#laosproperty

So, you’ve leased land in Laos for 30 years. You’ve built your dream villa. Maybe even a small resort. You’ve got a renewal clause in the contract, so you’re safe — right?

Not quite.

In practice, renewals are rarely granted. That clause? It’s often non-binding. At the end of your lease, the land — and everything on it — reverts to the original owner. Yes, including the building you paid for.

There’s no legal guarantee that the landowner will renew. Some do, but many don’t — especially if your improvements have significantly increased the land’s value. Why rent it back to you when they can take it over, fully built?

This isn’t a bug in the system — it’s how the system works.

Ah, Southeast Asia — the sunsets, the returns, the... 143-day permit delays?

If you're planning to build in Laos, brace yourself. In 2023–2024, the average time to secure full building permit approvals was 143 days. That’s nearly 5 months of waiting, chasing signatures, and watching your timeline evaporate.

Despite the word “digital” appearing in some application processes, what it often means is a PDF on a flash drive — not a streamlined, trackable online system. The delays aren’t just about inefficiency; they stem from real issues: lack of digital infrastructure, understaffed local departments, and often, unclear or opaque rules.

Even when reforms are announced, don’t count on speed. You’ll need a good local contact, lots of patience, and contingency time baked into your build plan.