Please read our guidelines for renting if you are a landlord or a tenant.

Landlords

Tenants

If you decide to rent rather than buy a property, then you should first consider some important factors before you even begin to look. It seems like common sense to determine what type of property you want to live in, the area you wish to live and how much you can afford but yet many tenants aren't sure about what properties are out there and what would suit them best.

It is of worthwhile note that quite a large number of Landlords and Property Owners here are looking for long term rental of their properties and will often give a better deal to someone wishing to rent say for 12 months rather than 3 months. Some Landlords will not even consider letting their properties for periods less than 6 months, so it certainly pays to ask the question on each property.

Give yourself a head start and ask yourself the following questions;

You will need to work out how much you can comfortably afford, so please take time to jot down your predicted monthly expenditure (and income if applicable) taking into account the following;

• Monthly rental amount *
• Security Deposit (usually equivalent to 2 months rent)**
• Utility charges (including water, electricity, telephone, Internet, Cable/Satellite TV)
• Additional furnishings, kitchen utensils, and perhaps your own bed linen.
• * Rental amounts are usually paid in advance.
• ** The security deposit is returnable to you at the end of the rental period, usually following an inspection of the property by the Landlord or Estate Agent. Any sums that cover the cost of breakages, damage or unpaid utility bills is usually deducted from this amount before being returned to you.

There are many different types of property types to consider, with lifestyle often being the determining factor in many peoples choices;

• Condominiums offer you a secure lock-up style property that is yard maintenance free, Most condo's/apartments are located in Central or beachfront areas. Condos remain a good choice for frequent travelers or those who haven't got time or money to spend on gardening & external upkeep.
• Houses often give more living space for your money when compared with condominiums. Whilst there are a number of houses on the 'beachside' of Sukhumvit Road, in South Pattaya and Jomtien, you will find that the majority of houses are located East of Sukhumvit. Some are single/2 storey detached whilst others are townhouses (terraced) of widely varying land sizes. Some with private swimming pools, although the majority of gated developments offer a communal pool to all residents.
• Commercial properties come in many forms, however most recognizable within Pattaya (and Thailand in general) is the Shop house. A shop house is usually a terraced property comprised of between 2 to 4 storey's. As the name suggests it would usually feature a business premises on the ground floor, with living space above it. Ideal choice for those who are looking to run some small business enterprise here. Beware however that renting a commercial property often has a slightly different rent system here, so please ask us for guidance.

In real estate parlance, location determines price and price determines location. This remains true. Your budget will often influence where you choose to live. After you have calculated what you can comfortably afford to spend, come and take a look at what rental properties we currently have available on our website for a start. From these, try and identify which are in the areas you would most like to stay.

Finding a location that suits your needs is probably just as important. In a place like Pattaya a lot of people are influenced by the entertainment venues, restaurants and bars. It's often the case that after a few months when the novelty has worn off some people may wish that they had chosen somewhere a little more laid back. Perhaps you are relocating here for work requirements, in which case you may wish to consider somewhere a little quieter away from the noise or somewhere with good road transport links. Another factor in determining location is the local Baht bus/taxi/ public transport system. If you are without your own form of transport perhaps you may wish to consider somewhere close to a bus route.

So the general message is 'determine what is important for you'. It may be that there are several areas that may serve your purpose in which case you should take a look at properties there before making a decision. In all cases Paragon Properties will gladly give you the benefit of our experience and advise you on all areas.