Can I do my own construction work on a retirement visa?

Can I carry out any construction work on my own house or is this illegal on a retirement or spouse visa?

I think it's technically illegal, but tollerated so long as it's your (TWs) own home and you are not receiving payment. I did all my own electrical and plumbing works.

Although I received a certificate from the Udon Education Department for voluntarily teaching English (me? joke) at a school camp I believe it was an illegal act.

Hi Noddy,
You have no problem doing that, myself and the wife built most of our house with our own hands, the house is out of town. I got help at times for pouring concrete, digging footings and placing roofing sheets, did all the blockwork, electric, painting, plumbing and drainage myself. Got contractors to do the rendering, tiling and gypsum works.

The house is only half finished with the next section to go, I do it in between jobs as I am working in Phuket. It gives me something to do when up there, crank the stereo up and into it. When we finish the rest I wont be doing the painting though!!!

coxo wrote: I am working in Phuket.!

Udon immigration will not bat an eyelid if you and your wife are working on your own property.
Phuket immigration will arrest you if you are working without a work permit.

OT...........

Hi.
When i inquired to immigration about three years age, Might have changed now TIT. i was told i could work on my own property. or garden. Without pay. Don't think i can afford to be paying myself. I told them i own the house but wife owns land. They said i could do work to keep the prop. in good repair. Or words to that effect.
The full answer was that i could own a gardening or building company. under the rules of Thailand, but could not do manual labour on other peoples property or buildings. This had to be done by Thais.
Now that imm. is in Udon, go down and have a word with them, they are nvery helpful IMO. And you will get to know the correct facts from the horses mouth, so to speak.

OT, I clearly stated working on our own house!!! Yes our construction company in Phuket follows the letter of the law as every foreign company must, I have had a Thai work permit since 1998, smart arse!

coxo wrote:OT, smart

OT is well aware of that.

OT...........

As the tread has touched on Work Permits in Thailand.
I would like to ask a question.
If i was to buy a guest house and be involved in the running of it.
What is the procedure for this ?
Would i need a LTD company ?
Or can say a wife and farang husband work together, as Sole Traders ?
All information greatly received.
Colin.

Welshboy, if your involved in the business you need a work permit regardless. OT or O F--t will no doubt have some meaningful and intelligent advice.

This is from the Phuket Gazette. I know lawns are different than building but the phone number may be useful.

Is it illegal to mow your own lawn?
Can you clarify the law regarding gardening with a lawnmower and brush cutter? If I use these at my own residence, is it legal? A friend was arrested by police and made to pay a fine for doing his own gardening at his own residence using a lawnmower in late 2010. If it is legal and I am arrested, who can I call to rectify the matter and what is their number?
Victa Ryobi, Phuket Thursday, April 7, 2011
“Please ask the police who arrested your friend what the illegal act was. No lawn mower or brush cutter is illegal if a person is using it on their own land. There is also no special law forbidding foreigners from undertaking such activity.

In the case that you contact the police and they cannot tell you which law was broken, you can call and make a complaint with the GCC at 1111 ext 2. The line is open 24 hours a day and the service is free.

We will send the complaint to the Office of the Permanent Secretary to delegate responsibility to the proper department or division to work on it.

We cannot specify how long the process will take, as it depends on the case.

Another solution could be to take your complaint to the local police station.”
Thursday, April 7, 2011 Sukrit Sitthiboon of the Government Contact Center (GCC)

coxo wrote:Hi Noddy,
You have no problem doing that, myself and the wife built most of our house with our own hands, the house is out of town. I got help at times for pouring concrete, digging footings and placing roofing sheets, did all the blockwork, electric, painting, plumbing and drainage myself. Got contractors to do the rendering, tiling and gypsum works.

The house is only half finished with the next section to go, I do it in between jobs as I am working in Phuket. It gives me something to do when up there, crank the stereo up and into it. When we finish the rest I wont be doing the painting though!!!

Note that there is NO supporting evidence in Coxo's post, other than the fact that he didn't get arrested for it (yet). Later he goes on to mention that he has had a work permit for a long time, but we all know that a work permit is specific about what job you can do, i.e., that which you were hired for by your employer, and NOT for house construction...

There are two issues: one is the law, which I believe Bandung_Dero nailed: all work, paid or unpaid, without a work permit, is illegal. The other issue is enforcement, which, as we all know, is capricious, and unpredictable. You can go and get an idea by speaking to the local authorities, and that may be enough to let you sleep well. Of course, there is always the lone wolf officer, who gets up on the wrong side of the bed, or needs to buy his mia noi a baht or so of gold. He may then use the law (which is in his favor) to shake you down, or even arrest you.

It's all about choices, and the best choices are informed choices. No one can tell you, with any veracity, that "You have no problem doing that...". But you can make the decision to take the chance by becoming informed about the local situation.

It was with a lot of amusement reading your letter Jeeves, I looked out the office window with the Andaman sea in front of me and the boys working away and thought gee, Jeeves says work permits NOT for house construction, well what am I doing here, Jeeves must know more than me, I banged my head against the wall three times looked at my work permit, looked at the site, yes this is a building site, my work permit says that is what I do, I have only been doing it for thirty four years, sixteen years in Thailand but Jeeves says no. So Jeeves is telling Noddy, dont build your own house, for me Bkk Bill is correct, building your own house on your property isnt earning a living, you can carry out works on your own property.
So what is it Jeeves, for me lifes been good, I have made a living in Thailand since I was thirty four years of age, now fifty, all in construction building high end villas and condo's, why are you such a negative tosser, whats your story, retired here at fifty or sixty, now you know all there is to know about Thailand, I could go on because people like you p--s me right off!!!

Ok, Coxo, as you wish.