Reader question: Building a house
Dear readers,
Here is a sketch of the situation: my wife and I have a piece of land in Thailand that is in my wife's name. We have been married for 4 years and both live and work in the Netherlands. When we bought the land, 2 doors next to our brother-in-law and my wife's sister, the idea was that we would live there after my retirement. We left it up to you how we would proceed with this. In any case, we would keep our rented house in the Netherlands.
Now it is true that my health is not really left. The idea now is whether to sell the land or build a two-storey house and divide it into 2 apartments. Sister no. 2 would become the owner of 50 percent of the land with her husband and owner of the apartment on the ground floor. The advantage of this, I hope: our apartment is not unattended and empty when we are not there. Building together seems cheaper to me, we pay for the construction together, we only need 1 well. I would like to have a separate electricity connection.
Furthermore, my wife absolutely does not want to live in Thailand for good anymore, she thinks it is too dangerous nowadays, but would like to have a place to stay if I ever fall away. My brother-in-law who lives on the piece of land nearby is a technician and has had his house built under his own management and his uncle is a contractor.
Now my actual questions: Can you just build a house and split it into two apartments? Do you get, for example, nr 1a and nr 1b? Is it possible to own a piece of land with 2 people?
In terms of property law, I understand that ea is difficult. For this I would like to ask for information and advice from a lawyer in Phuket. I already know that the land does not and never belong to me and you do not need to inform me about this. There is something about apartment/condo law and I relate to this when I write about property law.
I want to thank everyone for reading and for any answers and advice. Advice about a good reliable lawyer is certainly welcome.
Sincerely,
Chris
As long as the plan is not to live in Thailand anymore, I wouldn't start implementing the plans you describe. That ground doesn't run away and your wife can always build something when you're gone.
Correctly stated, why would you build a house now? try renting locally first, maybe you don't like it at all?
Good luck!
Moderator: Just a response to the reader's question please.
The “chanot” or title of ownership of the land may contain several names, persons, bank or company. However, a farang will never appear on it because he cannot own land. As for the “building”, if registered as an apartment building, it is possible to split this up, with a maximum of 49% under the farang name and a minimum of 51% under the Thai name. Please first check with the Land Office whether the land in this case is suitable, because this is also not the same everywhere.
Thank you this is information I can do something with. Next month we are going on holiday to Thailand and then we will visit a country office. As for most of the other comments, I would like to make some use of the house/apartment myself. This instead of always staying in a hotel.
In the village where my wife's family lives, I or my wife would not easily be able to find a suitable rental house for short periods. We have already stayed with sister and brother-in-law and that was fine. I think and hope to be able to use our possible apartment for a few more years. I just think it's nice to have something I can always go to.
Sincerely
Chris
Your idea now, as you yourself indicate, is to either sell the land or build a house.
I would sell the land.