Thailand’s National Council for Peace and Order announced last week that all owners of rented rooms and houses, as well as hotels, must report to authorities when they have foreign occupants.
It said owners must report to the authorities within 24-hours after their rooms or houses are rented by foreigners however the news, which applies to Thai and foreign property owners alike, and comes in the wake of the recent explosions in Bangkok, appears to have gone largely unnoticed.
Simon Landy, Chairman of Colliers International Thailand, told Dot Property Group: “This regulation has always been on the books but not enforced.
“In the wake of the arrest of the Erawan suspect in a rented apartment someone decided it should be enforced. It should apply to all owners, Thai or foreign.”
Information provided on the Thailand Immigration website states: “According to section 38 of the 1979 immigration act, “House owners, heads of household, landlords or managers of hotels who accommodate foreign nationals on a temporary basis who stay in the kingdom legally, must notify the local immigration authorities within 24 hours from the time of arrival of the foreign national.”
It is that existing ruling that now appears to have been given a higher priority.
Another executive working at the same real estate firm, added: “Simon is right. I hadn’t noticed Wednesday’s announcement on this so I’m in trouble for not reporting my own tenant.”
There was no indication in the English announcement of the penalties for failing to comply with the ruling.
Other real estate firms contacted by Dot Property Group were either unaware of the announcement, or were not prepared to comment on it, or on suggestions on how overseas owners with foreign tenants living in their property should go about reporting that fact.
Dot Property Group suggest that concerned landlords should check with their property management companies, real estate agent or alternatively seek independent legal advice.
For more information read the Thai Immigration website.