Good Condo, Likable Staff - But AVOID Unit 542 Due to Owner's Unfair Practices Post-Earthquake
(1 star for Unit 542 experience, higher for general condo services)
My experience at Noble BE19 has been mixed. On a day-to-day basis, the service in the condo is good, and I've generally found the staff to be pleasant and helpful. However, a serious issue with a specific apartment, unit 542, and its owner, Xiaoyan Lin, has unfortunately overshadowed my overall stay.
For 1.5 year I rented unit 542 and always fulfilled my obligations by paying rent and service fees on time and maintaining the property well. Following an earthquake, the apartment sustained significant damage that rendered it unsafe and uninhabitable. You can see photo and video. The entrance door would not close properly, bathroom tiles had fallen and were loose, and large cracks appeared in an external wall. I promptly informed Serve Property Management, the intermediary agency, on March 29th 2025 and, for my own safety, had to vacate the premises, initially staying in hotels and then moving to another condominium. But rent was paid till April 15th and I didn't ask for any compensation or the rent payment.
The handling of this situation by the owner of unit 542, Xiaoyan Lin, was deeply problematic. Serve Property Management relayed communications between myself and the owner. Despite the clear and unavoidable habitability issues caused by a natural disaster (which was not my fault), the owner, Ms. Lin, decided against a full return of my 50,000 THB deposit. I ultimately received only 19,288 THB. The owner's justification, conveyed through Serve, was that I had broken the contract by moving out early. Deductions were also made for cleaning, including 2,000 THB for AC cleaning, a service I had already performed and paid for in January (and for which I provided documentation).
The owner of unit 542 failed to ensure a livable environment following the earthquake, yet I am the one who has suffered a significant loss of my deposit and incurred additional expenses for temporary accommodation and lost rent, for which I am now seeking full compensation from the owner.
While the general services and staff at Noble BE19 are commendable, I strongly advise potential renters to specifically avoid renting unit 542 due to the unfair treatment I experienced from its owner, Xiaoyan Lin, in a crisis situation. The owner's approach to the deposit and the aftermath of the earthquake damage was unacceptable. Other units and owners may offer a different experience, but based on my interaction with the owner of unit 542, caution is highly recommended for this particular apartment.