Thailand’s Foundation for Consumers is offering free legal counselling to buyers of condominium units at the Ashton Asoke luxury condominium in Bangkok, if they want to cancel the purchase contracts, and to seek a refund from the developer, Ananda Development.

On Thursday, the Supreme Administrative Court ordered the construction permit for the condominium project to be revoked, after it ruled that it is illegal for the Mass Rapid Transit Authority to allow land that was expropriated from private landowners for the Blue Line train project to be used by the condominium for access to and from Asoke Road.

Narumon Mekborisut, deputy director of the foundation, said that buyers of the condos have been affected by the Supreme Administrative Court ruling.

She said that the revocation of the construction permit was not the fault of the buyers and, therefore, they are entitled to cancel the contracts and to demand compensation from the project developer.

In turn, the developer can demand compensation from state agencies responsible for granting the construction permit.

The foundation’s chief lawyer, Chalermpong Klabdee, said that, in this case, it is the project developer which has breached the contract with the condominium buyers and must be held accountable for the damages incurred.

He said buyers can lodge their complaints with the foundation, together with the purchase contracts and receipts for payments.

The lawyer also warned of buyers of units at condominium projects to check carefully that the construction permit was granted and that the construction was done properly and in accordance the blue prints.