Is key money legal?

[Mr Earl]

It seems to be common practice here. But is it really legal for a landlord to extort a lump cash payment from his tenant to renew a lease while the rent being paid already exceeds what the market will bear.
It's not legal in the US.

[Indoexile]

It's not legal in the US.

damn, shouldnt be allowed in thailand then, should it?

[barbaro]

^ It's extortion. Dishonest. Screw the foreigner is the motto in LOS.

[Butterfly]

does it matter ? you still have to pay

[Thormaturge]

I had a landlord try something even sillier.

I returned home one day to find my apartment locked. I was abruptly told "you must up deposit". Despite my rent being up to date and my deposit paid in full they had decided to extort some more deposit.

My reaction was to get the cops and they were superb.

Didn't stop the landlord trying it again the following day with the added bonus of an eviction notice. An eviction notice half way through a month I had already paid for, and with a two-month deposit paid, I ask you!

I moved.

With the benefit of hindsight I should have seen it coming. I was the only Farang in a building with only around 10% occupancy. No money left for maintenance....

[mrsquirrel]

Key money here is how it works. Not the same as LOS though

There are three ways to get a property here.

One is to pay a small deposit - ~$2-10k then monthly rent on top.
The other is to pay a fuck off deposit and then live rent free ~30k plus

Other is to buy it.

[Mr Earl]

I guess I gotta bite the bullet.
Good thing all my guns are in AK.

[Butterfly]

^ taking it in the ass does get better with time, doesn't it ?

[Mr Earl]

^It's a little rough on the hemorrhoids.

[Frankenstein]

I guess I gotta bite the bullet.
Good thing all my guns are in AK.

Thailand is Thailand though, remember the first price is not set in stone. You can always try your best to haggle it down.

Got any tips for antihemmorhoidals? I could use something myself.

[Texpat]

An eviction notice half way through a month I had already paid for, and with a two-month deposit paid

Land of Smiles.

If I knew then what I know now ...

[Mr Earl]

Thailand is Thailand though, remember the first price is not set in stone. You can always try your best to haggle it down.

I did haggle it down some and got some security for the next renewal.

I can't really walk away as biz still is decent, so I can't be too stubborn about it.
I've got the shop and staff all oiled and ready for next high season. As long as I can show black ink I'll play the game. I can always pass the whole thing off to a sucker fresh off the boat down the road if the margins get too thin.

[Thetyim]

I had a landlord try something even sillier.

I had a Landlord who asked for a deposit when I moved out.
I couldn't be bothered to argue with someone as stupid as that so I just agreed and then moved out a day early.
I have rented many houses in LOS and getting the deposit back is usually a hassle.
Either keep the amount low and write it off or get a WRITTEN receipt saying that it is a returnable deposit if you intend to pursue it .

[bkkandrew]

^Strange. I have moved apartment 3-times and each time the return of the deposit was prompt, fair and hassle free.

On the other side of the coin, the deposit on a business premises was a nightmare. Had to call in a police contact and even then took over 3-years to collect.

[Indoexile]

I was abruptly told "you must up deposit".

Yeah, I had that too, (without the being locked out business) - they raised the deposit in line with rent increases. ie I had paid a deposit of 2 months, and they had been raising the rent by a small increment each year and suddenly realised that the deposit no longer represented 2 months worth.....

Was easier to pay it.

I have rented many houses in LOS and getting the deposit back is usually a hassle.

moved twice, each time a hassle.

1st time I tried to sort it out myself, (western way) took weeks of effort and was largely screwed over

2nd time I had learnt, called in a 'influential' friend (thai way) to make a phone call to landlord, deposit was suddenly returned in full the very next day....

[bkkandrew]

^Why would your rent go up? I have only ever negotiated rent downwards...

[Indoexile]

Why would your rent go up?

erm, cos the landlord wanted more money.

I have only ever negotiated rent downwards...

I didnt really bother negotiating too much, I hate moving.

[bkkandrew]

^Well, I have found it normal that the longer you commit to, the more you get a reduction. Because I hate moving was precisely the reason that I negotiated a discount, as I was offering to stay longer...

[William]

As I recall, rental agreements in LoS are contractual arrangements to which the parties are free to nego.

On the flip-side, as far as I'm aware there are no tenant "rights" in LoS, which is why it is almost impossible to argue when LLs refuse to return deposits.

As to the OP, the only time I was "asked" for additional deposit on renewing a rental agreement was when the rent was increased from the previous period.

[bkkandrew]

On the flip-side, as far as I'm aware there are no tenant "rights" in LoS, which is why it is almost impossible to argue when LLs refuse to return deposits.

On the contrary, witholding of a deposit without cause is actually a criminal offence.

[William]

^"without cause"...

[Nawty]

yeah...you pissed on the rug is enough cause

[bkkandrew]

^^Yes - and as I did with the business deposit problem, I called in the police, who determined there was no justifiable cause, threatened the 'offender' with arrest, who then made the repayment arrangements.

[William]

^^yep, "fair wear and tear" was never found in any standard rental contract I saw in LoS

[William]

BKKAndrew - justifiable cause is not the same thing - as that become theft