Hua Hin Today’s latest podcast examines Thailand’s crackdown on nominee companies and illegal landholding, following the arrest of 13 foreign nationals in Hua Hin.
The episode brings together Janjira Sumanus of Hua Hin Accounting & MBMG Group and Jatupon Cherbangkaew of Hua Hin-based ACTA Law Firm to discuss the legal and accounting questions facing people whose homes are held in company names.
A key point raised by Jatupon concerns foreign business licensing. He explains that many nominee companies lack a foreign business licence, meaning those involved can also face allegations of operating a restricted foreign business without the required permission, alongside allegations relating to unlawful landholding.
The distinction matters because an investigation may examine both how a property is held and whether the company’s activities comply with the Foreign Business Act. Licensing requirements depend on the activity and any applicable exemptions.
Background to the Hua Hin arrests
The discussion follows a police operation on 10 August 2026, when 13 foreigners were arrested during searches of 15 locations in Hua Hin. Authorities had obtained arrest warrants for 45 foreign nationals and issued summonses to 39 Thai nationals.
Police said the investigation covered at least 33 companies suspected of holding land and property on behalf of foreigners, involving assets valued at more than 300 million baht. Properties in the Thap Tai area were among those targeted.
According to police, some suspects said law and accounting firms had advised them to establish companies to hold property and that they believed the arrangements were lawful.
Investigators alleged that the companies were not conducting genuine business activities. Thai shareholders reportedly told police they had neither paid for their shares nor participated in managing the companies. These were allegations reported at the time of the operation.
Read Hua Hin Today’s report on the arrests.
Questions for owners of homes held in company names
In the podcast, the guests explain what a nominee shareholder is and why company paperwork alone may not establish that an arrangement is lawful. The discussion examines the reality behind the registered shareholders, including who invested in the company and who benefits from it.
They also consider the roles of the Department of Business Development, Land Office and police, and questions about responsibility for foreign owners, Thai nominees and professional advisers.
For residents concerned about their position, the episode explores property sales, genuine restructuring, leaseback arrangements and company liquidation. The guests explain why replacing one nominee with another does not resolve the underlying problem, and why closing a company requires careful legal and accounting planning.
The conversation also considers the impact on expat families and retirees, calls for a grace period, and the distinction between genuine business investment and a company holding a home for personal use. The US–Thailand Treaty of Amity and Board of Investment arrangements are among the topics discussed.
Both guests emphasise the need to seek advice from a qualified lawyer and accountant before making decisions about a property or company. The episode provides general information, not advice on individual cases.
Viewers can leave questions in the comments on YouTube for consideration in a future Q&A.
The podcast was filmed at Ananas Video Studio