Renting a condo in Bangkok: deposit, lease and what to check
Across the 3,512 condos for rent on BKK Radar, landlords who state a deposit ask for two months in 96% of cases, and 96% of the leases stated run for 12 months. Expect to pay the deposit and the first month's rent when you sign: three months of rent up front.
Figures counted on 20 October 2026 on the 3,512 condos for rent on BKK Radar, among the listings that state each term. General information, not legal advice: the terms of your own lease are what count.
The deposit
Two months: 96% of the 1,672 listings that state a deposit. One month: 4%. Three months: <1%.
The deposit comes back when you leave, less the cost of damage and unpaid bills. Go through the unit with the owner or the agent on the day you move in, take photos, and keep the signed list of furniture and appliances.
How long the lease runs
96% of the 2,079 listings that state a minimum stay ask for 12 months. A minimum of six months: 1%; of three months or less: <1%. Shorter stays usually cost a higher rent. Leases of two years or more (1%) are offered too.
Leaving before the end of the lease usually costs the deposit: read the early-termination clause before you sign, and ask for it to be changed if your plans are not fixed.
Furnished, pets, and the agent's fee
Fully furnished: 98% of the listings that say so. A bed, a sofa, a wardrobe, a fridge, a washing machine and air conditioning are the usual list.
35% of the 635 listings that mention pets accept them. Many buildings forbid pets in their rules whatever the owner says: ask for the building's rules in writing.
Agents post 73% of the listings, owners 5%. In Bangkok the owner usually pays the agent's commission on a rental; if an agent asks you for a fee, get the amount in writing before the viewing. The same unit is often posted by several agents: BKK Radar merges the copies and links each original post.
Papers for a foreigner
Landlords usually ask for a copy of your passport and of the page with your visa or entry stamp, and many want the visa to cover the lease. The lease, in English or Thai, states the deposit and the rent.
The owner must tell immigration where a foreign tenant lives (form TM30) within 24 hours of moving in. Ask the owner or the building's office to file it and to give you the receipt: immigration may ask for it when you extend your visa.
Before you pay anything
Visit the unit, or have someone visit it for you, before paying a deposit, and check that the person renting it is the owner or acts for the owner: a copy of the title deed, or the building's office, will tell. A post that asks for a transfer to book a viewing is the classic scam. BKK Radar points it out on the listing's page, along with photos already used by another poster and a price far below the area's: points to check, not a verdict.
Know the going rate
The rent of a district, of a station's surroundings or of a residence tells you whether a price is fair before you negotiate.
Questions
How many months of deposit for a condo in Bangkok?
Two months in 96% of the listings that state a deposit on BKK Radar, plus the first month's rent in advance.
Can I rent a condo for less than a year in Bangkok?
Some landlords accept it: 1% of the listings that state a minimum stay ask for six months, and <1% for three months or less, usually at a higher rent.
Are condos in Bangkok rented furnished?
Fully furnished in 98% of the listings that say so.
Does the tenant pay the agent in Bangkok?
Usually not: the owner pays the agent's commission on a rental. If an agent asks you for a fee, get the amount in writing before the viewing.
What does a foreigner need to rent a condo in Bangkok?
Usually a copy of the passport and of the visa or entry-stamp page; many landlords want the visa to cover the lease. The owner then files the TM30 form telling immigration where you live.