hidden charges

[robbo]

Hi all td members, its the newbee agin with a couple of questions for you all

as i will be renting a condo or apartment in Chiang Mai very soon, what are extra charges i may be up for? eg; wi fi average cost, electricity average cost for 1 person Studio or any other costs i may not know about, but will get asked to pay

thanks in advance

[Norton]

Hard to give average as some costs obviously based on usage.

For budgetary purposes suggest:
Internet - 1,200 baht/month
Electricity - 800 - 2,000 baht/month (Air con use a big factor here)
Water - ?? but very inexpensive.
Satellite TV - 1,600 - 2,000 baht/month (True UBC)
Hidden charges if any should be covered in rental agreement/charge if condo or apartment.

[robbo]

thanks Norton, gives me an idea. cheers

[spikebs4]

concearning the electric.. price is 7bht a unit which sometimes can run quite high ,so it pays to keep a check on it yourself ... they have been known to keep the clock running ,which can work out a nice little earner for them ,and very hard for you to disprove ....good luck ..

[Gallowspole]

You might also be looking at key money of 2 or 3 months rent. Theoretically you'll get this back at the end as long as there has been no damage to the property. In reality, if the place is in the same condition or even better, you'll probably not see it. After the first time this happened to me, I just refused to pay the final 2 months rent in subsequent properties.

Also, make sure that all outstanding bills (especially international telephone bills that often arrive late) have been paid or put a proviso in the contract that the landlord is liable for any bills that were incurred prior to your moving in.

Don't do any painting/hanging of photos/installation of AC, satellite dishes, water heaters, electrial wiring, etc without getting the landlord's agreement. The 'damage' that they cause may be substantial enough, in your landlord's eyes, for you to lose your deposit/key money. Also, the landlord might claim the AC or water heater once you move out.

[Gallowspole]

Just switch off every appliance and then ask to see your meter. (Mangkong Appartments in Nong Khai are famous for this trick)

concearning the electric.. price is 7bht a unit which sometimes can run quite high ,so it pays to keep a check on it yourself ... they have been known to keep the clock running ,which can work out a nice little earner for them ,and very hard for you to disprove ....good luck ..

[harrybarracuda]

Don't people do any inclusive deals?

[spikebs4]

wise words gallowspole, hope we havant put the guy off to much ..you CAN have a great life here ..

[Gallowspole]

^
All experiences of mine in the 90s. Still here, though. Wish there had been an internetty thingy back then - I would've saved a few bob.

[dirtydog]

^Porn is so much cheaper on the internet

[Travelmate]

electric can be a big factor
Was paying 2k a month
Now paying 3 to 5k a month.

Why?
I moved to a house.

[BobR]

Just switch off every appliance and then ask to see your meter. (Mangkong Appartments in Nong Khai are famous for this trick)

concearning the electric.. price is 7bht a unit which sometimes can run quite high ,so it pays to keep a check on it yourself ... they have been known to keep the clock running ,which can work out a nice little earner for them ,and very hard for you to disprove ....good luck ..

Yes, and write the meter reading and have the landlord sign it. I've heard many stories of people getting a huge electric bill, especially the first month. Might also be a good idea to ask to see the last electric bill and proof it was paid. (That will also give you some idea of what you will be paying). This is the worst problem I've heard over and over from renters.

[BobR]

electric can be a big factor
Was paying 2k a month
Now paying 3 to 5k a month.

Why?
I moved to a house.

I run the A/C whenever I am home and leave a television running 24/7 to give the appearance of someone being there when I am gone, and mine has never exceeded 1400. Funny how it varies from house to house.

[spikebs4]

electric can be a big factor
Was paying 2k a month
Now paying 3 to 5k a month.

Why?
I moved to a house.

check your box/lines,make sure nobody other than yourself are connected, happens a lot ..

[khun Per]

Electric normally comes just under 4 bath pr. kWh from the supplier. Often the landlord have his own submeters and charge a higher price, which may be everything from 4 baht and up. Same for water, cable TV and Internet.
For Internet it may be worth having your own line, fx. ToT 5-6 Mbit for 590 baht/month (+ 7% vat). They install for free and supply Modem/Router.
Saving on electric cost is not only to switch off the AirCon when not needed, things like waterheater for coffe and ricecooker - especially if you have a thai GF - running all day, eats more power than an AirCon. Also an "old fashioned" tube-TV eats power, so if running all day it may be worth considering a LCD or LED TV, using less than half the power.

[DrAndy]

things like waterheater for coffe and ricecooker - especially if you have a thai GF - running all day, eats more power than an AirCon.

they usually have thermostats and do not use power that much

aircon is the greedy bastard!

[JoshuaInMukdahan]

You might also be looking at key money of 2 or 3 months rent. Theoretically you'll get this back at the end as long as there has been no damage to the property.

This is a common problem, not getting back a security deposit?? How can it be denied if it is in the contract? If it is in the contract and still denied at the end of the term, then why is the contract important at all in the first place for the other issues as mentioned above? I mean if it holds weight for one why not all?

[DrB0b]

I mean if it holds weight for one why not all?

Because you falang!!! 55555!

How can it be denied if it is in the contract?

Any rental contract in Thailand may be overridden by the presence of a couple of underemployed ya ba addicts with baseball bats.

[khun Per]

things like waterheater for coffe and ricecooker - especially if you have a thai GF - running all day, eats more power than an AirCon.

they usually have thermostats and do not use power that much
aircon is the greedy bastard!

Well, yes - if you run it on a low temperature in a fairly big room. A modern A/C (about 650-800W) in a smaller (bed)room at aprox 15 m2, set a 25 degree, do not use as much as a rice cooker and hotwater bowl running all day - theese may consume as much as 1000 baht of power a month.

Also lighting is worth looking at. Often you will see a pair of outdoor lamps with 100W each - cheap bulbs and lot of light. Often they run from dusk till someone wake up, which may be 10 or 11am - ie. 16 hours x 200W = 3.2kWh, eq. 12 baht/day, 300-400 baht/month. They may be changed with 15-17W energy savers - ie. 16 x 30W = 0.5kWh, eq. 2 baht/day, 60-80 bath/month.

[JoshuaInMukdahan]

I can certainly appreciate the satire but my question still stands I think. The following statements suggest that a contract holds weight...

Hidden charges if any should be covered in rental agreement/charge if condo or apartment.

make sure that all outstanding bills (especially international telephone bills that often arrive late) have been paid or put a proviso in the contract that the landlord is liable for any bills that were incurred prior to your moving in.

Yes, and write the meter reading and have the landlord sign it.

So I assume a contract means something? Yet if they mean something (probably only to the benefit of kon Thai) then what is this?

Because you falang!!! 55555!
Any rental contract in Thailand may be overridden by the presence of a couple of underemployed ya ba addicts with baseball bats.

Why bother with any contracts if the latter holds true is my question?

[gmailer]

Don't understand this not getting a deposit back lark. Changed apartment/condo 7-times and never an issue, always paid cash on the day of leaving. What do you do to your rooms?

[chitown]

^Porn is so much cheaper on the internet

He said save a few bob not boob.

[Gallowspole]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gallowspole make sure that all outstanding bills (especially international telephone bills that often arrive late) have been paid or put a proviso in the contract that the landlord is liable for any bills that were incurred prior to your moving in.

So you can withhold the amount of any bills that appear after you move in from your monthly rent, i.e you pay the bill and take that amount off your next rent payment.

Regarding deposit, some landlords will say they'll return it after a couple of months in case some unpaid bills appear after you've gone. However once you're out, you're out and you may find the ex-landlord very difficult to locate.

A contract will help while you are in the property, but once you've moved out....

[DrAndy]

a contract is only as good as the signers (signatees??)

[gmailer]

Signatories, I think