Tenant Denies Year-Long Rent Arrears in Viral Dispute
The user wants a short summary (1-2 sentences, 120-220 characters max 240) in English only. The article is in Thai about a tenant named Mr. Em clarifying a rental dispute. Key points: He says he only lived there 3 months, never defaulted on
At 5:30 p.m. on October 20, 2026, following an appearance on the Pak Phum program, tenant Mr. Em disclosed his perspective on the rental dispute that has circulated on social media. The core issue he wants to clarify is the accusation of long-term rent arrears. He insists he never defaulted on rent as portrayed online, though he acknowledges paying 2-3 days past the due date each month, always informing the landlord in advance. He explained that both parties previously discussed payment schedules, including the landlord's bank payment dates, and agreed that if rent could not be paid on the 1st, it could be delayed to the 4th or 5th — a term the landlord accepted. He emphasized that late payment and non-payment are different matters and believed the issue could be resolved through dialogue.
Mr. Em also questioned the claim of eight months to a year of unpaid rent, noting he has resided in the house for only about three months. He urged the public to distinguish between late payment and rent default.
Regarding the house extension, he clarified that the steel-framed structure with roof and walls was intended as an office and was still under construction when the dispute arose. Although accused of damaging the landlord's property, he is willing to restore the addition on the condition that the landlord refunds the down payment he made, totaling over 80,000 baht.
Addressing social media criticism about his and his girlfriend's seemingly unconcerned demeanor, Mr. Em asked critics to consider his position: he has been publicly accused of long-term arrears despite the inaccuracy, and he never previously posted a defense or argued online. He stated his silence was not indifference but a choice to avoid escalation, and he only came forward now to protect his rights. He expected the TV appearance to address the arrears allegation but found the discussion shifted to the contract and late payments, which he views as a separate issue. He confirmed he will attend a scheduled meeting tomorrow to seek a resolution.
