 General Information
Lease / Tenancy Agreement
Security Deposit
Rent Increases
See Also
Primary source of information for this page: Finnish
Consumer Agency - Kuluttajavirasto
This is a guide only, and does
not constitute legal advice
This page deals mainly with the legalities and regulations
regarding renting in Finland. If you're looking for
an apartment, see the Finding Housing or Estate Agents pages.
Rental Properties in Finland
When
choosing a rental apartment, be sure to understand
what is included in the rental agreement. In Finland
the situation is rather different to Australia, for
example.
In a Finnish rented property, do
not expect to find:
- light fittings (except bathroom and perhaps kitchen)
- carpets / carpeting
- curtains
Do expect to find:
- a refrigerator, and often a freezer
- a communal sauna, for which you can book a private time
Tenant's Rights and Responsibilities
The tenant's responsibilities
are to pay rent on time, to maintain the apartment in normal
condition, and to adhere to the rules of the building. If
damage occurs to the apartment the tenant must
notify the lessor immediately, and is liable for compensation
to the owner of the apartment. Any alterations or repairs
performed by the tenant must first be approved
by the lessor. Finally, the tenant is responsible for cleaning
the apartment at the end of the lease.
Sub-tenancy / Secondary Leasing
Sub-tenancy is allowed; tenants may lease a rental apartment to one or more tenants
of their own. Secondary leasing is subject to the primary
lessor's express consent.
Lease / Tenancy Agreement
Do not pay any money before a legal
agreement is made by signing a written
lease agreement.
A lease/tenancy agreement should contain
at least:
- the condition of the apartment - inspect the apartment before
signing to verify, take photos if possible
- the term of tenancy - fixed or non-fixed
- the amount of rent to be paid
- date and mode of rent payment - rents are paid on the 2nd of
the month unless otherwise agreed
- other charges - water fees are often included
in Finnish agreements, for example, and sometimes even electricity!
- rent adjustment provisions - known as adjustment clauses
- security deposit details, if applicable
Termination of Lease
Fixed term lease agreements are binding for both parties for the
set period and may only be terminated under special circumstances - see below.
Non-fixed term lease agreements may be terminated by either the tenant
or the lessor by giving notice. Notice must be given in writing.
- The lessor must give six months' notice if the lease has lasted
uninterruptedly for at least one year immediately prior to giving
notice. With leases that have lasted less than one year the notice period
is three months
- The tenant must give one month's notice
Immediate Termination for either fixed
or non-fixed term leases can occur if:
- the tenancy poses a threat to the tenant's health;
the tenant may terminate the agreement with immediate effect
- the tenant's payments are in arrears, the apartment has been used
for a purpose other than that stipulated in the agreement, the tenant
is shown to cause a disturbance to neighbours, etc; the lessor may immediately
terminate the agreement
Security Deposit
Lessors usually require
a security deposit from the tenant to ensure payment of unpaid rent, or
compensation for damage caused by the tenant. A security
deposit may not exceed three months' rent. Usually the deposit is one
or, more commonly, two months' rent. At
the end of the lease relationship, if rent has been paid on time and there
has been no damage caused to the apartment, the security deposit is returned in
full.
Disputes
Most disputes occur if the lessor withholds the security
deposit, or part of it, because he considers the tenant
to have damaged the apartment or otherwise left it in inappropriate condition.
To
avoid such disputes:
- Note any defects in the apartment in writing, together
with the lessor, at the beginning of the lease relationship. The same should
be done at the end of the lease relationship
- Take photographs of surfaces
around the apartment when the lease agreement is signed, and date them
The tenant is not liable for normal
wear and tear from living.
Rent Increases
Rent
is shown in the lease agreement between the tenant and lessor. The
amount of rent may be changed during the agreement period based on the adjustment
clauses included in the lease. These may include for example increases based
on indexing, percentage-based increases or increases in euro amounts.
- Prior to increasing
the rent, the lessor must notify the tenant in writing of the new
rental amount and the date from which it is effective
- Fixed-term leases with a term of less than three years may
not include an adjustment provision based on indexing
Return to top |
