You've just bought a condo in Bangkok and suddenly you're thinking about rental income. Or maybe you're relocating and need to rent out your place to cover the mortgage. Either way, you want to know how to set the right price and find a tenant who won't trash the apartment or skip rent payments.

The rental market in Bangkok moves fast. Get the pricing wrong and your condo sits empty for months. Get the tenant selection wrong and you're dealing with damage deposits and legal headaches. I've watched plenty of condo owners make both mistakes, so let me walk you through what actually works.

Know Your Market and Price Strategically

Pricing starts with knowing what similar units are actually renting for right now, not what you think your condo is worth. If you own a 2-bedroom near BTS Thonglor, you need to check what comparable units in the same soi are advertising. Not asking prices, actual rental rates that units are closing at.

Right now in 2024, a decent 2-bedroom in mid-range buildings around Thonglor or Ekkamai goes for 25,000 to 35,000 baht depending on condition and building amenities. A smaller 1-bedroom in the same areas sits around 15,000 to 22,000 baht. Premium buildings with gym, pool, and 24-hour security push higher, obviously.

Here's what catches most owners off guard: you're competing against hundreds of other condos. If you price 10 percent above market, you'll get no inquiries for weeks. Then you'll lower the price anyway and look desperate. It's better to price right from day one, maybe even slightly below market for the first month to build momentum and reviews.

Walk through your condo like a tenant would. Is the bathroom aging badly? Does the kitchen feel cramped? Are the built-in fixtures original from 2010? These things matter to someone paying 25,000 baht a month. A fresh paint job on the walls costs maybe 2,000 to 3,000 baht and pays for itself in days when you attract a better-quality renter at the right price.

Create Photos and Descriptions That Actually Convert

Bad photos kill your rental before the tenant even sees the unit. You need bright, natural light, clean surfaces, and shots that show the space flowing. If your hallway is dark, turn on every light and take the photo during daytime when window light comes in. Blurry photos on a budget phone are worse than no photos.

Show the bedroom, the living area, the kitchen, and the bathroom clearly. But also show what matters to Bangkok renters specifically. Is there a balcony with a city view? Can you see the BTS line from the window? How close is it to convenience stores? Do you have a dedicated parking space? These details go into your description.

Your description should mention the walk time to the nearest BTS or MRT station in seconds, not minutes. People searching condos near BTS Nana want to know it's 3 minutes on foot, not 7. If you're on Sukhumvit Soi 12 and the nearest BTS is 4 minutes walking, say that. If it's actually an 8-minute walk, don't lie about it or tenants will leave bad reviews immediately.

Include what's actually nearby. "5 minutes from Emporium and EmQuartier" is accurate and attractive. "Walking distance to restaurants and nightlife" is vague and sounds desperate. Specificity builds trust with serious renters.

Screen Tenants Properly Before Signing

The difference between a smooth rental and a nightmare is the tenant you choose. Meet them in person at the condo. Watch how they move through the space, what they ask about, how they treat your furniture. If they're rude to you or dismissive of your place, they'll take worse care of it once they're inside.

Ask for a copy of their employment letter showing they work at a reputable company in Bangkok. Expats especially should provide this. If they work freelance or remote, ask for bank statements showing consistent income. A tenant earning 80,000 baht a month renting a 25,000 baht unit is fine. A tenant earning 50,000 baht a month renting the same place might struggle with payment.

Get references from their previous landlord or manager. Text them or call them directly. "How was the tenant? Any damage? Any late payments?" Most former landlords are honest because they know you'll return the favor when you need a reference. If the previous landlord says even one cautionary thing, listen to it.

Check their Thai ID or passport against their name in every document. An ID mismatch is a red flag. Make sure the name, address, and employer all match across documents. If something doesn't add up, walk away. The market has plenty of tenants. You don't need the complicated ones.

Use the Right Platform to Reach Quality Tenants

Facebook groups for expats in Bangkok and Thai rental groups get you visibility, but they also attract bargain hunters and tire kickers who message every unit without serious intent. You want a platform where tenants are actually filtering by price, location, and moving date before they reach out to you.

Superagent.co lets you list with professional photos and all the details in one place. Tenants searching there are looking for specific neighborhoods and price ranges, so your inquiry quality is higher from the start. You're not answering 30 messages from people who can't afford you or don't actually want to move yet.

List on multiple platforms if it makes sense, but never oversell availability. If the unit is rented, mark it rented immediately everywhere. A tenant who shows up expecting an apartment only to find it taken is a bad experience that turns into a bad review.

Get the Lease and Security Deposit Right

Use a proper lease agreement in Thai and English. Don't handwrite something on a napkin or use a template you found online. A one-page lease from a lawyer costs 2,000 to 4,000 baht and protects you legally. It says what the rent is, when it's due, how much the security deposit is, what happens if they break the lease early, and who fixes what when something breaks.

The security deposit in Bangkok is typically one month's rent, sometimes two months for furnished units. Collect it upfront before they move in. Photograph the condo's condition before they move in, get them to confirm it matches, then photograph it again when they leave. This protects both of you when disputes come up over wear and tear.

Build a small maintenance buffer into the rent if you can. A 25,000 baht condo in an older building might need 1,000 to 2,000 baht a year in touch-ups. It's better to account for that reality than to be shocked when you need to repaint or fix a leaky faucet that a tenant didn't cause but you still have to pay for.

Getting your condo rental priced right and rented to the right person takes research, honesty, and a little patience. Quick cash tempts you to lower your standards. Don't do it. A quality tenant who pays on time and takes care of your place is worth waiting an extra two weeks for.

Superagent.co makes the listing and tenant search process straightforward so you can focus on vetting the right person rather than managing scattered inquiries across multiple platforms.