Gated Community Fees

[Charlieb]

I live in a gated community with a manned guard shack, pool, lighted streets, street sweepers, very clean, etc. I have been here for about two years and, in that time, have never received a bill for services. All of a sudden we get a bill for 3 years back services for about 6,000 Baht per year (18,000 Baht).

All of the residents are up in arms because some of the bills are really substantial, some in excess of 25,000 Baht.

I have often wondered why we have not been billed and even had the wife check on it before. All she got was blank stares. I don't mind paying a cost for the services we receive as long as it is reasonable. However, I do not want a huge bill every few years. It is sort of like paying the power bill 3,000 Baht per month or getting billed at the end of the year for 36,000 Baht. The monthly is less painful.

My questions are: For those that live in gated communities, what are your fees? How often are they billed? What are the ramifications for those that do not pay?

I purchased my house from an individual and as such when I moved in here never signed any agreement to pay community fees. I don't think it really matters. If I owe, I pay. I just don't want to subsidize the owner's income.

Also I do not want to be one of the few that pay while a lot of deadbeat neighbors get a "free ride".

[downunder]

In the Community where I live the payment is 260 Baht per annum, which covers electricity for the main entrance lighting, as well as the two ladies who keep the street clean. A separate fee of 20 Baht per month covers the twice weekly garbage collection. There are about 100 houses in the community. DU

[papafarang]

wow that's cheap lads, a mate just got a house on a gated place, think there's a pool there, guard's, cleaners but monthly fees are a whopping 5,000 baht that's mad 20 houses only

[Charlieb]

Papa:
5K/month? Are you sure? Sounds like a lot to me.

[papafarang]

got to be due to being a small amount of houses, suppose 4 staff, plus pool. plus electric, plus someone pocketing a bit to manage the place. moral is don't go on high end small estates, nice houses though, what I did not get was they all have small Jacuzzis . why build a pool too ?

[Charlieb]

It would be nice to know what some of the "upscale" communities charge. Cellini, etc.?

[utr]

in our gated community of some +300 houses we have a pool [pay if/as you use] and a play area for the kids, a guard [24/7], and people that sweep/clean the streets - the village is always tidy. our village fee is 120 baht pm plus 20 baht pm for rubbish collection.

[papafarang]

It would be nice to know what some of the "upscale" communities charge. Cellini, etc.?

I bet their not cheap either

[rct]

Charlie, it may be that Le Cellini is the project not named by Papa. Fees since 2008 where 3000 baht per month, now going up to 5000 baht per month, and nobody is complaining that I know of, we like to keep it nice. 24 houses to be exact, down from original 26 since two units became double land plots.

I do not think owners who have two plots are paying double fees, anticipating someone catches that and asks.

The two resale houses available a few months ago both sold, I believe, a testament to the value that buyers see here both for investment and living.

[arjay]

Ours in Nong Khai is c 5000 baht per year, which includes security, road cleaning, garden maintenance, street lights etc. It used to be collected once in 3 years, but has now moved to annually.