BANGKOK, THAILAND – More than 50 condominium buyers in the capital petitioned the United Thai Nation Party after paying installments for up to two years on homes they said had never materialised.
Buyers accuse developer over seven stalled projects
More than 50 purchasers accused a developer of deceiving them through seven residential projects in Bangkok districts including Lat Phrao, Chatuchak, Bang Khen and Ari. Four of the projects had reportedly not even started construction, despite the company collecting deposits and arranging bank loans for buyers. While the sites remained a “ghost town”, purchasers still had to repay their mortgages, with more than 1,000 people believed to have been affected.
Paying mortgages on unfinished homes
One affected buyer, 42-year-old Prachidsara, bought a unit in the Lat Phrao project in 2023 for 2.7 million baht (about 67,500 euros), impressed by the show apartment. On moving in, she discovered the car park was unfinished, common areas on several floors had not been built and promised facilities such as playrooms, lounges and the pool were entirely missing.
“Hundreds of buyers have organised themselves in a Line group to coordinate,”
said Prachidsara, adding that some had paid deposits of up to 300,000 baht.
Party leader moves after years of failed complaints
Before turning to the party, the buyers had spent years approaching the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), which repeatedly cited “insufficient evidence”. Party leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga received the petition and said he was shocked, confirming that victims from four projects had already filed complaints, with three more groups on the way.
“Based on the initial statements, the evidence now appears sufficient for the OCPB to act,”
said Pirapan, adding that the party would set up a legal team to advise the buyers.
Regulatory breaches and failed EIAs alleged
Party member Chanathat Pattamapuwadol said many victims learned only late that projects had stalled because regulations were not followed. Some developments had reportedly failed their environmental impact assessment (EIA) entirely. He urged the developer to take responsibility and pay compensation for fully paid but uninhabitable units, warning that the growing number of complainants made an urgent formal solution necessary.
Broader concerns over Thailand’s property boom
The case highlighted the darker side of Thailand’s real estate boom, where project delays and full collapses have repeatedly occurred. Buyers were often poorly protected and faced a heavy bureaucratic burden when things went wrong. Pirapan said his party would coordinate directly with the consumer protection authority to seek an official investigation, which many defrauded buyers saw as a first glimmer of hope.