NovThailand News
OCPB mediation returns more than THB 8 million to buyers of five condo units
What happened in the three cases
The largest settlement involved THB 7,765,380 paid for two units in the Charoen Nakhon area. According to OCPB, the buyer found several defects during inspection, including water leaks, a water heater that did not work and cracks in the walls. After the buyer sought to cancel the contracts, mediation ended with the company agreeing to return the money.
The other two complaints involved buyers who were unable to secure bank financing. One mediation produced a THB 55,000 refund. In the third case, a buyer who had taken over purchase rights for two units in the Rama IV area was denied financing and reached an agreement for a THB 245,023 refund.
Together, the three settlements returned more than THB 8 million. They are individual mediated outcomes, not a new blanket rule requiring the same result in every condominium dispute.
Evidence can shape a handover dispute
OCPB specifically advises buyers to keep contracts, payment records, receipts and dated photographs of defects. In a handover dispute, that evidence helps establish what was wrong with the unit, when the problem was identified and how the condition differed from the contractual or advertised specification.
A buyer is in a stronger position when defects are recorded before accepting the unit and when discussions with the developer are documented rather than left as verbal promises. The Charoen Nakhon settlement illustrates why photographs and written records can matter when cancellation and repayment are being negotiated.
OCPB also said it had instructed officials to review developers’ sale-and-purchase agreements against the mandatory standard forms and controlled-contract rules. The condition of the unit therefore matters alongside the wording of the contract itself.
A rejected mortgage does not guarantee a refund
Two of the August mediations ended in refunds after banks declined to finance the purchases. That does not mean every mortgage rejection automatically entitles a buyer to recover every amount already paid.
The outcome can depend on the specific contract, the nature of each payment and whether the agreement complies with mandatory consumer-contract requirements. Earlier OCPB cases have distinguished between booking or contract deposits and later instalments, with different treatment depending on the facts and the wording of the agreement.
For buyers who expect to use bank financing, the useful step comes before signing: read the clause dealing with loan rejection and repayment. If a dispute has already started, the contract, payment trail and documented facts are more useful than assuming another buyer’s settlement will produce the same result.
Sources
- Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) — 19 August 2026.
- Thairath — 19 August 2026.
- Pattaya Mail — 20 August 2026.