Owner Wants To Sell The Condo I Rent

[shimizu]

The owner wants to sell the condo I rent for the last 4 years, and arrives frequently with a group of potential buyers to show them the rooms. I have a rental contract, pay my rents on time, and absolutely hate it, if strangers walk trough the condo, take pictures, and disturb my privacy.

My contract only says, that the owner has the right to inspect the premises with a 24 hour notice. Does he have the right o bring prospective buyers and show them around or can I refuse?

[chiang mai]

You could refuse but I suspect you'll get thrown out as a result, best to go with the flow I would guess.

[shimizu]

You could refuse but I suspect you'll get thrown out as a result, best to go with the flow I would guess.

Thanks for the suggestions, but how could I get thrown out, if I have a yearly contract? He might not renew the contract after it expires, but thrown out, I wonder on what legal basis? Edited March 30, 2013 by shimizu

[uptheos]

You could refuse but I suspect you'll get thrown out as a result, best to go with the flow I would guess.

Thanks for the suggestions, but how could I get thrown out, if I have a yearly contract?

TIT and there's always a way around things for a Thai.

[shimizu]

I forgot to mention, that the owner is not a Thai, but another foreigner from Korea.

[USNret]

I forgot to mention, that the owner is not a Thai, but another foreigner from Korea.

In that case, just refuse the showings on the assumption he'll get no sympathy from any local officials if he tries to throw you out. Or, leave the place an utter mess with dirty dishes, unmade bed, etc. Charge him a "cleaning fee" if he cares to show a tidy condo to potential buyers.

I have sold rental properties in the past with equal inconvenience to the tenants. I gave them a heads-up that this was going to happen, and a little break on the rent to make up for their trouble. Perhaps you should get a similar break.

[isawasnake]

Tell him nothing doing anymore! You are paying for that space, if he wants to use it he needs to give YOU some sort of compensation. I would tell him to buzz off until the contract ends.

[mccw]

If it says he can inspect at 24hrs notice then he can easily say he has the right to come "inspect" and if he brings associates along then its up to him since its HIS property.

Out of courtesy I would have offered you a little discount for the inconvenience maybe if long before the end of contract (when does it end?) but end of the day you should have specified in the contract at what point viewings for the next year can begin. Normally a month or two of viewings is accepted in high turn over markets - perhaps more in Thai where sales rents can take longer. This with out any discount; just a standard part of the deal. Since it says 24hrs notice he can come round maybe in his translation or home country this would be including for the purpose of viewings for next tenants or sale. I think you should get off your western high horse "my rights" bla bla bla and accept this is one of those reasons why people buy rather than rent.

Have you thought what will happen to you if a buyer wants to move in right away / before the end of your contract?

[54321]

If it says he can inspect at 24hrs notice then he can easily say he has the right to come "inspect" and if he brings associates along then its up to him since its HIS property.

Out of courtesy I would have offered you a little discount for the inconvenience maybe if long before the end of contract (when does it end?) but end of the day you should have specified in the contract at what point viewings for the next year can begin. Normally a month or two of viewings is accepted in high turn over markets - perhaps more in Thai where sales rents can take longer. This with out any discount; just a standard part of the deal. Since it says 24hrs notice he can come round maybe in his translation or home country this would be including for the purpose of viewings for next tenants or sale. I think you should get off your western high horse "my rights" bla bla bla and accept this is one of those reasons why people buy rather than rent.

Have you thought what will happen to you if a buyer wants to move in right away / before the end of your contract?

"Western high horse bla bla bla". I am pretty sure if more people fought for their rights and challenged injustice (perceived or otherwise) the country would be a better place.

[BlackPuddingBertha]

If it says he can inspect at 24hrs notice then he can easily say he has the right to come "inspect" and if he brings associates along then its up to him since its HIS property.

.....

Have you thought what will happen to you if a buyer wants to move in right away / before the end of your contract?

My contract gives my landlord the right to inspect the property occasionally with 24 hours notice, but it says nothing about associates and other people. I would be within my rights to refuse access to anyone other than the landlord.

My contract also stipulates in the case of a sale that my tenancy is valid until the end of the contract.

In fact in two years only three potential buyers have ever come to see my unit, and none of them liked it enough to come back for a second look. Which is odd because I love it and it is one of the few units I have seen here that I would consider buying.

[lomatopo]

How often is the owner showing the property? Does he give you any notice at all? What times of the day is is showing the property? Did you sign a new, current contract covering the current time period? Are you able to communicate with the owner in a reasonable manner? What is your ultimate goal?

I suspect the wording on the owner having access to the property may be more flexible in his favor, like maybe saying something like "making an attempt to provide 24 hour notice".

I guess you could seek legal advice re: your options, or figure out what you want and then try to communicate that to the owner and building management?

[mccw]

If it says he can inspect at 24hrs notice then he can easily say he has the right to come "inspect" and if he brings associates along then its up to him since its HIS property.

.....

Have you thought what will happen to you if a buyer wants to move in right away / before the end of your contract?

My contract gives my landlord the right to inspect the property occasionally with 24 hours notice, but it says nothing about associates and other people. I would be within my rights to refuse access to anyone other than the landlord.

My contract also stipulates in the case of a sale that my tenancy is valid until the end of the contract.

In fact in two years only three potential buyers have ever come to see my unit, and none of them liked it enough to come back for a second look. Which is odd because I love it and it is one of the few units I have seen here that I would consider buying.

3 times in two years; what's the big gripe about then?

[mccw]

If it says he can inspect at 24hrs notice then he can easily say he has the right to come "inspect" and if he brings associates along then its up to him since its HIS property.

Out of courtesy I would have offered you a little discount for the inconvenience maybe if long before the end of contract (when does it end?) but end of the day you should have specified in the contract at what point viewings for the next year can begin. Normally a month or two of viewings is accepted in high turn over markets - perhaps more in Thai where sales rents can take longer. This with out any discount; just a standard part of the deal. Since it says 24hrs notice he can come round maybe in his translation or home country this would be including for the purpose of viewings for next tenants or sale. I think you should get off your western high horse "my rights" bla bla bla and accept this is one of those reasons why people buy rather than rent.

Have you thought what will happen to you if a buyer wants to move in right away / before the end of your contract?

"Western high horse bla bla bla". I am pretty sure if more people fought for their rights and challenged injustice (perceived or otherwise) the country would be a better place.

Not really. Look at the red shirts - got completely the wrong head and make a load of shit for the country and decent hard working people trying to get on with their lives. Like the "human rights" , benefits/ welfare entitlements, over the top health and saftey and other suffocating regulations. The state in a quest to bring justice actually creates worse injustice though its ham forested efforts. Do many examples to list through - property law being just one of them , example in UK , this guy could stop paying his rent and carry on in the property for 6 months or more, costing the owner a fortune in legal and court fees while the tax payer keeps on supporting the wrong doer at every step.

I think a contract should be respected. If the owner can visit with notice then that's that. If the tenant stops paying then he can be turfed out after 2 weeks- damn strait. His contract states he can stay till the end even if a buyer comes along and that too should be respected or a compensation worked out for a sooner departure..

For sure Thailand's got far more common sense approach to most things than most the western up side down socialist quagmires of today.

[richard_smith237]

It makes me wonder why some people try to make a big deal about such minor issues.

If the owner is providing 24 hours notice and sufficient time for the renter (Op) to place his valuables out of the way then I really see no issue with this. How else is the owner expected to sell his condo?

Op, stand back and take on a balanced perspective. Buy if you don't want to be exposed to visits from the landlord

Op, how would you choose to go about selling the Condo should the rolls be reversed ?

Edited March 31, 2013 by richard_smith237

[how241]

It makes me wonder why some people try to make a big deal about such minor issues.

If the owner is providing 24 hours notice and sufficient time for the renter (Op) to place his valuables out of the way then I really see no issue with this. How else is the owner expected to sell his condo?

Op, stand back and take on a balanced perspective. Buy if you don't want to be exposed to visits from the landlord

Op, how would you choose to go about selling the Condo should the rolls be reversed ?

Some good points here.

[Fgis]

Benefit of buying anywhere I stay... nobody asks me to leave and come in my condo !

[BlackPuddingBertha]

3 times in two years; what's the big gripe about then?

I dont know. I have no gripe. Maybe someone else has.

[mrbojangles]

II think you should get off your western high horse "my rights" bla bla bla and accept this is one of those reasons why people buy rather than rent.

There are rights in Thailand and the op was simply asking what his were. Don't really see him getting on any high horse.

Also, there are many reasons why people rent instead of buying. Maybe he doesn't have the funds, maybe he is trying out the area, maybe his job isn't that secure, maybe he just doesn't trust the Thai Law on property ownership, maybe...............

[rixalex]

I'm a landlord and i don't think it's right for a tenants privacy to be invaded unless the tenant is given plenty of prior warning and given the option to refuse. The property obviously does not belong to the tenant, but for the period in which the tenant is renting it, it is in their custody so to speak. That is what the tenant is paying for after all. Would you rent a motorcycle to someone for a year, and then tell them after a few months that you'll be needing the bike tomorrow afternoon because someone wants to take it for spin as they might like to buy it. Of course not. You'd wait until you the rental period had ended, and then you'd have sole possession of it so as to show it to people. The landlord is trying to have his cake and eat it. He stills wants the income stream from the rental, but he wants access to the property so he can sell it. He should either wait until the property is empty, or advertise it with pictures and tell any interested parties that they won't be able to view it until either it is convenient for the tenant and the tenant is willing, or until the tenant is longer there.

Shimizu don't be afraid of standing up to your landlord. My guess is he is rather keen to continue receiving the money he gets by renting it to you and would not be happy about having to waste time trying to find a new tenant, and the loss of income that would likely entail. Tell him property viewings, if you give consent, will be on your terms, and if he's not happy with that, you'll be moving out.

[Khun Jean]

Both tenant and owner can work together in this.

I am owner and tenant so i know both sides.

As a tenant i first change locks as i do not allow anyone to enter without my knowledge.

The owner can come and inspect any time they want but only with prior notice.

Even an hour is ok with me and sometimes it is not and i will tell tomorrow or other time will be better.

This has never been a problem the very few times the owner wanted to have access. First time to inspect, the second time to have something fixed.

In my role as a owner i always give at least 24 hour notice, and if that time is not convenient the tenant can give an alternative time within a reasonable time frame.

I do inspections, once a month on a fixed day and is part of the contract. This results in having the rental at least once a month in a clean and presentable condition.

At the same time small things can be repaired. Normally 5 minutes is enough.

Edited March 31, 2013 by Khun Jean

[aussiebebe]

While I just want to say I think rixalex and Khun Jean sound like admirable landlords, if these visits have only happened by the OP's admission thrice in two years, I don't see the big fuss. I think getting the air conditioners cleaned is way more intrusive and disruptive than having a few prospective buyers have a look!

[mrbojangles]

if these visits have only happened by the OP's admission thrice in two years, I don't see the big fuss. I think getting the air conditioners cleaned is way more intrusive and disruptive than having a few prospective buyers have a look!

Slightly off topic but you have to be careful who you let in your home nowadays. In the UK near to where I lived a few years ago, a local window cleaner was caught and linked to hundreds of burglaries. He was using his position to stake the houses out by be able to freely see inside and see what treasures there were and most importantly knowing when the house was empty.

There were also a gang who acted like a large family and prospective buyers. What they were actually doing was using the house viewings to stake the houses out. Once in the houses they would scuffle off in different directionsseeing what was in the house of value and leaving the owner helpless to try and keep an eye on them all. The Police got them in the end as various Estate Agents put two and two together.

I have never been in any of my houses whilst they are rented out and leave it to my agent to do the routine inspection. I would certainly not take prospective buyers round whilst a tenant was still in. But each to their own.

[dave111223]

..if these visits have only happened by the OP's admission thrice in two years, I don't see the big fuss...

That was BlackPuddingBertha, not the OP.

[Ulic]

Answer the door naked.

[JohnC]

"Answer the door naked."

:-) :-)