Thailand's Landscape for Property Ownership is Changing

For the past 5 years Lawyers for Expats Thailand have been warning foreigners about the dangers surrounding property ownership in Thailand.

Thailand is a great place to live and to relocate to but it is important that you follow the law.

If you have a lease it is important that it is registered at the land office.

Any lease over 3 years must be registered otherwise it can be cancelled after 3 years by the lessor.

It is therefore essential to have a registered lease on the land as part of your solution.

Setting up a Thai Company to own Land

Many chose to ignore our warnings and bought property via a company set up solely for the purpose of owning property.

The main reason this is such a taboo is that Thai nominees are used to circumnavigate the law.

It is both unwise and dangerous to contemplate this clear disregard to the law.

The authorities are clamping down on this practice and in the past few weeks there have been a number of people jailed for being a nominee.

In the past this was regular practice but no longer is this allowed or permitted in fact just last week we heard of land offices around the country not permitting the registration of land to companies with a foreigners on.

Nominees

Nominees do not have to be related to companies many foreigners choose a Thai person to buy land for them (as a nominee) and get them to lease it back to them.

The dangers

What happens if they die?

What happens if they divorce ?

What happens if they become in debt?

With all three scenarios you could lose the property or the right to sell it at the very least.

There is a new risk factor,

What if they are investigated for being a nominee?

So we know that foreigners cannot own land in Thailand

How can foreigners (not married to a Thai) therefore buy landed property

(House or Villa) safely and legally?

With No Nominees, No formation of a Thai Company, Full ownership of the Villa or House, Servitude Rights following the law and airtight and not through a developer?

Here is how

Simply call us for a Free Consultation on 0956583038 Whats App and Line

Lawyers for Expats Thailand will guide you through the process and have a unique solution to ensure Foreigners follow the law and have an airtight solution .

Your investment is safe with Lawyers for Expats Thailand.

About the Author:

Kanokpich Ukritdutsadee, widely known as Lawyer Pook, is a highly experienced Thai lawyer and barrister serving as the head and managing director of Lawyers for Expats Thailand (www.lawyersforexpatsthailand.com).

With over 21 years of qualification and practice (celebrating her 21st anniversary in the profession as noted in recent updates), she has dedicated her career to addressing the unique legal needs of foreigners living, working, and investing in Thailand. Her expertise spans key areas such as property law, immigration and visas, business setup, matrimonial law (including prenuptial and postnuptial agreements), company formation, wills, and civil/criminal matters, always emphasizing legal compliance and safe solutions for expats and their families.

Lawyer Pook leads a dedicated team focused exclusively on expat clients, combining deep legal knowledge with a compassionate and kind approach. She and her firm are committed to working from the heart, providing empathetic, practical guidance to help foreigners navigate Thailand's legal landscape securely and effectively. Her practice reflects both professional excellence and a genuine care for her clients' well-being.

Ready for more? Our full blog collection delivers practical legal strategies for expats thriving in Thailand, covering nominees, wills, and beyond. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE