Section 364: Entering a home without reasonable cause

Penalty rates amended by section 4 of the Act Amending the Penal Code (No. 26) B.E. 2560 (2017). Current penalty: imprisonment not exceeding one year, or a fine not exceeding twenty thousand baht, or both.

What this means for foreigners

Supreme Court decisions on this section

1. Supreme Court Decision No. 7088/2550

   Facts: At night the defendant and others came into a walled area with its own doorway in front of the victim's room and punched and kicked two people there.

   Held: That area was used only by the victim and was part of her dwelling under section 1(4), so entering it was entering a dwelling without reasonable cause; the defendant was guilty under section 365(2) and (3) with section 364, reversing the Court of Appeal's acquittal on that count.

   Why it matters: An enclosed private area in front of a room or unit can be part of the dwelling.

   ที่เกิดเหตุถือได้ว่าเป็นเคหสถานของผู้เสียหายที่ 1 ตามประมวลกฎหมายอาญา มาตรา 1 (4)

2. Supreme Court Decision No. 540/2554

   Facts: Three men assaulted a person at a place with snooker tables open to the public, while it was open for business.

   Held: Because the attack took place in an area any member of the public could enter, there was no trespass under sections 364 and 365; the defendants were guilty only of the assault, and their prison terms were suspended.

   Why it matters: Entering premises open to the public, during opening hours, is not entering without reasonable cause under section 364.

   ในบริเวณที่บุคคลทั่วไปย่อมจะเข้าไปได้นั้นย่อมไม่มีความผิดฐานบุกรุก

3. Supreme Court Decision No. 2813/2568

   Facts: The defendants, who pleaded guilty, entered a house in another person's possession and immediately beat a man there with a knuckleduster, causing grievous harm.

   Held: Entering and disturbing possession and then using force at once, while the trespass was continuing, formed one inseparable course of conduct, so the offence was trespass on a dwelling by force under section 365(1) with sections 364 and 83; the lower courts' classification was affirmed.

   Why it matters: Violence used during the entry turns a section 364 trespass into the heavier section 365 offence.

   ในขณะที่การบุกรุกยังคงมีอยู่ตลอดเวลาไม่ขาดตอน พฤติการณ์ความร้ายแรงไม่อาจแยกออกจากกันได้

4. Supreme Court Decision No. 2030/2568

   Facts: Three defendants, who pleaded guilty, entered the victim's house with an axe and assaulted him.

   Held: Entering another's dwelling and then immediately using force is trespass by force or threat of force under section 365(1); the lower courts were right on that point, and the Supreme Court corrected only the assault count from section 391 to section 295.

   Why it matters: Confirms the same rule as 2813/2568 for home invasions followed by assault.

   การที่จำเลยทั้งสามบุกรุกเข้าไปในเคหสถานของผู้อื่นแล้วใช้กำลังประทุษร้าย เป็นการบุกรุกโดยใช้กำลังประทุษร้ายหรือขู่เข็ญว่าจะใช้กำลังประทุษร้ายตามประมวลกฎหมายอาญา มาตรา 365 (1)

5. Supreme Court Decision No. 6290/2537

   Facts: At about 3 a.m. the defendant entered the victim's bedroom undressed, punched her and tried to rape her.

   Held: The defendant's continuous acts were aimed at rape and formed one act violating several provisions, including sections 364 and 365(3); he was punished under the heaviest provision, attempted rape.

   Why it matters: Entering a home to commit another crime is charged under section 364 as well, but punished under the heaviest offence.

   การที่จำเลยแก้ผ้าเข้าไปในห้องนอนอันเป็นเคหสถานของผู้เสียหาย ย่อมประสงค์ที่จะข่มขืนกระทำชำเรา

Related sections

• Section 362, Penal Code: Trespass on immovable property generally, requiring an intent to take possession or an act disturbing possession.
• Section 365, Penal Code: Aggravated forms applied with section 364 in 7088/2550, 2813/2568 and 2030/2568.
• Section 1, Penal Code: Item (4) defines 'dwelling' (เคหสถาน), applied in 7088/2550.
• Section 366, Penal Code: Believed to make the offences in this chapter compoundable except section 365; not confirmed in the pack.

Questions about this section

Can my landlord enter my rented condo or house without permission?

Section 364 protects a dwelling 'in the possession of another person', so the person in possession, not the owner, is protected. A landlord who enters a let home without reasonable cause, or refuses to leave when told to go, may commit the offence. Any right of entry agreed in the lease would be relevant to whether there was reasonable cause.

Is the area outside my front door part of my dwelling?

It can be. In 7088/2550 a walled space with its own doorway in front of the victim's room, used only by her, was held to be part of her dwelling under the Penal Code's definition in section 1(4). Shared corridors or areas open to everyone are different: in 540/2554 a snooker hall open to the public was not protected.

What happens if someone enters and attacks the occupant?

The courts treat entry followed at once by force as one continuous offence of aggravated trespass under section 365(1) together with section 364, as in 2813/2568 and 2030/2568. Aggravated trespass carries a heavier penalty than the basic offence and is treated differently from the basic compoundable offence.