Jingjok
Agents, listings and who pays
naai-nâa
Most Bangkok rentals are found through a นายหน้า (agent), Facebook groups, property sites, or simply by walking into a building and asking the นิติ or guard มีห้องว่างไหม. In standard residential rentals the owner pays the agent's commission, commonly one month's rent for a one-year lease, so a tenant normally pays nothing to the agent. Be wary of anyone asking you for a 'booking fee' before you've seen the room and the owner's documents. Photos are often flattering: ask for a video call or a viewing. Polite exits are part of the game: ขอคิดดูก่อน and เดี๋ยวติดต่อกลับ are understood as 'probably not', and nobody is offended.
Try this today
Walk into a building you like and ask the guard มีห้องว่างไหม.
The words that carry it
Learn this in “Apartment hunting” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Culture cards in Jingjok are tied to the words that carry them, each ending in one thing to try today.
- WEEKS 1–2 · SURVIVEGreet anyone, pay, and order food and 7-Eleven exactly how you like it.
- WEEKS 3–6 · SETTLE INGet around by taxi, Grab and skytrain, find anything, and handle your landlord.
- WEEKS 7–12 · RUN YOUR LIFEPharmacy, bank, SIM and apps, how you feel, and a weekend away, all in Thai.
The first week is free.