Common Area Maintenance Fees (CAM Fees) in Thailand
Maintenance Fee vs. Common Area Fees
Common Area Maintenance Fees, Maintenance Fees, or CAM Fees all refer to the same thing: an amount collected from each unit owner in the compound by the management to cover the monthly costs for general repair and upkeep. The CAM field ensures that the common areas are in good shape, such as common area gardening, pool cleaning, security and other staff monthly salaries, garbage collection, common area lighting, common area electric and water costs, etc.
Typical Monthly Common Area Maintenance Fees in Thailand
The amount of this payment can vary depending on the on-site amenities and services that are offered and also whether it’s a villa project or a condominium, but they typically range between 40 THB and 100 THB per square meter per month for condominiums and 15-35 THB / per month for villa projects.
The amount is typically lower in larger real estate projects since more unit owners will share the cost, while it can be higher in smaller projects.
The monthly common area fees are typically collected and paid once a year, covering the next 12 months.
Are High Common Area Maintenance Fees Worth the Cost?
Even though high common area maintenance fees will add to the cost of living, they also indicate that you’ll live in a well-maintained project. Not well-maintained projects tend to age poorly, especially in a tropical climate like Thailand, which has high humidity and yearly monsoon rains.
Having a property in a well-maintained project will also increase your chances of selling it at a high value.
In Phuket, some projects, like Sai Taan Villas or Botanica Phase 1, have always been highly sought after just because they are well maintained by property management companies.
Some developers use their in-house teams to handle the maintenance of the projects, while other developers outsource the management to Property Management Companies such as CBRE, JLL or Knight Frank.
Things to Consider About Common Area Maintenance Fees?
Clarifying the details of the common area fees before you purchase a property is always a good idea.
Which services does the fee cover, what’s already included in the price, and which company will manage the project? These are good questions to ask before completing a purchase. With an experienced real estate agency by your side when buying a property in Phuket, your consultant will help you answer all these questions and more.
It can be easy to confuse the maintenance fee with the Sinking Fund, but that is an entirely separate cost. You can find out more about it by clicking here on our Sinking Fund article.
Meet the Author
Nuno Aydin Isitemiz, born in 1981 in Istanbul, Turkey, has been a resident of Phuket since 2006 and has been involved in the real estate industry since 2013. Nuno co-founded one of the largest real estate agencies on the island, before launching his own company, focusing on select projects and properties that meet his high standards. At Storm Real Estate, You’ll interact directly with Nuno, who’s more than happy to share his wealth of knowledge, experience, and resources. Unlike larger corporate agencies where turnover can affect client-agent relationships, Nuno ensures personalized attention from initial consultation through property purchase and beyond.
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Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions on the subject, or if you would like to know more about property in Phuket in general.
