Jingjok
Two months down, and how to get it back
mát-jam
Most Thai leases ask for มัดจำสองเดือน, two months' rent as a deposit, plus the first month in advance, so moving in costs three months' rent up front. The deposit comes back after you move out, often within 30 days, minus cleaning, damage and unpaid bills. Arguments over deductions are common enough to prepare for: on day one, photograph every wall, appliance and stain and send the photos to your landlord on LINE, so there is a dated record. Read the deposit clause in the สัญญา itself; if there is a Thai and an English version, the Thai one is the one that counts. Give the notice the contract asks for (often 30 days), or the deposit can be kept.
Try this today
Photograph your room today and send the pictures to your landlord with a polite ครับ/ค่ะ.
The words that carry it
Learn this in “Home: condo and landlord” →
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.