Once again, it is emphasized! Landlords are prohibited from collecting rent in advance for more than 1 month and from charging excessive water and electricity fees. Violators face penalties of up to 1 year in prison and a fine of 100,000 Baht.

Recently, the Facebook fan page of the Public Relations Department Region 7 released a report regarding consumer protection laws for tenants renting buildings and dormitories. It states that landlords are not allowed to collect rent in advance for more than 1 month and must not charge excessive water and electricity fees. Violators may face up to 1 year in prison and a fine of 100,000 Baht.

This law has been in effect since May 1, 2018, aiming to protect consumers from rights violations, such as charging advance rent, setting unreasonable water and electricity rates, and notifying tenants of contract cancellations. If operators do not adjust contracts as required by law, consumers can file complaints with the Consumer Protection Board (CPB) via hotline 1166, with penalties including 1 year in prison, a 100,000 Baht fine, or both for each contract.

The government will take this matter seriously, as many dormitories have previously charged fees significantly higher than actual costs.

Key details of this announcement include requirements for operators to charge water and electricity fees based on actual rates set by the respective agencies. Operators can only collect rent in advance for up to 1 month, and tenants have the right to terminate the contract at least 30 days before the contract ends.

SOURCE: smartsme.co.th