Apartments & Serviced Apartments
All apartment units are owned by a single company, rather than individuals. The apartment management company sets the price per unit as well as the price of utilities, additionally they will provide maintenance for all units within the apartment building. Most units in an apartment will feature identical décor, unless stated otherwise, for instance in the case of an executive apartment vs a standard apartment. Serviced Apartments will differ, in as far as having cleaning, laundry and often breakfast services negotiated into their contracts. Thereby operating more like a hotel with long or short term leases. In some cases apartments may have ethnic restrictions based on renter demographics. For instance, some apartments will cater directly to Japanese or Korean tenants as opposed to other nationalities. Apartments will vary in facilities and utility price, so it is good to inquire before signing. Additionally, most apartments will usually have 24 hour security, and often transportation to and from the BTS and/or MRT.
Condos/condominiums
Condominiums are buildings where each unit is owned by individual private owners. As a result, the price, layout, décor and furniture (if provided) will vary from unit to unit. Maintenance is usually the responsibility of the unit owner, whilst cleaning and laundry is the responsibility of the tenant. Utilities are billed by the city and can be paid at the service centers or select shops and stores. Most Condominiums will have 24 hour security. Some may even have transportation from the BTS or MRT. All condominiums will vary in facilities and utility so please inquire before signing.
Houses, Houses in Compounds, & Town Houses
A single unit or sometimes multiple units (particularly in a compound) are owned by an individual private owner. Often a small compound is built for a large family with multiple units, some of which are rented out. For houses, as with condominiums, utilities are billed directly from the city and can be paid at service centers and select shops/stores. Maintenance is usually the responsibility of the unit owner, whilst cleaning and laundry is the responsibility of the tenant. Most will not have 24 hour security (however some compounds may have a guard booth) and transportation to the BTS or MRT will not be provided. Please inquire which is included in the contract before signing.
Short Term Housing
There are many ways to find accommodation in Bangkok, be it long or short term. However, depending on the length of your stay, be it daily to anything less than a year, serviced apartments can be cheaper than hotels.
Housing Insurance
It is recommended to get insurance coverage for all household goods, particularly items of value (antiques, expensive art etc.) as whilst the house is insured, your valuables within it are not. Insurance is available from both health insurance agencies and banks, such as K-Bank or Bangkok Bank.
Image By Tierra Mallorca
