Local knowledge. Finnish-language service. Practical solutions.
Nearly Three Decades of Helping Clients Navigate Thailand
Jouni Ollila has spent nearly three decades helping Finnish and international clients navigate property transactions, legal matters, business services and the practical realities of life in Thailand. Hans Lankari Co., Ltd. has served clients since its registration in 2004.
Thailand has changed considerably over the past three decades. So have the needs of the people who live, invest and do business in the country.
When Ollila began assisting Finnish clients in Thailand in the late 1990s, Finns were arriving in the country in large numbers. Holiday homes were purchased, companies were established and many newcomers were building an entirely new life there.
Today, the company is increasingly helping that same generation – and their families – with a different set of needs. Properties are being sold, estates settled and companies closed. At the same time, the client base is becoming more international.
The ability to adapt to these changes has defined Ollila’s nearly three decades of client work and Hans Lankari’s more than two decades of operation.
The beginning
From interpreter to entrepreneur
Jouni Ollila’s journey in Thailand began before the turn of the millennium. While studying, training and building a life in the country, his Thai-language skills soon led to interpreting assignments for other Finns.
Many needed help with legal documents, authorities, property matters and everyday situations in which language and unfamiliar local practices created difficulties. Ollila’s skills were eventually noticed by a Thai legal office, which recruited him to work with its international clients.
Ollila initially worked under PBRL, building experience and a growing Finnish client base. The demand convinced him that there was room for a company offering practical assistance to Finnish clients in their own language. Hans Lankari Co., Ltd. was formally registered in 2004, marking the beginning of the company’s own chapter.
“We have never built the company around pushing the same service year after year. We look at what the client actually needs and find a practical way to help.”Jouni Ollila, founder of Hans Lankari
A changing market
Services that follow the client’s changing needs
Hans Lankari is best known for property sales, rentals and management, but its work covers a considerably broader range of services. The company assists clients with legal and administrative matters, visas, translations, business services and practical situations connected to living in Thailand.
In recent years, estate administration and company closures have become increasingly important parts of the business. Many of the people who established a life in Thailand two or three decades ago are now planning their return, restructuring their affairs or passing property and responsibilities to the next generation.
Hans Lankari therefore supports clients throughout the entire lifecycle of living and doing business in Thailand – not only when something begins, but also when it is time to make changes or bring matters to an orderly conclusion.
Property and due diligence
Why property transactions require proper checks
Hans Lankari assists with buying, selling and renting apartments, houses, holiday homes, land and commercial premises. The company can help identify suitable properties, communicate with the parties involved, review documentation and coordinate the practical stages of a transaction.
A document check prevented a costly mistake
A Finnish client was preparing to buy a sizeable plot of land in rural Thailand. Before money was transferred, Hans Lankari examined the ownership documents. The investigation showed that the person presenting himself as the seller no longer owned the property: the land had previously been mortgaged and later transferred through foreclosure.
Without the document check, the client could have paid a substantial amount for property the purported seller had no legal right to sell. In an unfamiliar market, a convincing explanation or friendly presentation should never replace ownership checks, contracts and proper documentation.
A flexible property model
Rent first, decide later
One of Hans Lankari’s distinctive property solutions is its rent-to-buy model. It allows a client to experience a selected property and its surroundings before making the final decision to purchase.
Agree the terms
The purchase price, rent, rental period and possible financing terms are recorded in advance.
Live in the property
The rental period is typically one year, giving the client time to assess everyday life in the home.
Make the decision
Before the rental period ends, the client chooses whether to return the property or proceed with the purchase.
Credit the rent
If the client buys, rent paid during the agreed period is credited towards the agreed purchase price.
Not every property or seller is suitable for the model, particularly when the seller needs to complete the sale quickly. When the circumstances are right, however, the arrangement can provide useful flexibility for both parties.
Examples of properties represented by Hans Lankari in the Pattaya region.
Legal and business support
Local expertise in understandable language
Hans Lankari’s legal services are provided in cooperation with experienced Thai lawyers. The company’s legal work is led by Sorasit Phong-In, who serves as a director of Hans Lankari alongside Ollila. Phong-In is a registered Thai lawyer and is authorised to provide notarial services. He and Ollila have worked together for approximately 14 years.
Phong-In handles the legal work, while Ollila helps Finnish clients understand the documents, discussions and practical consequences in their own language. When an assignment requires additional resources or work elsewhere in Thailand, the company engages other qualified professionals on a case-by-case basis.
For individuals and families
Contracts, wills, inheritances, family matters, property disputes, accidents and other situations requiring assistance within the Thai legal system.
For entrepreneurs and companies
Company services, licences, work permits, ownership questions, contracts, practical administration and the orderly closure of business activities.
People and relationships
Long-term experience on the ground
Several members of the team have worked with the company for many years. Their experience and relationships with authorities and local professionals help the company anticipate how different procedures work in practice.
Ollila also believes in relying on Thai employees whenever their language, cultural understanding and professional relationships make them the best people for the task.
For companies entering Thailand
Understand the full situation before committing
Before establishing or acquiring a business in Thailand, companies need to understand the relevant ownership rules, licences, work permits, contractual responsibilities, accounting requirements and industry-specific regulations.
Acquiring an existing operation requires especially careful examination. Financial records alone may not provide the complete picture, making it important to verify the commercial activity, liabilities and legal arrangements behind the business.
- Ownership and corporate structure
- Required licences and permits
- Contracts and outstanding liabilities
- Work permits and employment matters
- Accounting and tax responsibilities
- A realistic entry and exit plan
The next chapter
Becoming more international
Although Hans Lankari was originally established to serve Finnish clients, its future is becoming increasingly international. The traditional Finnish customer base in Thailand is changing, while demand from other nationalities continues to develop.
Russian-speaking clients in particular have become a growing segment, supported by Russian-speaking partners who assist on an assignment basis. International clients have also used the company’s rental, purchasing and rent-to-buy services.
The objective for the coming years is to build on the company’s long experience and expand its ability to serve a broader audience – while continuing to offer Finnish clients assistance in their own language.
A familiar and trusted helper
Practical assistance, explained clearly
Some clients have worked with Hans Lankari for 25 years. Over that time, the company may have assisted the same person with property, visas, business matters, contracts and family-related situations.
“We have always explained things in everyday language. We want clients to feel that they are speaking with someone who understands their situation,” Ollila says.
Drawing on Ollila’s nearly three decades of experience, that remains the central promise of Hans Lankari: combining Finnish-language service, Thai expertise and practical problem-solving when local knowledge matters.