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If you are looking to make the island of Phuket, Thailand your home, finding suitable housing will be your top priority! However, finding the right place can be a challenge especially since you are navigating house hunting in a foreign country.  That’s why we created this Phuket rental guide so that you can know what to expect when searching for a property rental in Thailand.   

Location, Location, Location

Phuket is a very large island.  It can take over an hour to get from one side of the island to the other.  This is why it’s important to choose a location based upon where you want to spend most of your time.  I recommend staying near a favorite beach or your favorite strips of restaurants and shops.

Having a particular location in mind will really help to narrow your search, making it easier to see properties in one small area instead of seeing places all over the island.   

The Types of Rental Properties in Phuket

Phuket has lots of properties to choose from including stand-alone houses and condos, so you’ll have to decide whether or not you want the privacy of a house or the pool and gym amenities of a condo.  It doesn’t hurt to schedule showings for both, so you can imagine your lifestyle in each type of property.   

You can rent a property month to month, however, to get the lowest monthly rates many places require a long-term contract of 6 to 12 months. Most rentals require the first and last month’s rent at the signing of the rental agreement.  The last month’s rental free will act as your deposit in case of any property damage.    

Where to Find Phuket Rental Property Listings

The best resource for active Phuket rental listings is Facebook Marketplace and Airbnb.  You can put your search criteria into the filters focusing on your target area and your price range.  Usually, you will find dozens of suitable listings this way.  However, no matter how good a property’s pictures are, please always contact the seller to schedule a property viewing before you lease the property.  Pictures can be deceiving and you may be surprised to see that some places are much smaller than you imagine, or that you may not like the location. 

Now, you may only think of Airbnb as a short-term rental search engine, but usually, these sellers are also open to long-term renters as well. If you see an Airbnb property that you like, message the seller through the app to see if you can schedule a showing of the property. If you do like the property, you can sign the lease agreement directly with the seller in person.  

Other great resources for property listings are Facebook groups that are dedicated to rental property.  You can check out these groups below to see the Phuket rental properties ready for occupancy today.

Phuket for rent sale house condo

Condo for rent phuket

Phuket Rentals

My last tip if you are interested in condos, is to contact the condo office directly.  If you pass by a condo building that you like, although that building may not have any listings on AirBnb or Facebook, they may still have condos available for rent if you call the office or walk inside to inquire within.  

For us, there was one Facebook marketplace listing that we really liked, but the seller never replied back to us.  We really liked the property, so we contacted the condo facility directly to rent the property.  The monthly rental fee was higher through the main office than with the private seller, but we were happy to pay a little extra to get excellent service and to get the property we really wanted.

To see the Phuket property that we choose, watch the video below!

Phuket Monthly Rental Prices

Rental prices vary greatly because the quality of accommodations varies greatly.  You can find simple condos as low as ฿10,000 Baht per month ($284 USD).  However, if you want more modern high-end properties, it could cost you closer to ฿45,000 Baht per month ($1281.87 USD) or more.

Much of the time, these monthly rental prices are negotiable especially if you are staying long-term, so talk with the seller to see if you can get ฿2000-4000 Baht off the listing price.  Sometimes, you could save even more by negotiating.  

You should also ask the seller what is included in the monthly rental costs.  Very often bonuses like free wifi and free weekly cleaning are included, but it is best to ask as every property is different.  

Additional Utility Fees

In addition to your monthly rental expenses, electricity and water are other common monthly expenses to consider.  Some properties charge a flat rate for these utilities while some charge based on your usage.  Be sure to ask the seller to verify, so there will be no surprises or misunderstandings.

Furnishings and Moving In

Most rental properties in Thailand come fully furnished, so there is no need to buy furniture or move any furniture to Thailand.  Most properties come with conveniences like towels, dishes, silverware, pots, pans, a tea kettle, and a toaster.  

If a unit is ready to show, it is usually ready to move in that same day, so you usually don’t need much notice before you take possession of a long-term rental.  However, it is best to have somewhere to stay like a hotel room when you first arrive.  This way you can look at properties at your leisure and find the best space for you.  

The Big Takeaways from this Phuket Rental Guide

So the big takeaways that I hope you remember as you search for properties in Thailand include:

1. Choose your desired location first
2. Shop for monthly rentals on Facebook Marketplace, Airbnb, and from driving around
3. Schedule showings for the properties that interest you
4. Verify the unit and facility condition before signing or paying for anything
5. Verify monthly costs and fees like the deposit, electricity, water, wi-fi, and cleaning
6. Negotiate a lower price if possible
7. Sign the rental agreement and start your new life in Thailand

I hope this Phuket rental guide has helped you feel more confident in your housing search.  I wish you luck and hope you enjoy your stay in paradise!

Now that you know about the Phuket rental market, check out these other Thailand living articles.

• 10 Reasons Why You Will Love Living in Phuket
• The Pros and Cons of Living in Thailand
• The Cost of Living in Thailand
• 15 Things You Should Know Before You Go to Thailand
• Beautiful Phuket Viewpoints
• The Do’s and Don’ts of Moving Abroad and Starting a New Life

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