We have had a contract in joint names to buy a freehold villa whilst it was being constructed . Now the villa is nearly finished I have been told it (and the construction permit) can only be transferred/registered in one of our personal names by the Developers administraton girl. Is this correct? I was also surprised she asked me to give her my power of attorney to transfer electricity accounts at a later date etc. Is this normal?

Foreigners cannot own land.

Foreigners cannot own land.

Yes I know, I am asking about the building on the land - ownership transfer and the contruction permit transfer.

Once again, like most things in Thailand, depends on the rules as interpreted / enforced by the local land office

Would not worry about the power of attorney for the electric company, just make sure it is a limited power of attorney, only for the electric company

Good advice re POA, wasnt aware of limited ones..

I've done some more research and been told Blue book is for Thai's, yellow for Foreigners and shows residence not necessarily ownership. It can only be in one name for that property and anyone else in the house can be listed as residents. One use is to prove right to connect services only by the person's whose name is on the book. If another resident wanted to connect the service for example, the person named in the books has to provide a copy of a signed id card (not sure if this is a passport for a Farang?).

Have also been told construction permit is transferred by the developer to the owner (one name only) and this is held as proof of purchase as no title deed for buildings in Thailand. But that you either attend to sign things at the land office or supply POA's.

So will run with this but if anyone knows differently first hand or has something important Ive missed, please let me know.

Since the developers name is on the building permit, once the house is built, you need a sales agreement between the developer and the new house owner (yourself) registered at the land office. You would also need land rights entitling you to occupy the land upon which the house is built.