Thread: Land advice - chanote or not??

Can anyone help clear up this land problem, i dont understand all the diff chanots and land wit hno chanote,can you buy land with no chanote safely?? i hear many different views,some say if land is given by king it cant be sold but everyone does it so whats the deal??
thanks rob

I'm not sure if this is what you mean, but land owned by the Crown Property Bureau(i.e. the king) Can be sold, but not owned. It's basically a 30 year leasehold, with the option of a further 30 years after that. You can sell the leasehold to someone else and go and change the name at the land office. You have to pay an annual rent on the land, but it's a very small amount(unless you're renting huge tract obviously)

My house is built on this kind of land. The only downside is that it will be difficult to sell should I want to do so. The upside is that as you will not own the land, the price should be a lot less than buying chanote land.

I had to think long and hard about whether to do this or not. In the end I did it to get a piece of land in a good location at a good price.

Bear in mind that should the government want to build a road or something through that land, you may be evicted. They compensate you for the value of your house. Don't know if they give you decent prices though.

You should think very hard about doing this before putting your money in

Land title deeds in Thailand are divided into 4 categories as follows:

1. Freehold Title Deed (Chanote or Nor Sor 4)

This type of title grants the holder of this document the full right over the land. The holder has absolute authority over the land. Thus, if you are planning to buy land in Thailand, this type of title deed is the best option.

2. Nor Sor 3 Gor

A land awaiting a full title deed is granted the document Nor Sor 3 Kor. The land is measured by the Land Department; therefore, it has its exact boundaries. The owner knows exactly what he owns. This type of land may be sold, transferred, or mortgaged, as a land with freehold title deed (Chanote). The owner of the land may file a petition to the Land Department demanding to change it to a full title deed (Chanote), and the Land Department may do so if there is no opposition made against the petition.

NOTE: The person whose name appears as the owner of Nor Sor 3 Kor has a right to transfer, sell, dispose of and mortgage the Land upon registration with the relevant local land department in accordance with the Land Code and other regulations, notifications and announcements relating to it. Any transaction in connection with the real property (except where the lease is not more than 3 years) must be registered with the relevant local land authority and will be shown at the back of Nor Sor 3 Gor.

3. Nor Sor 3

Same as Nor Sor 3 Gor except that the land with Nor Sor 3 has never yet been measured by the Land Department; hence the land has no exact boundaries. However, Nor Sor 3 may later be switched to a Nor Sor 3 Gor, then a freehold title deed (Chanote) in the future although; transfer of ownership needs 30 days posting to see if anyone wishes to contest ownership. In practice, neighbors can turn up in this 30-day posting claiming possession of the land.

4. Possessory Right

This type of title deed is the least recommended. A land with a possessory right has never been substantiated by Department, but is only recognized by tax payments at the Local Administrative Office, which means no sale, purchase or lease can be registered or building permits allowed.

***Although Thai Law stipulates that a foreigner may not own land in Thailand, there is an alternative step of owning a land in Thailand. This involves registering a Thai Limited Company. A Thai Limited Company means that 51% or more of the company must be owned by Thai Shareholders (the remaining shares may be held by non-Thais). This “Thai” company may then legally purchase land in Thailand subject to current political state and possible FBA changes.

Thanks to you both.
The land i really like is Sor Tor gor?? given by the king,the man selling has land in his name,not someone elses or family, so a good start.
Yes land is at least half the price of land with full chanote, but i am still not sure/wary.
I aim to build a home and live there for good,plus do my business from there.
If i get permission from village boss etc and get paper checked at land office etc is it ok to buy??
I agree with you completely,this is the only way i can buy land that i really like and can afford but want to make sure. Yes lease etc is ok and i understand that maybe gov might transfer land to full chanote?
Any more help/advice will be great
thanks
rob

Lord Chang,please tell me more about you experience with buying your land etc did you use a lawyer,go to land office etc etc??
thanks rob

Sor Tor Gor mean anything to you lovely lawyer types?? and should i keep away from it??
thanks for the help

If your right is a 'Sor Por Gor' (not sure of the spelling in English) this is NOT a property right. It's a right given by the land department to use the land, for example, to grow rice. So, you can't sell it after because you don't have the land. "Sor Por Gor" is only for farmers, for the purpose of agriculture in villages.

Some info here :

Land Title Deeds and Taxes


Thailand Land Tenure and Titles - eThailand - Thailand's Leading Business Portal

Thanks t oyou both,its not easy to be sure which i am looking at due to trouble in translation and spelling,but i will tread carefully.
thanks alot rob