In every property purchase and sale, the buyer also has a set of responsibilities that he must do. He has to do certain safety checks in order for him to have a safe and problem free property purchase. One of these highly important safety checks is Title Search.
A Title Search provides a venue for the buyer to establish whether the seller is really the actual owner of the property and if he really is then if he has the legal capacity and freedom to sell it.
Aside from that, a Title Search traces the background of the property and this includes tracing back to its original owner/s and determining if it has registered encumbrances like loans, lien or mortgage or none at all.
Historically, all lands in Thailand belong to the King but starting in 1901 when the Land Department was established, the country also started issuing deeds to private entities. From those years until present, the Kingdom initiated land reform works that largely contributed to the confusion on who particularly owns which plot. The government also introduced a number of documents with some of which allows for the sale of the land while others do not and all they do is merely establishing claims.
When considering on purchasing a real estate property in the Kingdom, a property buyer must do the Title Search preferably recruiting the expertise of reputable law firms such as Siam Legal. And in the process, the buyer should know the several types of documents that represents different levels of claims on lands and properties in Thailand.
- Por Tor Bor 5, Bai Jong (NS-2) and Sor Kor 1 (SK-1)
Lands with these types of claims cannot be leased or sold although there can a chance in the future that the Land Department may grant or issue the more superior title deeds on the basis of these certificates. - Nor Sor Sam (NS-3), Nor Sor Sam Gor (NS-3K) and Chanote (NS-4)
Of all documents related to land claims and or ownership, the Chanote is the highest form of certificate. Also, lands with certificates such as the NS-3 and NS-3K, like the Chanote, may be leased, mortgaged or sold. Furthermore, if a land has either of the three documents, it means to say that it has been fully or partially documented by the Land Department. - Or Chor 2
This document is the title deed for condominiums, the easiest type of real property that a foreigner can acquire in Thailand.This type of real estate title has glaring differences compared to land titles. It lists down the location and deed number of the piece of and where the condominium is built upon. Not only that, it also contains the sketch of the unit, the dimensions and area plus the name of the unit, its assigned number, which floor it is located and the building.
The Siam Legal way
Siam Legal prides itself of doing extensive yet affordable and highly precise Title Searches.
After completing the search, the firm will provide its clients with the complete report plus a copy of the property’s title deed. Aside from that, Siam Legal will make sure that its client fully understands the contents of the said title by furnishing him with an English translation of the title deed.
The rest of the report will contain the precise description of the property, the type of title deed it has and a verified report of the title’s history as well as who used to and currently owns the property.