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🏠 Housing & Property · Koh Samui

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

AI Quick Answer

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.

Local cost
Comparable to Phuket — foreigner-rate electricity THB 7-9/unit
Region
ภาคใต้
Cost Index (BKK=100)
85
Climate
Tropical — rain Oct-Dec (NE monsoon), high season Jan-Sep

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. 1

    Plai Laem-Bophut villas are close to the airport + Fisherman's Village

  2. 2

    Sign before September — dry-season rates (Jan-Mar) jump 50-80%

  3. 3

    Shipping in furniture costs THB 5,000-15,000 — use Anywhere Movers

General steps (5 steps)

  1. 1
    Title due diligence

    Get Nor Sor 4 Jor or Chanote title / check encumbrances / 30-year chain of title / verify access rights and utilities

  2. 2
    Lawyer drafts the lease

    Specify 30 years + 30+30 renewal options / right to sublease/assign / right of first refusal / penalty clauses

  3. 3
    Wire 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

  4. 4
    Register at Land Office

    Both parties attend / pay 1.1% of total lease value / receive title with lease registered

  5. 5
    TM30 + 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)
Expat communities

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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