Just to help others wanting to rent in Chiang Mai,
I found the rentals from agents were too pricey (25,000 minimum) so I found a bloke through the Royal Lanna hotel, who drove me around meeting people with private rentals, it was a bit tiring and many of the houses were disappointing, but the good side was the rentals ranged from 6 to 10 thousand.
We did get a lovely 3 bed, 2 bathroom, 2 story home mostly furnished here, its 7km from the city in Sarapi, only 10 min to the airport but I never hear the planes. The rent is only 10kB a month which is great value, I connected ADSL after moving in, I couldn't get cable in THIS STREET! so I got UBC. but only cable has the Aussie ABC channel.. bummer.
Its a quiet neighborhood and suits me down to the ground, , cheers.
