The Thailand expat forum for Travel, Lifestyle and Fun.

AntRobertson

What is?

EmperorTud

As long as Thailand has a Monarchy increased rights for foreigners owning land is merely a pipedream.

Spin

It wouldn't kill them would it? maybe even do it as a lottery for XXX amount of rai per year. That would bring me intp the market as i dont want any assets here that I cannot control 100%.

AntRobertson

I disagree. This is the, from memory, 3rd amendment to the Condominium Act since it was first passed; each amendment has progressively relaxed restrictions. Land ownership, once covered by a blanket exclusion on foreign ownership, now has certain allowances for foreign ownership. So there are already increased rights for foreigners owning land.

Full ownership rights and clear title is not going to happen overnight but it will happen. The progessively relaxed legislation clearly shows this.

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Entire generations were beaten, raped, murdered, forced to live, eat, sleep, drink and exist apart. Denied housing, jobs and even basic freedoms... All because of the color of their skin. And then some red-necked, inbred hillbilly says: 'Chris Rock said "nigga" on TV but I'm not allowed to say "nigger", that's PC! That's racist!'. It's neither, it's just more ignorance.

EmperorTud

Not while Thailand has a monarchy and the CPB are by far the biggest beneficiaries of the current situation, not to mention the biggest landowners in the country.

Such as?

BOI doesn't count.

AntRobertson

Well Thailand does have a monarchy and land ownership restrictions have been progressively relaxed. It's a matter of record and there in the legislation. Granted the concessions have been small and far apart but the point is that they have been made. This thread's an example of another.

BOI does count actually. It's an example of exactly what I'm referring to in the progressive allowances for foreigners to own land, you can't just dismiss it because you decide it doesn't count.

Off the top of my head there's also the allowance for ownership of 1 rai for residential purposes under investment in Govt. bonds or some such too. Can't think of any others right now, would have to research it.

EmperorTud

No, they haven't. It is the big man's wish to keep Thailand for the Thai and part of his self-sufficiency economy policy.

No, this thread is about a small change in condo ownership law, nothing to do with land.

The only reason these concessions were made was to encourage investment in much needed areas, and again, it is the company that owns the land, not the foreigner, hence it doesn't count. The company can be foreign owned, but subject to BOI approval.

With a ludicrous investment of 40 million THB?

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Mortals you defy the Gods, I sentence you to travel among unknown stars, until you find the Kingdom of Hades, your bodies will stay as lifeless as stone.

AntRobertson

I'm sorry but they have, it's a matter of record and legislative amendments.

The exclusion initally allowed for no foreign ownership of land or condo's. It now does under certain restrictions and conditions. You can argue against that all you like but it changes that fact not one iota.

EmperorTud

No, it's not.

A Thai company that is majority owned by foreigners can legally own land only if approved by the BOI.

This was a change in the law to encourage business in the interests of the country and environment, such as recycling, ecologically friendly farming etc. It was not intended to facilitate foreign ownership of land although that is a by-product of the BOI legislation.

The proposed tightening of the FBA was, amongst other things, directly aimed at stopping foreigners using shell companies to buy and own land by tightening the legislation on nominee shareholders.

If anything owning land has become more difficult with scrutiny on these companies.

As I said outright ownership of land is only a dream while Thailand remains a Constitutional Monarchy, for obvious reasons.

good2bhappy

Weren't British people allowed to own land in the 1860's?

AntRobertson

^^You're just being specious now. Fact of the matter is that there have been successive amendments to the legislation that have narrowed the original blanket exclusion on foreigners owning land.

The tightening of the FBA as you mention was to close a loop-hole that was being exploited, it was never intended to be used that way so was not a legitimate avenue to begin with. It's misleading to present that as a further restriction. There's otherwise a clear pattern of the restrictions moving toward an opening of the 'market', not the opposite. Check the legislation if you don't believe me. It may not happen in the next 10, 20 or even 30yrs but it is happening.

That this has or will not have been fast enough or wide enough for your own personal liking is entirely beside the point.

EmperorTud

For every law and piece of legislation you claim shows Thailand is moving towards opening the market to allow foreigners to own land I can produce several that show the exact opposite, such as the cancelling of the investment visa and tightening of the FBA as previously mentioned appear to be the two biggest recent indicators.

Those are just off the top of my head, I'm sure there are many more.

AntRobertson

Fine go ahead, be my guest.

Perhaps you'd like to start your own thread on it. This one was intended to advise of a change to the legislation for anyone that might be interested. Predictably your presence on it has taken it down a well-trodden path.

EmperorTud

You may also be interested to know that the King's very own name, Bhumibol, means 'strength of the land'.

EmperorTud

Why? My point was to correct those posters such as yourself who erroneously believe Thailand will allow foreigners to own land while it remains a Constitutional Monarchy.

A belief based on nothing more than wishful thinking.

AntRobertson

Well just as well you're always here to set everyone straight with the benefit of your all-seeing, all-knowing insight then isn't it. I for one would be utterly at a loss without you.

EmperorTud

Childish remarks aside, it was obvious that you know little about the King's vision of localism for Thailand and his desire to further limit foreign investment and influence in Thailand including foreign ownership of land.

AntRobertson

"Blah, blah, blah I know more than you, blah, blah, blah Thailand sucks, blah, blah, blah my sunny and cheerful disposition is my greatest feature, blah, blah, blah I'm not at all a tedious and miserable cnut... Oh, did I mention Thailand sucks? Well it does..."

EmperorTud