Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing short-term leasing of property here in Thailand. This will primarily pertain to condominiums. We see a number of folks coming in on some of the new visas, sort of long stayers or what I would call short-term expats, however you want to look at it, but a number of folks have been contacting us regarding leasing, short-term leasing, what we would call short-term leasing, so let's actually define some parameters here. 

In Thailand, a lease that is of a duration of 3 years or more, must be registered on the Chanote, on the actual Title Deed. What does that mean? It means your name actually has to be on the Title Deed stating that you are the lessee. And this is a rule that's kind of akin to what we call the Statute of Frauds under sort of Common Law vernacular, basically laws regarding contracts pertaining to property, and this is just one of the rules in Thailand. If it's a 3-year lease or more, it has to be registered on the Chanote; if it's less than 3 years, it does not have to be registered. So that's the thing to understand. That's the kind of barometer if you will, the litmus test for whether or not it's a “short-term lease”, so we're calling anything under 3 years. 

Meanwhile, you have to also be careful because Airbnb model type setups with regard to using people's houses and things, that's a tricky thing here in Thailand as well. There's been a lot of Law Enforcement attention on that especially in some of the islands here in Thailand where foreigners oftentimes, were in many cases it seems like illegally like purchasing Thai real estate, that's land, which that activity is prohibited in Thailand and then they were like leasing it back out if you will on Airbnb. Notwithstanding the underlying problem of foreigners owning any type of Thai property which is restricted in Thailand, the issue of actually utilizing those type of short-term Airbnb model type of things has been an issue up to now. I think more and more we will see maybe some relaxation in certain places, again not everywhere, because I think certain resort places there aren't going to want this, but in certain places we may see some easing regarding short-term leasing. But even then, I'm not sure that the so-called Airbnb model is ever going to be quite in line with Thai Law. Again, that remains to be seen. 

That being said, I don't think anything is really going to change with regard to the difference between 3-year and over 3-year leasing with regard to the registration requirements, I doubt much with regard to that is going to change in 2026, here in the Kingdom of Thailand.