You found a condo you like on LINE, the photos look great, the agent seems responsive, and you're ready to sign. Then you move in and discover the water pressure is basically a suggestion, the air conditioning smells like a wet towel, and your "BTS walking distance" unit is actually a 20 minute hike through a construction zone. Sound familiar? This checklist exists so that never happens to you in 2026.

Bangkok's rental market moves fast, especially in popular corridors along the Sukhumvit line and around Rama 9. New buildings are launching constantly, older ones are aging in ways the listing photos won't show, and rent prices keep shifting. Whether you're relocating from overseas or just switching neighborhoods, having a real checklist before you commit saves you money, stress, and a year of regret.

Before You Even Start Viewing Units

Get your budget and priorities straight before you open a single listing. In 2026, a modern one bedroom near BTS Thong Lo or Phrom Phong still runs 18,000 to 35,000 THB per month depending on the building and floor. Move a few stops down to BTS Udom Suk or Bang Na and you'll find comparable units for 9,000 to 15,000 THB. Know what matters more to you: location or space.

Make a short list of non negotiables. Do you need a bathtub? A washing machine inside the unit? A pet friendly building? Parking? Write these down before you start browsing, because once you see a gorgeous rooftop pool at Life Asoke Hype near MRT Phetchaburi, you'll start convincing yourself you don't really need that in unit laundry. You do.

Also set your commute limit. Open Google Maps during rush hour, around 8:30 AM on a weekday, and check actual travel times from each area you're considering. A condo on Soi Bearing 2 might look close to BTS Bearing on the map, but that last kilometer with no sidewalk in August heat changes everything.

The In Person Viewing Checklist You Actually Need

Photos lie. Or at least, they were taken three years ago with a wide angle lens. When you visit in person, bring this mental checklist and actually go through it. Start with water pressure. Turn on the shower and every faucet. Older buildings in areas like Silom or around BTS Sala Daeng can have notoriously weak pressure on higher floors. If the shower dribbles during your visit, it won't magically improve when you move in.

Check every air conditioning unit. Turn them on, wait five minutes, and smell the air. A musty or sour smell means the filters haven't been cleaned in months and there could be mold inside. This is incredibly common in Bangkok's humidity. Ask the landlord if they'll service the units before move in. Get it in writing.

Open the windows and listen. A 12th floor unit at Ideo Mobi Sukhumvit facing the main road will have serious traffic noise, especially near the Ekkamai or On Nut intersections. If you're a light sleeper, visit during evening rush hour to get the full picture. Check the window seals too. Condensation stains around window frames usually mean poor insulation and potential water leaks during rainy season.

Test the WiFi or ask the juristic office about available internet providers. Some older buildings only support one ISP, and if that provider's speeds are slow in the building, you're stuck. For remote workers, this is a dealbreaker.

Building Amenities and the Stuff Nobody Tells You

That infinity pool on the website? Visit it at 5 PM on a Saturday. At a popular building like The Base Park West near BTS On Nut, the pool and gym can get packed on weekends. If fitness and swimming are part of your routine, see the facilities during peak hours before signing.

Ask about common area fees. In 2026, these typically range from 40 to 80 THB per square meter per month for newer buildings. Some landlords include this in rent, some don't. Clarify upfront, because a 45 sqm unit with a common fee of 70 THB per sqm means an extra 3,150 THB monthly if it's on you.

Check how many units are being rented out versus owner occupied. Buildings with very high rental turnover can feel more like hotels than homes, with noisy short term guests and overused facilities. The juristic office can usually give you a general idea if you ask politely.

The Lease Details That Trip People Up

Read the entire lease. Yes, the whole thing. Pay attention to the security deposit terms, typically two months rent in Bangkok. Make sure the contract specifies conditions for getting it back. Take timestamped photos of every scratch, stain, and imperfection on move in day and send them to your landlord via email or LINE so there's a clear record.

Look for early termination clauses. Life changes, and if your company relocates you or your plans shift, you need to know the penalty. Some landlords will let you break a 12 month lease with 60 days notice and forfeiture of one month's deposit. Others won't budge. A unit at Ashton Asoke near BTS Asoke might be perfect today, but if you can't leave without losing 60,000 THB, that's a risk worth understanding now.

Confirm what's included in rent: electricity, water, internet, common fees. Electricity in particular can surprise newcomers. Many condos charge tenants at a markup, around 7 to 9 THB per unit instead of the MEA rate of roughly 4 THB. Over a hot month with heavy aircon use, that difference adds up fast.

The Neighborhood Test Most Renters Skip

Spend a full evening in the neighborhood before you commit. Walk from the BTS or MRT to the condo after dark. Check if the soi is well lit. See what food options are within a five minute walk. A condo near MRT Lat Phrao might be affordable at 12,000 THB for a one bedroom, but if the nearest quality food is a motorcycle taxi ride away, your daily convenience drops significantly.

Visit the nearest 7 Eleven, Tops, or Big C. Check how far the closest laundry service is if your unit doesn't have a machine. Look for nearby clinics or pharmacies. These small daily life details add up to your actual quality of life far more than a nice lobby ever will.

Moving into a Bangkok condo should feel exciting, not stressful. Take this checklist with you on every viewing, ask the uncomfortable questions, and trust what you see over what the listing promised. Your future self will thank you every single morning when the shower actually works and the air conditioning doesn't smell like old socks. If you want to skip the guesswork and find verified listings matched to your actual priorities, try searching on superagent.co and let the platform do the heavy filtering for you.