Thailand Property Forecast

2007

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The Thailand Real Estate Outlook for 2007 may be a bit dated by now, however property investors have seen a very busy year in 2006 with new regulations issued by the Thai government affecting the property sector.  Hopefully the dust will soon settle and we will have a clearer picture for the proper method of real estate ownership by foreigners in Thailand.  Thailand has a broad base appeal to foreign property buyers with its pristine beaches, the amazing hospitality of the Thai people and the up-and-coming infrastructure.  The demand will always be strong for affordable housing from retired persons and foreigners who desire a second home in the Kingdom. 

The biggest change to affect the property sector is the proposed amendment to the Foreign Business Act (FBA).  The FBA restricts the rights of foreigners to own or operate certain businesses in Thailand.  The proposed amendments would restrict the shareholdings and voting rights to 49 percent in List One and List Two of the law (business related to Thai culture or national security).  Companies operating under List Three are exempted from the proposed amendment (generally considered in the service industry).  Many foreigners have used nominee company structures to own their properties.  These structures often have voting rights over 49 percent and may have objectives falling under List One or List Two.  An inspection of the company documents should be done by a legal professional to review its operating status under the FBA.  It is important to note that these amendments have not been signed into law.  Moreover, the media have spread panic about the proposed amendments but realistically it’s not as harsh as the headlines. A simple restructuring will be necessary to comply with the new law once it is enacted.

Some foreign real estate owners using the nominee structures have fears about their real estate holdings.  This often comes about from the fear of the unknown.  There are secure methods for holding property in Thailand.  In this article, we will explore the current methods available for the foreign property buyers.

Foreigners can own a freehold condominium under Thai law.  According to the condominium act, a foreigner can typically acquire up to, but not exceeding 49 percent of a total space of a condominium project.  In Hua Hin, typically the Thai owners are 80 percent or higher.  However, in other areas such as Phuket and Pattaya, the foreigners generally acquire 80-90 percent of the condominium projects. But only 49 percent of the foreigners can own it as freehold, the others must lease or use a Thai company structure.  The Thai government is now discussing raising the 49 percent ratio.  It will be interesting to see what develops out of these discussions.

The preferred method of acquiring land for building a home is by leasehold.  The foreigner safely acquires the right to use the land and registers the right with a 30-year lease at the Land Department.  A lease contract is carefully drafted to guarantee the initial 30-year lease with two renewal periods of 30 years each.  In Thailand, the maximum time period for a lease registration of residential property is 30 years, hence, the need for two renewal periods in a contract to provide for a 90-year lease.  

The lease contract is drafted in the Thai language (some contracts contain English language with the Thai) and is registered at the Land Department.  The lease contract is attached to the title deed and maintained at the Land Department.The foreigner can construct a house on the land.  The construction permit is applied for in the name of the foreigner.  The foreigner will own the structure in his/her own name.  The advantage of leasehold is a lower registration fee (1.1 percent on the amount of the land lease).  It is recommended to include family members such as young adults as co-lessees in the contract.  In the uneventful demise of the parents, the children can carry on the full term of the lease period.  The disadvantage comes at the end of the initial 30-year lease.  Would the land owner be available to sign for upon the 1st renewal period?  This risk can be reduced by leasing from a reputable Thai company. 

The buildings on the leased land can be owned freehold by the foreign buyer.  The foreigner can apply for the construction permit in his/her name or show proof of a sales agreement.  Transfer of a building requires a posting for 30 days by public notice to see if anyone contests this ownership.  The lease contract can be written stating the house is separate from the building and it cannot be seized at the expiration of the lease contract.

Several banks in Thailand are now reportedly gearing up to offer mortgages to foreigners for property acquisition on a leasehold basis.  For the leasehold mortgage, the Thai bank will act as the lender (mortgagee) and the foreigner will be with mortgager.  The loan granted shall not exceed 60 percent of the purchase price. 

Mortgage means a document (or a process) in which the owner, called a “Mortgager” pledges his/her title of real property and/or personal property to a lender, called a “Mortgagee”, as security for a loan described in a promissory note. (Under Section 702 of Civil and Commercial Code of Thailand).

In Thai language it is called “Sidhi-kep-kin” and it provides temporary ownership rights. This right is for the use and enjoyment of the profits and advantages of something belonging to another as long as the property is not damaged or altered in any way.  The person who enters into a contractual agreement with the owner for this right is called the “usufructuary.”  A usufruct may be created either for a period of time (not exceeding 30 years) or for the life of the usufructuary.  The usufructuary is responsible for the expenses for the management of the property, paying taxes and duties, and be responsible for interests payable on debts charged to it.  If required by the owner, the usufructuary is bound to insure the property against loss for the benefit of the owner.  He must pay the insurance premiums for the duration of his usufruct.  You are registered on the title deed.  The land can never be sold or transferred by the owner of the land until the servitude is terminated.  A usufruct interest expires upon the death of the holder of the usufruct and therefore cannot be inherited.

An interesting feature of usufruct is that the usufructuary can enter into a 30-year lease with a third party.  So if the usufructuary signed a 30-year lease contract before his death, the lessee (tenant) will maintain the rights of the lease until its expiration.  Supreme Court ruling 2297/1998 states that the lessor (landlord) does not have to be the owner of the property.  Therefore the usufructuary can rent out the land.  Although in the event of death of the usufructuary with the lease term, only the usufruct will be terminated but not also the lease.

Moreover, the usufructuary could transfer the right of using the land to his child.  However, it remains to be seen if the Land Department officials would allow a transfer of the rights to the land.  There is no annual tax levied on the property compared with 12.5 percent of the assessed or market rate rental value in the case of a registered lease.

A couple (foreigners) who wish to retire in Thailand and purchase a new home.  They find a house in a development and register a Superficies at the Land Department in both of their names.  They are given the right to own, upon or under the land, buildings, structures or plantations.  The superficies right was approved for the 5 million baht purchase and the registration fee due was 75,000 THB.  This right can be transferred and transmissible by way of inheritance.  If one spouse dies, the other can live on the property.  Upon their death, they can leave the property to an heir or third party.  A thirty-year term will apply for the person who inherits the right.

The following provisions apply for Superficies:

Section 1410. The owner of a piece of land may create a right of superficies in favour of another person by giving him the right to own, upon or under the land, buildings, structures or plantation.

Section 1411. Unless otherwise provided in the act creating it, the right of superficies is transferable and transmissible by way of inheritance.

Section 1412. A right of superficies may be created either for a period of time or for life of the land or the superficiary. If it is created for a period of time, the provisions of section 1403 paragraph 3 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Section 1413. If no period of time has been fixed, the right of superficies may be terminated at any time by any partner giving reasonable notice to the other. But when rent is to be paid, either one year’s previous notice must be given or rent for one year paid.
 
Section 1414. If the superficiary fails to comply with essential conditions specified in the act creating superficies or, when rent is to be paid, he fails to pay it for two consecutive years, his right of superficies may be terminated.

Section 1415. The right of superficies is not extinguished by destruction of the buildings, structures or plantations even if caused by force majeure.

Section 1416. When the right of superficies is extinguished, the superficiary may take away his buildings, structures or plantations, provided he restores the land to its former condition.

If instead of permitting the removal of the buildings, structures or plantations, the owner of the land notifies his intention to buy at a market value, the superficiary may not refuse the offer except on reasonable ground.

 

The Vacation Investment Program (VIP) was set up mainly to ensure and to benefit the purchase of properties in Thailand for foreign investors.  The program provides a business venture with the foreigner (VIP member) and Thai Longstay Property (TLP) which is an entity of TLM for the property purchase. Early this year, the TLP began implementing this program and successfully registering land for its foreign clients under the program.

The real estate outlook for 2007 has great potential with new programs being offered to the foreign buyers.  As shown in this article, there are safe and legal methods currently in place to protect the foreigner buyer for their property acquisition.  The Thai Longstay Program offers a secure structure for foreign buyer to own the property or for a Thai company restructuring to comply with the new amendments to the FBA.  The Thai banks are stepping up to offer financing to foreigner buyers for leasehold mortgages which shows their confidence in the future for the Thailand real estate market. 

See also:
	Usufruct in Thailand
	Buying a Condominium in Thailand
	Selling a Condominium in Thailand
	Mortgage Bonds in Thailand