From THAILAND NEWS section:

ALRO seeks legal remedy that would accommodate farmers

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO) will study legal measures that would allow developers who illegally built resorts on land-reform plots in Nakhon Ratchasima province's Wang Nam Kheow district to rent the land on a long-term basis, instead of having to demolish the structures.

ALRO found that 99 landless farmers in Wang Nam Kheow district had used land-reform plots -- which cannot legally be bought or sold - for other than agricultural purposes. Some had transferred their land to developers, who built resorts on the land.

- Landless farmers who have been given land which cannot be bought or sold.

- The land has been transferred to developers who built resorts on the same land.

How can this be, how can the land be transferred? Are there documents which detail the transfer? If there are, who authorized them?

Or is the land still actually recorded in the original farmers name? If so, what share of the spoils does the farmer get?

Are there any building approval documents?

Typically a deal will be made on a "handshake" where I (the developer) will give you (the farmer) money now for the property, and when the title is upgraded, you (or your children) will sell it to me without any actual money changing hands.

Land title upgrades can take generations.....

One of the common phrases you will hear when looking to buy land in Thailand is 'chanote soon'.

One of the common phrases you will hear when looking to buy land in Thailand is 'chanote soon'.

So true

Land title upgrades can take generations.....

And should be approved by the government (parliament), not done at the local level

Edited August 23, 201114 yr by JurgenG