Bangkok Condo Hotel Dispute Bringing Issues to Light

A current legal dispute between condo owners and the developer of the Chatrium is receiving a high level of interest in the local press and creating awareness of some pitfalls in condo hotels. Part of a mixed use project housing condos, a hotel and serviced apartment; buyers have alleged the portioning off of common areas and limited access to the riverfront were amended at the 11th hour when a subvision of land was done just prior to the registration of the condo titles.
The dispute is focusing on not only the subdivision but also allocations for common area expenses. The developers have countered that they have provided suitable access to the desirable riverside area. They have argued that at the onset of the project they did not disclose the hotel to buyers as environmental impact approval was pending according to a report in The Bangkok Post.
Both the developer and CJP (condominium juristic person) who represents the owners are now meeting to attempt to resolve the issue buy much of the current confusion stems from the lack of documentation about the common area location and process of information between the two parties.
In Phuket in projects such as Allamanda 1, the results of ongoing dispute ended up seeing two other project phases going solo and now moving to operate under the Best Western chain flag. For purchasers its increasing important to obtain qualified local legal advise and granted the condo hotel model in Thailand is growing in sophistication hopefully the learning curve will improve standards and oversight.