Udon thani: A landlord was shocked to find a tenant had piled up garbage taller than his head, claiming he had nowhere to dispose of it. He secretly moved out in the middle of the night after failing to pay rent. The landlord revealed repair costs exceeded 40,000 baht. The tenant, however, countered that he was evicted and that the repair charges were excessive, but admitted he was willing to pay the damages in installments.
According to Thai News Agency, the viral sharing of images online showing a rented room in Phan Don Subdistrict, Kumphawapi District, Udon Thani Province, filled with massive piles of garbage that barely blocked any walking space, sparked widespread criticism. Reporters have now investigated the area and found the room in a horrifying state, with the living room, bedroom, and bathroom almost entirely covered in garbage, emitting a foul odor and leaving belongings scattered everywhere.
The landlord stated that the tenant had been living there for over 4 years and 2 months, paying 2,500 baht per month in rent. Previously, there were no problems, but in the last 6 months, the tenant began paying late. Finally, on April 12th, the landlord decided to ask the tenant to move out because the outstanding rent had accumulated to exceed the security deposit. The tenant repeatedly requested extensions until May.
The point that made the landlord unable to bear the burden was discovering that the tenant was still leaving the air conditioner on day and night, even though they couldn’t pay the rent. This caused the electricity bill to skyrocket, forcing the landlord to insist that the tenant move out on May 15th.
After the tenant moved out, the landlord was “shocked and deeply saddened” to open the door and find the room, which had been carefully decorated to provide a comfortable living space, filled with garbage and damaged items. The landlord estimated that restoring and repairing the walls will take months and expressed a desire for the tenant to contact them to pay for the damages, emphasizing that the tenant shouldn’t leave this burden behind.
Reporters also obtained CCTV footage from the dormitory exit area, taken around 10:00 PM on May 7, 2026. The footage showed tenants gradually moving some of their belongings out of their rooms before a car quietly picked them up and drove away in the middle of the night without notifying the landlord beforehand. This led the landlord to believe they might be fleeing.
Later, reporters arranged for both parties to speak in front of the press. The tenant repeatedly apologized and promised not to flee, and would find the money to fully compensate for the damages. The landlord stated that they had treated the tenant well in the past and there had never been any personal problems, but they were truly appalled by the condition of the room, which required complete renovation and the purchase of new furniture. Finally, the landlord kindly added, “I wish you good luck and hope you change your ways. Don’t leave this burden behind again.” The negotiation was recorded as evidence to prevent future breaches of contract.
Furthermore, reporters contacted the former tenant again, who admitted that all the trash belonged to him. He claimed he had nowhere to dispose of it, so he piled it in his room, using another room as a bed. He stated, “I didn’t run away, but I was evicted by the landlord two days ago, leaving me homeless. I don’t have a single baht to my name.” He also confirmed that he never defaulted on rent payments, although there were occasional late payments. However, he questioned why the landlord posted such a defamatory message. He argued that the landlord’s posting of photos of the room on social media could constitute a violation of his privacy and could lead to legal action. Nevertheless, he accepted responsibility and agreed to pay 42,000 baht in compensation, requesting to pay it in installments.