ?

Now I'm starting to think conspiracy theories on ThaiVisa and its funding... This is Thailand and not Burma right ?

[Khun Bob]

There must be some more ?

Now I'm starting to think conspiracy theories on ThaiVisa and its funding... This is Thailand and not Burma right ?

[Khun Bob]

There must be some more ?

Now I'm starting to think conspiracy theories on ThaiVisa and its funding... This is Thailand and not Burma right ?

[quiksilva]

Its hardly Watergate, they sponsor the website. You are looking for recommendations for cheap legal advisors, you won't find many.

I'll give you another name you can try though, but I cant tell you how much they charge but they have done an admirable job for my clients before.

Somphob & Associates, located on Silom Road (google them).

[Khun Bob]

Thanks for this one - got the following details :

Website : http://www.somphoblaw.co.th/index.shtml

Somphob & Associates Law Office

17 Floor, Silom Complex Building

191 Silom Road, Silom

.

Time Zone (from GMT):

Business Phone: +66 (0) 2632 1051 4

Fax Number: +66 (0) 2632 1055

E-Mail Address: ***** - see

Website: www.somphoblaw.co.th

The following website has some interesting comments and quite a large list of legal service providers in bkk/Thailand (but it must be on a dial up connectio as it is so slow...)

http://www.bangkokcompanies.com/categories...panies_p742.htm

Does anyone have any experince of using Somphob & Associates for property usufruct or lease ?

Its hardly Watergate, they sponsor the website. You are looking for recommendations for cheap legal advisors, you won't find many.

I'll give you another name you can try though, but I cant tell you how much they charge but they have done an admirable job for my clients before.

Somphob & Associates, located on Silom Road (google them).

[kurtgruen]

I didn't personally use Sunbelt yet, but I liked the guy I talked to and recommended him to my friend Werner, who had a Usufruct done in both Thai and English, along with the Support documents. Seemed fairly reasonable and I think my friend did well with them.

I just picked them from TV and had no prior connection to them. If I need a lawyer, I will pick Sunbelt. Hopefully, I will never need one ;-)

[tutsiwarrior]

tutsiwarrior has recently emerged from registering his usufruct with the assistance of Sunbelt legal advisors and he is here to tell ya...they provide an excellent service conducted in a highly professional manner which is recommended without reservation or qualification. They are also attentive to details like explaining the mechanics of the usufruct arrangement to otherwise confused thai spouses...

Good job and thanks, Greg ...

[Khun Bob]

Hi tutsiwarrior

Thanks for your reply - could you say what the total cost was, how this was broken down and how long the whole process took you with Sunbelt ?

Also, were there any parts of the process which were not straightforward or you had problems with ?

Thanks

tutsiwarrior has recently emerged from registering his usufruct with the assistance of Sunbelt legal advisors and he is here to tell ya...they provide an excellent service conducted in a highly professional manner which is recommended without reservation or qualification. They are also attentive to details like explaining the mechanics of the usufruct arrangement to otherwise confused thai spouses...

Good job and thanks, Greg ...

[tutsiwarrior]

Hi tutsiwarrior

Thanks for your reply - could you say what the total cost was, how this was broken down and how long the whole process took you with Sunbelt ?

Also, were there any parts of the process which were not straightforward or you had problems with ?

Thanks

tutsiwarrior has recently emerged from registering his usufruct with the assistance of Sunbelt legal advisors and he is here to tell ya...they provide an excellent service conducted in a highly professional manner which is recommended without reservation or qualification. They are also attentive to details like explaining the mechanics of the usufruct arrangement to otherwise confused thai spouses...

Good job and thanks, Greg ...

as Sunbelt has posted elsewhere it's THB9500 to draft the usufruct agreement (in Thai and English) and THB8500 to register the agreement at the land office. There may be other minor incidental expenses but you have to contact them to see if they apply to you. Add 7% VAT to the total.

My experience was quick and painless. Contact Sunbelt at 02 642 0213.

[ThaiLawOnline]

It also depends where you register the usufruct.

The whole process takes less than a week, drafting the contract can be done in 48 hours.

Our phone number is on our website!

Edited October 18, 2007 by Totster

[Khun Bob]

So - in conclusion - there appears to be a few foreigner friendly legal services that will assist with setting up lease and usufructs, that members of TV can comment or vouch for.

There appear to be many service providers who typically deal with Thai clients, that may also provide a service to foreigners. However, there is potentially a higher risk of using these services.

Stating the obvious really, but this thread hasnt really had that much input.

Comments anyone ?

[old wanderer]

I have used Sunbelt for doing title searches, assisting in the registration of Chanotes, will for both my wife and myself as well as usufrect for various properties owned in my wifes name. Yes they cost some money, but I know going in what that cost is, and am happy with the service, and I like the people I deal with.

Edited October 26, 2007 by old wanderer

[ThaiLawOnline]

People can't post links here. And lawyers have a confidentiality duty. It's very difficult for me to tell you who made a usufruct with me and if they are satisfied or not.

I asked many time to send me an email but I don't think I received one from you. Just a private message. You can be anyone, working for any law firm....

Drafting a usufruct is not difficult and to register it too. If clients are not satisfied, I can't understand...

Anyone can send me a private message and they will get a link to many satisfied clients!

I work in Isaan but can send contracts through emails or fax. People can register it by themselves to save money.

Sebastian for isaanlawyers.