30-Year House & Land Leasehold (+30+30) in Koh Samui
The standard route for foreigners who want a detached house — 30-year lease with 30+30 renewal options
Small but diverse rental market — studios THB 9-15k, 3-bed private-pool villas THB 40-90k/month. Prices comparable to Phuket but fewer choices. Long-stay villas at Conrad Residence, Six Senses, etc.
Recommended places & options in Koh Samui
Koh Samui is Thailand's #2 expat island after Phuket — ~25,000 foreigners (British, French, German, Australian). Samui Airport (USM) has direct flights to 5 countries. 10% cheaper than Phuket.
- Bandara Villas (Bophut)
- Replay Residence (Bophut)
- Beach Republic
- Conrad Residence Samui
- Six Senses Residence
- Botanica Luxury Villas
Koh Samui-specific tips
- 1
Plai Laem-Bophut villas are close to the airport + Fisherman's Village
- 2
Sign before September — dry-season rates (Jan-Mar) jump 50-80%
- 3
Shipping in furniture costs THB 5,000-15,000 — use Anywhere Movers
General steps (5 steps)
- 1Title due diligence
Get Nor Sor 4 Jor or Chanote title / check encumbrances / 30-year chain of title / verify access rights and utilities
- 2Lawyer drafts the lease
Specify 30 years + 30+30 renewal options / right to sublease/assign / right of first refusal / penalty clauses
- 3Wire funds via FET
Transfer from abroad so the bank issues a FET form (required by the Land Office) — do not use a regular Thai-resident account
- 4Register at Land Office
Both parties attend / pay 1.1% of total lease value / receive title with lease registered
- 5TM30 + utilities
Owner files TM30 within 24h (same rule as condos) + transfer water/electricity meters into your name
Top neighbourhoods in Koh Samui
- Chaweng (tourist, sea-view)
- Bophut-Fisherman's Village (digital nomads)
- Lamai (families)
- Maenam (quiet)
- Lipa Noi (retirees)
- Taling Ngam (sunset)
British/Australian (Chaweng-Bophut), French (Maenam-Lipa Noi), German (Lamai), Digital Nomads (Bophut)
Frequently asked questions
How much does 30-year house & land leasehold (+30+30) cost in Koh Samui?
Comparable to Phuket — foreigner-rate electricity THB 7-9/unit. National benchmark: Registration 1.1% of lease value + lawyer THB 30,000–80,000.
Which neighbourhoods in Koh Samui are best for expats?
Top picks: Chaweng (tourist, sea-view), Bophut-Fisherman's Village (digital nomads), Lamai (families), Maenam (quiet).
How long does 30-year house & land leasehold (+30+30) take?
Standard timeline 30–90 days with due diligence. Koh Samui is similar — NYC can pre-book to complete in a single day.
What about internet and getting around in Koh Samui?
500 Mbps-1 Gbps fiber THB 790-1,290 · 5G in Chaweng-Bophut. Transit: Cars/motorbikes — no Grab/Bolt on the island (local taxis are expensive), motorbike rentals THB 2,500-3,500/month.
When is the best season in Koh Samui?
Tropical — rain Oct-Dec (NE monsoon), high season Jan-Sep
Are the 30+30 renewal options enforceable?
Supreme Court decisions treat renewal options as personal promises rather than rights that bind a future owner, so the second and third 30-year terms are not automatically enforceable. For real security, layer instruments: register the lease, add a usufruct (sitthi-kep-kin) and a superficies right over the structure.
Can I build on leased land?
Yes. Register a superficies right (sitthi-nuea-phuen-din) at the Land Office and you own the building separately from the land. The right can be sold, mortgaged or inherited within its term, which is why long-term expat houses on leased plots are usually structured this way.
Can I sign one 90-year lease?
No. Section 540 of the Civil and Commercial Code caps a residential lease at 30 years. A marketed "90-year lease" means one registered 30-year term plus two contractual renewal promises, each of which must be re-registered at the Land Office when the previous term expires.
30-Year House & Land Leasehold (+30+30) in other cities
More 🏠 Housing & Property topics in Koh Samui
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