HomeBuy a property

Learn more about Buy Property in Thailand

Investing in real estate abroad has become more and more common in recent years. Thailand is one of the most chosen countries for several reasons, among others the more affordable purchase price for all, the perpetual growth of the real estate market, the flexibility of the legislation, and of course the beauty of these great cities, which leaves no one indifferent. If you are considering buying a property in Thailand, Themis Partner can provide you with all the documents related to buy property, construction or development of your property. Our legal experts are also at your disposal. Our documents comply with Thai law and are written in English and Thai in word format. All the information you need to know to invest or buy property in this country is presented.

Table of contents


How to buy a condominium in Thailand?

Any nationality may buy property as condominium in their own name and with full ownership. Investment in a condominium is governed by the Condominium Law B.E. 2522. There are no nationality restrictions. Foreign nationals have the same rights as Thai nationals. Thus, a foreigner can buy a freehold apartment provided three conditions are met: the apartment must be part of a condominium. No more than 49% of the living space in the residence must be owned by foreigners. All funds must be transferred in foreign currency and from abroad.

Prior to 1992, the Condominium Law did not allow a foreigner to buy property as an apartment. It was only available to Thai nationals. It was not until the Condominium Act was amended in 1992 that a foreigner could own a freehold apartment. However, buy property as a condominium by foreigners is limited to a quota of foreigners. According to the law, the land on which the condominium is built must be majority owned by Thais, with the total area of the title deeds issued to foreigners not exceeding 49% of the size of the building. This is the “foreigner quota”. Thus, there is a limit to foreign ownership of the condominium. Thus, the remaining 51% of the condominium property must be owned by Thai individuals or companies. Foreign persons can only have the right to rent the 51% but will never be owners.

What are the conditions for a foreigner to buy property?

Among the requirements to become a condominium owner, financing is a key issue. It is not possible to get a loan in Thailand. In principle, it is very difficult to obtain a loan from Thai banks when the applicant is a foreigner. The Condominium Act requires that the financing be transferred in foreign currency and from abroad.

Why buy property with a written contract?

As a buyer, it is essential to pay attention to each clause of the sale and buy property contract. It is therefore recommended that you hire a lawyer to prepare the terms and conditions of the sales contract and protect your rights as a buyer.

Why do due diligence beforehand?

A due-diligence is a set of verifications that an investor carries out because of a transaction. In the case of buy property, it is necessary to verify the real existence of the property. Its surface area, the rights granted to it, any restrictions, the building permit and, above all, the integrity of the title deed. The title deed is also called “Chanote”. It is registered with the Land Department. It is essential to make sure that you are buying the property from the real owner of the apartment, i.e. the person whose name is on the title deed. Otherwise, the property will remain the property of the person listed on the Chanote. Due diligence is an essential step in order to have certainty about your investment and to secure possible risks.

To summarize the due diligence, it allows to make a documentary inventory of fixtures, to realize a thorough visit of the premises with a detailed photo report, a technical study on the possible defects and nonconformities, a thermal and environmental study. Administrative research is also possible to validate the feasibility of the project and the other urban planning rules.

The due diligence is an important step to secure the purchase of a property. It is generally necessary to mandate lawyers to perform the due diligence on behalf of the buyer.

What clauses should be included in a sales contract to protect the buyer's rights?

Many Thai and foreign investors buy property units in condominium projects for investment and housing purposes. However, some buyers encounter problems with condominium developers who have not completed their projects as promised due to lack of financial support, contractor problems or other external financial problems. In some cases, the developer is not fulfilling its obligations under the sales contract.

A sales contract, also known as a sale and purchase agreement (SPA), is a legally binding contract that sets out the terms and conditions agreed upon between the buyer and seller of a property. It is the primary legal document in any sales process. In essence, it defines the elements of the agreement, includes several important protections for all parties involved and provides the legal framework for the completion of the sale. The SPA is therefore of paramount importance to both sellers and buyers.

The developer usually proposes the contents, which may sometimes include clauses limiting or excluding any liability in the construction of the condominium. In Thailand, the Ministry of the Interior specifies a standard format for the contract of sale and buy property as a condominium unit, as required by Section 6/2 of the Condominium Act, which developers must use when selling a condominium unit.

The section states that “every contract of sale and purchase between an owner of land or buildings under section 6 and the purchaser of a unit shall be in such form as the Minister may prescribe. Any part of the contract of sale and purchase of the unit under subsection 1 that does not conform to the form prescribed by the minister and is not in favor of the purchaser is void.”

Any developer who does not use the standard contract specified by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and thus violates Section 6/2, is subject to a fine of up to 100,000 baht.

The standard contract covers the following essential conditions to be included in the sales contract to protect the buyer:

➤ The developer's guarantee that he is the owner of the land, and a statement indicating whether the land is mortgaged or subject to any obligation
➤ The developer's guarantee that a building permit has been granted and that the building will be registered as a condominium upon completion
➤ Common property and other facilities to be provided by the developer
➤ Unit price and payment terms
➤ Date of completion of construction and date of registration of transfer of ownership
➤ Right of the purchaser to assign his rights under the contract to others without additional charges or assignment fees claimed by the developer
➤ Use by the developer of standard materials and equipment for the building and housing, and compliance by the developer with approved construction plans
➤ Suspension of construction for up to one year in the event of force majeure
➤ The obligation for the developer to install energy meters (electricity and water)
➤ The obligation for the promoter to pay his income tax, his specific business tax and half of the registration fees
➤ The maximum late payment interest rate of 15% per year in case of non-payment of the purchase price by the buyer, the total amount not to exceed 10% of the purchase price
➤ The obligation for the developer to refund all the money to the buyer at the late interest rate (the same as the buyer's) and any other claim for damages or the possibility of a daily fine for the developer, in case the developer is not able to transfer the unit to the buyer within the specified period
➤ Obligation of the developer to return all monies paid by the purchaser, plus interest at the highest fixed deposit rate, if the developer is unable to complete the project due to force majeure
➤ The developer's liability is five years for defects in structures and equipment and two years for other components

Any provision in the contract that is contrary to the developer’s obligations under the standard contract shall be deemed unwritten. Particular care should be taken in drafting the contract of sale to ensure that the purchaser’s rights are properly protected.

What is the registration procedure to transfer a property?

All property transfers and leases over 3 years must be registered with the Land Department. If a property is purchased prior to completion, the transfer of ownership occurs after the property is completed. If the property has already been purchased, the transfer takes place only after the installment payments have been made according to the signed contract. The balance of the purchase price is usually paid at the time of transfer to the land department.

All real estate rights must be registered with the land department. Ownership of land or real estate and other forms of land rights, such as leases of more than three years, mortgages, easement rights, habitation, superficies and usufruct, must be registered with the land department of the region in which the land is located. Once the registration is completed, the information regarding the transfer of ownership of the land or property will be registered with the relevant land department. The registration of the new owner is accompanied by the payment of the taxes related to the transfer of ownership.

How to transfer a property by giving a power of attorney?

Sometimes circumstances prevent you from transferring property in person. In this case, you can appoint your attorney to represent you in the transaction by means of a formal power of attorney. However, this document follows stricter rules than the more common general power of attorney, as the former is explicitly used to transfer property with land department officials. For the registration of rights or transfer of ownership of real estate by someone other than the owner of the land, provincial and local land department offices in Thailand only accept the “power of attorney” (PoA) in Thai characters, the official standard of the land department (the tor dor 21). The land offices do not accept any other form of power of attorney. Therefore, if you cannot come to Thailand to register your property and transfer it, you must give an official power of attorney to a law firm, for example.

How to buy a land in Thailand?

Real estate investment can be made by purchasing an apartment or buy property or land. However, there are different rules regarding real estate ownership depending on the nature of the property invested. Any foreigner can freely buy a condominium. On the other hand, foreigners are not allowed to own land or property, except in exceptional cases.

Can a foreigner buy property in Thailand?

In Thailand, it is possible to acquire real estate ownership for foreigners in apartment buildings with the “Condominium” license and the “Foreign Quota“.

In the case of land, houses or apartment buildings that do not have a condominium license, a foreigner cannot hold the title in his or her name. It is not possible to register a foreigner’s name as a landowner with the Land Department. However, foreigners may have other rights to the property. They may have a right of use in the form of a very long lease of 30 years renewable, registered with the Land Department.

How can a foreigner own land in Thailand despite the restriction?

In principle, a foreigner cannot fully own land in Thailand. Only Thai nationals can hold a title of “change” to land. However, there are exceptions for some foreign nationals with necessary investment amounts and rather restrictive procedures.

A first possibility for the latter to own the land is to register on the Chanote the name of his Thai spouse. In this case, the foreigner gives up any right of ownership on the land. He will not be able to own the land in case of divorce or death of his spouse. He will have to sell the land within one year.

A second possibility is the creation or acquisition of a Thai limited liability company allowing the acquisition of the land by a Thai legal person. However, it should be noted that the foreign shareholder must be a minority shareholder and can only hold a maximum of 49% of the share capital. A foreigner can legally be a minority shareholder and a director of a company that can own the land. While this may be a solution for people with real economic activity, the creation of an ad hoc company to buy land (with fictitious Thai shareholders or “nominees”) is an officially illegal practice.

A third possibility, which does not allow ownership but rather a right to use a property, is the “leasehold” contract, also known as a lease agreement.
It is therefore possible for a foreigner to lease land for 30 years with a right registered with the Land Department (name of the lessee written on the back of the title deed) and which cannot be cancelled without the agreement of both parties. This right is legally renewable. Other contractual rights may be entered into between the landowner and the tenant, allowing, among other things, the resale or transfer of the rights to the lease and its renewals.

In the case of buy property as a house, a foreigner may own the walls through the building permit if it is issued in his name, which constitutes an additional guarantee. A building can be the subject of a deed of sale registered with the land department.

How to build a property in Thailand?

The restrictions on the property rights of foreigners in Thailand are only on the land, not on the buildings that might be built on that land. Thus, another option for foreigners is to own the building itself but lease the land on which it sits from the owner. Since land ownership restrictions do not apply to building ownership, some foreigners enter into a 30-year lease on the land and then build their property on that land. Thus, a foreigner wishing to build a house in Thailand may lease the land under a long-term lease and, on the other hand, own the house in his or her name.

How can you own a house without owning the land?

Buildings, with the exception of condominiums, are not titled. The procedure for obtaining ownership of a house built on a lot is as follows:

➤ In case the purchase is made from a real estate developer, the purchase of the house excluding the land can be done by a long-term lease for the land and a sales contract on the building, registered with the competent authority, or a long-term lease for the land and a construction contract with a building permit drawn up in the name of the buyer
➤ In case an individual wants to build on a plot of land, the building permit should be issued in the name of the person who leases the land, so that the building permit confirms the ownership of the building
➤ A third possibility is the transfer of ownership of the existing building separately from the land by means of a contract of sale complying with the advertising formalities

How to obtain a building permit?

The seller of a house must have a building permit issued by the local government called Or Bor Tor. The building permit is proof that he owns the house and has received permission to build it. If the seller is unable to provide a building permit, care should be taken as this could mean that the house was built illegally or in violation of local regulations. In the event of non-compliance, the authorities may stop the work or request a rectification to ensure that the construction complies with the building permit. The authorities also have the power to order the demolition of any building built illegally.

What are the taxes related to buy property?

Buy property is not tax free. Once the property is registered with the Land Department, it is also necessary to pay the fees associated with the buy property. Likewise, the ownership of a property is also an annual charge to be taken into account and imposed by the Revenue Department.

What are the taxes and property transfer fees?

Except for the transfer fee, which is generally shared between the buyer and seller at a rate of 1% each, the payment of all taxes and fees related to the sale of real estate in Thailand is the seller’s responsibility.

The transfer fee is calculated based on the valuation of the property as held by the Land Department. The valuation is always lower than the market valuation.

If a property is owned by a corporation or for less than 5 years by an individual, a specific business tax is levied at a rate of 3.3% of the declared sale price. If an individual has held the property for more than 5 years, a stamp duty of 0.5% is applied. A withholding tax at the rate of 1% of the property’s assessed value by the Land Department is also applied.

How much tax do you have to pay each year?

Effective January 2020, all land owners, villas and condominiums must pay the new Land and Building Tax. The old tax imposed a majority of the annual rental income at a rate of 12.5%.

In contrast, the new law requires the taxation of the property’s value and not the rental income. The tax rate will differ depending on the property’s use and the official value of the property. The law distinguishes four possible services: agricultural, residential, commercial, or vacant.

How to buy a real estate project in Thailand?

When an investor buys a condominium unit, he or she has two options: buying a ready-to-move-in unit or buying off-plan (before or during construction). Buying off-plan is the purchase of a property that is not yet built. The majority of new homes, whether apartments or houses, are sold while they are not built, or while the construction is not completed. This means that you are buying a new property where construction is not yet complete. In some cases, construction will begin several months after the property is purchased.

The first step in the purchase process is the Condominium Quote or Reservation Form issued by the developer. Once received by the purchaser, the reservation must be made for a specific fee. Once the developer has received the reservation fee, an official receipt will be issued to the buyer to guarantee the money. Therefore, the developer will issue the sales contract to the buyer.

What is the sale in the future state of completion?

Pre-construction property acquisition is the practice of purchasing properties very early in the construction process. Developers sell these potential properties to clients to finance the development itself. On the other hand, clients are banking on the appreciation of the property once the land has been subdivided and all the infrastructure and amenities have been put in place. The advantages of buy property during the pre-construction phase include a relatively low price, selection of a more attractive parcel within the project, or other additional incentives offered by the developer to first-time buyers.

What is the difference between buying an apartment in the future state of completion?

One of the main differences between buying a pre-construction apartment and buying a resale apartment is the financing. In the case of a resale, you can only pay 5% of the purchase price. On the other hand, in the case of a pre-construction condominium, you are often required to pay a down payment of at least 20%. This may seem like a lot of money, but the total payment is divided into several installments. Therefore, developers usually require a 20% deposit to guarantee your commitment to the project. It will be tied up for the duration of construction. Payments are usually made directly to the developer’s bank account and not to a third party escrow account.

What clauses should be included in this type of contract?

A contract of sale for a property under construction must meet specific minimum requirements to minimize your exposure to risk. The following terms and conditions must be included in the contract:

➤ With respect to timing, there should be a schedule agreement that clearly states the construction start date and the completion date. Particular attention should be paid to extension clauses which usually give the developer a few extra months to complete the building without incurring penalties
➤ With respect to price, there should be an agreement on price, payment terms and method of payment. Ideally, in a construction contract, this should be stated in the form of a schedule
➤ Regarding payment penalties, it should be checked that they are not too burdensome for the buyer
➤ Regarding the developer's failure to meet its obligations, it is essential to provide and verify that there is a full refund clause in the event that the developer does not complete the construction. And in the event of late completion, late penalties for the developer should be provided for and deducted from the final payment due upon completion
➤ With respect to construction, the contract must include a complete list of all materials used in construction, including their quality, quantity and purpose
➤ Care should also be taken to ensure that the contract specifies that the developer is the rightful owner of the land in question

What is the legal protection for property buyers?

The Consumer Protection Act of 1979 protects the “consumer” against the “trader” under certain conditions and limits and prevents unfair and unjust competition. Consumers, as well as foreigners, have the option of using this strong Thai legislation as a more economical alternative to litigation in the Thai civil courts.

Thai consumer protection legislation applies not only to commercial transactions, but also to residential construction and condominium purchases.

Who is affected by this law?

A consumer within the meaning of the Act is any person who purchases or obtains services from a merchant, a person who has been offered or invited by a merchant to purchase goods or obtain services, or a person who properly uses goods or receives assistance from a merchant, even if the person is not the person who pays the fee.

Under consumer protection legislation, a merchant is a seller, manufacturer or importer of goods for sale, a buyer of goods for resale, a person who provides services and a person who engages in advertising.

What are the consumer's rights?

The consumer rights protected by this law are as follows:

➤ The right to receive correct and sufficient information and description of the quality of goods or services
➤ The right to enjoy freedom in the choice of goods or services
➤ The right to expect safety in the use of goods or services
➤ The right to a fair contract
➤ The right to have the harm investigated and compensated in accordance with the laws and provisions of the Consumer Protection Act
➤ Care should also be taken to ensure that the contract specifies that the developer is the rightful owner of the land in question

What is the protection zone?

In any business involving the sale of goods or the rendering of services, if the law or tradition requires that the contract for sale or service be in writing, the Board of Contracts has the authority to declare that business to be a “controlled contract business.” This is a business whose business contracts must be controlled.

Therefore, the contract between a professional, and his or her consumers who are part of a controlled business, must meet the following conditions:

➤ It must contain the necessary contractual terms without which consumers would be unreasonably disadvantaged
➤ It must not contain contract terms that are unfair to consumers
➤ And the contracts committee may require a trader to prepare a contract in the form prescribed by its rules

As of 2017, residential construction for consumers is a “contract controlled business.” Residential construction contracts must contain specific terms and conditions. The rules also include a list of clauses that cannot be included in the construction contract.

The legal rules regarding real estate investment are numerous and sometimes complex. Any foreigner wishing to buy property in Thailand must be informed of his rights and possibilities. The law strictly regulates the prospects of real estate investment by a foreigner. Themis Partner informs you about the possibilities and your alternatives. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions on this subject.

Share information

Why Themis Partner?

Easy legal documents at your fingertips

Make trusted documents for hundreds of purposes.

Hundreds of documents

Instant access to our entire library of documents for Thailand.

24/7 legal support

Quick legal advice from our network of qualified lawyers.

Easily customized

Editable Word documents, unlimited revisions and copies.

No translation fees

Certified Thai-English translation included for all documents.

Legal and Reliable

Documents written by lawyers that you can use with confidence.

Free consultation

Free lawyer consultation on each new matter.

ASK A LAWYER