Advice About Renting

[myauq]

hi all,

i have been staying at a condo, and i've been quite happy here for the past few months. services are generally ok, we've had cordial relations with the landlord and workers. it's been one less thing to worry about.

our three month contract has just ended this week, however, and they have asked for more money from us. all that security i felt staying here has been yanked from under my feet. they told us today that if we wanted to stay for another three months we need to pay an extra three months worth of a deposit. we payed the initial deposit when moving in (for the first three months), but now they want us to pay it again, regardless of how much longer we intend to stay. i'm more than a bit sceptical about this.

also, i've noticed that two long-term thai residents both left within the last month. before they left they had a massive argument with the owner - i know, thais arguing should have sent out alarm bells. when the last couple left it seemed like they were complaining about money being taken from the deposit, for things like having dirty pillows, sheets and marks on the walls. i happened to go into one of the rooms before this couple left, and i didn't notice it being anything different from ours - i.e. it was clean.

my feeling is that i'd like to leave before the end of the month, but i'm not sure what we can do if they demand lots of money from the deposit for 'damages', which i'm suspecting they will do. i also have a naive hope that things like this can be worked out, and that our common humanity and sense of understanding will prevail. then when i think about all the other crap things that happen here i just feel like leaving this country and never comming back - i've tried to be a decent person: helping, friendly, interested and understanding of thai culture, only to be fuc_ked over for money. but seriously is there anything i can do to prevent myself from being ripped off and getting progressively less patient with this country?

[patklang]

As far as the deposit is concerned you need to check everything in the condo to make certain you havent got any damages incurred by yourself.Have you got a 3 month contract with everything listed in the condo.The owner can increase whatever he likes when your contract expires,you have every right to find somewhere else.Life isnt perfect and things do go wrong from time to time.

[thaimate]

leave ,there are hundreds of decent landlords looking for tenants,we just signed another two year lease ,on our house .rent reduced ,house painted and kitchen to be extended .there are lots of decent Thai landladys.

[12DrinkMore]

our three month contract has just ended this week, however, and they have asked for more money from us. all that security i felt staying here has been yanked from under my feet. they told us today that if we wanted to stay for another three months we need to pay an extra three months worth of a deposit. we payed the initial deposit when moving in (for the first three months), but now they want us to pay it again, regardless of how much longer we intend to stay. i'm more than a bit sceptical about this.

This is a bit vague.

Are you talking about paying an additional deposit of three months' rent on top of an initial deposit of three months' rent, or are you just talking about paying three months' rent in advance?

If, as I suspect, you are being asked to pay three months' rent in advance, then this doesn't not sound unreasonable. It is what I do. I also had to pay one month's rent as a deposit against unpaid bills and damages, which is also not unreasonable.

Check your contract, maybe you paid three months' rent as an initial deposit (not unheard of, but I think it is too much) against damages and then three months' rent on top.

Oh, and to try and work out why Thais were having a problem without understanding the language and background is a total waste of time and just leads to unnecessary gossip.

[myauq]

our three month contract has just ended this week, however, and they have asked for more money from us. all that security i felt staying here has been yanked from under my feet. they told us today that if we wanted to stay for another three months we need to pay an extra three months worth of a deposit. we payed the initial deposit when moving in (for the first three months), but now they want us to pay it again, regardless of how much longer we intend to stay. i'm more than a bit sceptical about this.

This is a bit vague.

Are you talking about paying an additional deposit of three months' rent on top of an initial deposit of three months' rent, or are you just talking about paying three months' rent in advance?

If, as I suspect, you are being asked to pay three months' rent in advance, then this doesn't not sound unreasonable. It is what I do. I also had to pay one month's rent as a deposit against unpaid bills and damages, which is also not unreasonable.

Check your contract, maybe you paid three months' rent as an initial deposit (not unheard of, but I think it is too much) against damages and then three months' rent on top.

Oh, and to try and work out why Thais were having a problem without understanding the language and background is a total waste of time and just leads to unnecessary gossip.

ok, i paid the deposit when i first moved in, as well as the first month's rent in advance. now that the contract is up they keep that deposit i paid plus they want me to pay the same amount again to add to the deposit, plus another month's rent in advance to permit us to stay for another three month period. that means i have to pay double for my security deposit to stay for another three months, without us getting anything extra in return. also, we told them we'd be staying for another six months late last year and we went through the payment (which would have actually ended-up cheaper for us) together, and nothing of this was mentioned.

btw - my gf spoke with the old tenant, warning us about being ripped off before she left (no unnecessary gossip).

[BeauKarl]

I think you better prepair for a bumpy ride. You won't get your deposit back after the contract but should pay another 3 months

[chiangmaibruce]

Hi. Go to the real estate sub-forum and search for the long thread on 'rental deposits going one way'. Lots of true life tales and strategies. I was running up till a couple of weeks ago I think. use advanced search options then 'search thread titles only', you should find it ok. good luck

[londonthai]

I think you better prepair for a bumpy ride.

at my bumpy ride there is still $100 security deposit, regardless how long you stay

[Ijustwannateach]

It's a buyers' market- they're probably desperate because they aren't making the projected income. Threaten to move out, get started with it, really show that you're doing it- and then when they come begging to you to stay, demand a 10% rent cut.

[geeky]

usually the only way out is not paying for the last month ...