Buy or Rent Shop Houses in Cambodia

What is a ‘Shophouse’?

A ‘Shophouse‘ is a concept that not all countries have adopted and is unique in its own way.

Commonplace in Southeast Asia, you will find Shophouses in most major cities and towns.

The main allure is that it serves more than one purpose and co-joins residential accommodation and a commercial entity on the bottom floor.

In Phnom Penh, for example, the majority of Shophouses were built in the 1960s.

Summary of a ‘Shophouse’

Shophouses are found in almost every Phnom Penh district and commonplace in Siem Reap, Battambang, Kampot and Sihanoukville.

The general size of a Khmer Shophouse is 4 meters wide by 16 meters long, so narrow but long in shape.

Shophouses are typically low-rise and consist of three to four stories, perfectly combining residential and business interests. So it has proved to be one of the most successful real estate spaces sold in the country.

As with all real estate, the cost of a Shophouse will vary greatly depending on the district or suburb. For example, a Shophouse in the Daun Penh area of Phnom Penh close to Riverside would be upwards of $800 per month. However, it is considerably less across the Japanese Bridge in Chroy Changvar.

Shophouses now popular with foreigners

Shophouses are now becoming popular with foreign renters who are cautious about coming into the marketplace. Whereby they don’t want to rent accommodation and commit to commercial property as separate entities.

And for the most part, landlords are more than tolerant to renovations, primarily if previous tenants have used the premises for anything food-related or for fixing cars or motorbikes, for example.

Shophouse trends are evolving

Over the years, you will find that many owners have rented out one or more of the floors above the Shophouse. Therefore, have had external stairs erected for easy access for tenants who do not need to enter through the shop at the front.

If you are looking at a new build Shophouse, the width of the premises are changing due to more Khmers affording cars, so, commonly, it has changed to 6 meters wide rather than 4.

Modern construction

Newly built Shophouses are now commonly made from reinforced concrete, built on a grid system carried by piers and beams.

Economic factors determine the spacing of the piers as wider beams demand more significant amounts of steel.

Take a plot of land, for example, 40 meters wide and 12 meters deep, could constitute 10 Shophouses, with each Shophouse measuring in at 4 meters x 12 meters. Alternatively, 8 Shophouses measuring 5 meters by 12 meters or even something in the middle of those figures.

All the walls are infill, allowing an entire row of Shophouses to be easily reconfigured. A business can occupy more than two Shophouses by simply knocking through the dividing walls.

A common theme you will see with Shophouses in Cambodia is around half a meter of rebar coming through the side of the walls. The reasoning behind this is that it enables further construction. The rebar of the new development is tied to the existing, allowing the beam to continue, so the construction company does not need any new structural piers.

Lux always have plenty of Shophouses available in various locations. If you are a little cautious after the economic slowdown, this can be a thoughtful way to enter the Cambodian market.

Contact us today, and one of our experienced agents will be happy to discuss what would suit your needs best.