You've found your perfect condo in Thonglor, signed the lease, moved in, and everything feels great. Then six months later, life happens. A job change. A move back home. A relocation to Phuket. Suddenly you're packing boxes and signing an early termination letter with your landlord. But here's the thing nobody tells you: moving out of your Bangkok condo isn't just about handing over the keys. You've got utilities, internet, gym memberships, maybe a maid service. All of those are still running, still charging your account, and you need to kill them before you leave. Get this wrong and you'll be paying rent on a place you don't live in anymore, or worse, discover six months later that you owe back charges on services you never used. Let's walk through exactly what you need to cancel, how to do it, and the order that actually matters.

Start with Your Condo's Building Management and Landlord

This is first for a reason. Your building management and landlord need to know you're leaving before you cancel anything else. Call your landlord or the building office at least 30 days before your move-out date. Most lease agreements in Bangkok require this notice anyway, and it's the law here. Once they know, you can get a final move-out inspection scheduled and agree on an end date.

During that conversation, ask them specifically what utilities and services are included in your rent and which ones you need to handle yourself. Some buildings include water and common area electricity in your monthly payment of 22,000 to 35,000 THB for a one-bedroom unit. Others don't. You need to know which is which. Ask also about any outstanding fees, damage charges, or utility adjustments that might come later.

Get everything in writing, even if it's just an email exchange. Thai landlords are generally reasonable, but having proof of what was agreed prevents disputes after you've already left Bangkok.

Cancel Your Electricity and Water Accounts

This is the most critical step and also the most bureaucratic. Your electricity account is tied to your ID number and passport number, not just your name. You'll need to visit the local Provincial Electricity Authority office in person. If you're moving out of a condo near BTS Phrom Phong, for example, the nearest PEA office is on Soi 36, Sukhumvit Road.

Bring your passport, Thai ID card if you have one, your lease agreement, and your electricity bill. Tell them your move-out date and that you want to close the account. They'll schedule a final meter reading on your move-out date or shortly after. You'll pay any remaining balance, and your account closes. If you've overpaid, they refund you. This usually takes 5 to 10 business days to process.

Water is similar but sometimes easier. Visit the local waterworks office with the same documents. In many Bangkok condos, water is actually billed through the building management, not the city waterworks, so ask your landlord first. If you're responsible for a direct account, close it the same way you would electricity.

Pro tip: Schedule both meter readings for the same day if possible. It saves you two trips and reduces the chance you'll forget one.

Handle Internet and Phone Services

You've probably got a True, AIS, or CAT internet package tied to your condo address. These usually come with a 12 or 24-month contract, which means canceling early often costs you. Check your contract first. If you've been with them for most of the contract period, you might owe nothing. If you're canceling after just six months of a two-year deal, expect a termination fee of 2,000 to 5,000 THB depending on the provider and plan.

Call your internet provider at least two weeks before you leave and ask what your early termination cost will be. Sometimes they'll waive it if you've been a good customer. It's worth asking. Many expats living in Nana or Ari have gotten fees reduced or waived just by being polite and explaining they're relocating overseas.

For mobile phones, if you've been on a postpaid plan with AIS, Dtac, or True Move, you'll want to close that too unless you're staying in Thailand. You can usually do this at any company store or call their customer service hotline. Postpaid plans don't usually have huge termination penalties, but check your contract. If you have a prepaid SIM, you can just stop using it or request a formal closure if you're worried about identity theft.

Confirm the closing date in writing via email with your provider. Most will send you a final bill within 7 to 10 days after your service ends.

Cancel Gym Memberships and Condo Amenities

A lot of Bangkok condos come with free gym access, but if you've signed up for an outside gym membership at, say, Gold's Gym in Thonglor or Virgin Active near Asok BTS, you need to cancel that. Most gyms have a 12-month lock-in contract too. The termination fee ranges from free (if you're at the end of your contract) to 3,000 to 8,000 THB if you leave early.

Visit the gym in person with your ID and membership card. They'll explain what you owe and process the cancellation. Get a written receipt or email confirmation that your membership has been terminated and your account is settled. This matters because some gyms try to keep charging you after you've left Thailand.

If your condo includes a gym but you've also paid for guest passes or personal trainer sessions, settle any remaining balance with the building or trainer directly. Ask for an itemized receipt so there are no surprises later.

Settle Maid Services and Recurring Subscriptions

If you've hired a weekly maid service through your building or an outside company, contact them at least two weeks before you leave. Most require notice for cancellation, and many charge one final week's fee. Let's say you're paying 2,000 to 3,500 THB per week for a maid in a high-rise near Chitlom. Get that canceled properly so you don't get charged for weeks after you've already moved out.

Check your credit card or bank statement for recurring subscriptions you might have forgotten about. Netflix, Spotify, food delivery apps with automatic billing, laundry services, grocery subscriptions. Cancel all of them. Log into each account, go to billing settings, and turn off automatic payments. Don't just delete the app. That won't stop them charging you.

Streaming services are usually easy and instant. Laundry and food delivery apps might require you to call or message first. Document each cancellation with a screenshot just in case.

Get a Final Utility Bill and Settlement from Your Building

On or just after your move-out date, meet the building management for a final inspection and meter reading. This is non-negotiable. Most condo contracts require you to be present for this, and it protects both you and your landlord. The inspector will check for damage, take photos if needed, note any outstanding charges, and provide you with a final settlement document.

Your landlord will usually return your security deposit, minus any damage or unpaid bills, within 7 to 30 days. The exact timeline is in your lease. Once you receive that final accounting and your deposit refund, you know everything is actually settled.

Keep all cancellation confirmations, receipts, and the final building settlement for at least one year. If you're leaving Thailand, take photos of all documents in case you need to reference them later.

• Electricity (PEA): 30 days notice | 0 THB (refund if overpaid) | Yes
• Water (City/Building): 7-30 days notice | 0 THB (refund if overpaid) | Depends on provider
• Internet (True/AIS/CAT): 14 days notice | 2,000-5,000 THB (if contract active) | No, can call
• Mobile Postpaid: 7-14 days notice | 0-1,000 THB | No, store or phone
• Gym Membership: 14-30 days notice | 3,000-8,000 THB (if contract active) | Yes
• Maid Service: 7-14 days notice | One final week fee | Call or message

According to DDproperty's 2024 Bangkok rental report, the average cost to move out of a central Bangkok condo (including cancellation penalties, utilities adjustment, and security deposit processing) runs between 5,000 to 15,000 THB if you're terminating contracts early. Plan for it in your budget.

Do This in Order, Don't Skip Steps

The timeline matters. Start your cancellations at least 30 days before you physically leave. Tell your landlord first. Cancel big contracts like internet and gym within 14 days. Kill utilities on or just before your move-out date. Cancel maid and subscription services a week before. Get your final inspection and settlement after you've returned the keys. This order prevents overlapping charges and gives each service time to process your cancellation properly.

Yes, it's annoying. Yes, you'll spend a few hours on the phone and making trips to government offices. But three months after you've left Bangkok, you will be grateful you did it right. Getting a surprise charge notice six months later from a service you thought you canceled is a headache you don't need, especially if you're no longer in Thailand and have to deal with it from abroad.

Moving out of your Bangkok condo is straightforward if you're systematic about it. Start early, document everything, and follow the order above. When you're signing a new lease on your next place or settling into your home country again, you'll know that nothing is still charging you for the condo you left behind. If you're still shopping for your next Bangkok rental and want help finding a place that makes the move-out process easy, check out Superagent.co, where you can browse thousands of verified condo listings and connect directly with landlords who actually respond on time.