PROPERTY NOTE
Foreign property ownership in Thailand can sound complicated. Leasehold is one of the cleaner ways through it.
For international buyers who want long-term use of land or a villa without directly owning Thai land, a properly structured leasehold arrangement can offer a clear, registered, legally recognised route.
The basic idea is straightforward: the land remains owned by the Thai landowner or landholding company, while the buyer receives a registered long-term lease over the land. In many cases, the building or villa can be owned separately from the land, giving the buyer direct rights over the structure itself.
Typically, a lease is registered for 30 years at the Land Office and noted against the title deed. That registration is important because it gives the leaseholder a formal legal interest in the property, rather than relying only on a private agreement.
A good leasehold structure should be transparent from the start. It should clearly explain:
Who owns the land
How long the lease runs
How the lease is registered
Who owns the building
Whether the lease can be sold or transferred
What happens in the case of inheritance
What renewal terms, if any, are included
Which fees, taxes, and administration costs apply
One important point: renewal language should always be checked carefully. A contract may discuss future renewals, but buyers should understand exactly what is registered, what is contractual, and what may depend on future legal steps.
Leasehold can also make resale more straightforward when structured properly. In some cases, the existing lease may be cancelled and a new lease registered for the incoming buyer, depending on the terms of the agreement and the landowner’s process.
The takeaway is not that leasehold is complicated. It is that it should be done properly.
At Blue Haven Bay Koh Chang, we recommend that every buyer takes independent advice from a qualified Thai lawyer before entering into any property agreement, whether leasehold, freehold condominium, villa purchase, or company structure.
This article is for general information only and should not be treated as legal advice.
