Thailand’s New Accommodation Law: What It Means for Hotels, Airbnb and Short-Term Rentals
Thailand is preparing to replace the Hotel Act B.E. 2547 (2004). In July 2026, the House of Representatives accepted in principle proposed amendments to the Hotel Act and referred them to an extraordinary committee. On 29 September 2026, the Government set out its draft Accommodation Establishment Act. The draft moves away from a single hotel […]
Usufruct in Thailand: Foreigners’ Rights, Risks and Limitations
The appeal is obvious. A lifetime usufruct registered on a Chanote gives the holder rights of possession, use, enjoyment, and even rental income, all without transferring ownership. It survives the sale of the underlying land. It does not count against the foreign condominium quota. On paper, it looks like the perfect workaround. But the gap […]
Thailand Nominee Landholding: New Land Department Guidance Brings Local Investigations and Property Use Into Focus
Thailand’s enforcement of restrictions on foreign land ownership and nominee arrangements has become increasingly active during 2025 through 2026. The latest development, dated yesterday, is a new Ministry of Interior circular dated 25 August 2026 concerning cases where there are grounds for suspicion that land is being held on behalf of foreigners. The circular, issued […]
Alternatives to Nominee Land Ownership in Thailand
For foreign investors looking at Thai real estate, ownership laws has traditionally presented significant challenges. Strict restrictions on land ownership have led to less secure and several illegal workarounds. However, a valid legal alternative is available: the Right Over Leasehold Asset (ROLA). Also called a Sap-Eng-Seth right in Thai, this right was developed some years […]