Tips for tenants
Tenant obligations and security deposit
Guidelines for opening a security deposit bank account
Requirements for the validity of a security account and document
Guidelines for opening a security account at different banks
Things to remember at the beginning of tenancy
Things to remember during tenancy
Things to remember at the end of tenancy
Tenant obligations and security deposit
The two main responsibilities of tenants during their period of tenancy are to pay the agreed rent at the agreed time and to take good care of the apartment. Tenants are under the obligation to compensate lessors for any damage that they may cause through negligence or carelessness. Tenants are also responsible for any possible damage caused by their visitors.
Nowadays, the terms and conditions specified in virtually all lease agreements include a security deposit. The purpose of a security deposit is to assure the lessor’s position in the event that the tenant fails to comply with the obligations stipulated by law. Besides covering rent arrears, the lessor can use the security deposit to cover any possible damage to the apartment.
Legislation stipulates that the parties to a lease agreement can agree upon the sum of the security deposit but the general practice is to request a sum corresponding to two months’ rent. The law sets the maximum payable security deposit at a sum corresponding to three months’ rent. The most common way to deposit the security is for the tenant to open up a separate security deposit account in his or her own name for which the lessor holds a security pledge. Another alternative is for the tenant to deposit the security in the lessor’s bank account.
Guidelines for opening a security deposit bank account
Tenants are free to open a security account in a bank of their choice, and different banks have different ways and models of working. For this reason, we have put together guidelines for the different banks, with the aim of preventing any mistakes due to varying banking practices.
Your security pledge should be drawn up in the correct manner, so please ensure that it is drafted exactly in line with instructions. You should go personally to the bank to check the document so that you can ask the bank clerks to make any necessary corrections while you are there.
Please note that an incorrectly drafted security pledge may delay the keys being handed over to you and therefore delay your move.
We also remind you to bring the lessor’s original copy of the security pledge directly to Vuokraturva’s office. If the bank clerk tells you that the pledge will be mailed directly to the lessor, tell the bank clerk that other measures have been agreed upon to deliver the pledge and to obtain the keys and that the lessor has assigned Vuokraturva to handle the apartment rental on his or her behalf. We require tenants to bring along the original pledge when they collect the keys from our office; if you do not have the pledge with you, there will be a substantial delay in handing over the keys to you and consequently, in moving to your new home.
Unless otherwise agreed with our rental agents, you can collect the keys to your rental apartment from Vuokraturva’s office at Ilmalankuja 2 L, 00240 Helsinki.
In the event that the bank clerk does not agree to let you take the pledge with you, please call Vuokraturva immediately on (09) 6877 550 so that our customer service representative can speak directly with the bank clerk.
Requirements for the validity of a security account and document
To ensure that the security deposit account and security document are valid, the security document must include ALL of the following:
- Name and address of the tenant/tenants (account holder)
- Name and address of the lessor/lessors
Note! Vuokraturva is not the lessor.
If there are two lessors, their names should appear on the security deposit in the format: “Ville Lessor and Viivi Lessor’ - The street address, postal code and town or city of the rental apartment
Note! The address of the apartment must be the same as in the lease agreement. - Security deposit account number
- Security deposit balance (the sum of the security deposit)
- Bank non-signature certificate
- Signatures of the bank representatives and their names in full
- Signature of the account holder (the tenant)
Guidelines for opening a security account at different banks
Sampo Pankki
The security deposit account pledge issued by Sampo Pankki has a section entitled ‘Varojen nostoehto’ (‘Terms and conditions for withdrawing funds’). When dealing with the bank clerk, please mention that we require an ‘x’ placed in the box beside ‘Vuokranantajalla on oikeus minua kuulematta nostaa pantatut varat’ (‘The lessor retains the right to withdraw the deposited funds without consulting me’). We are unfortunately unable to hand over the keys against a security deposit if an ‘x’ is not entered in this section. Sampo Pankki draws up three copies of a security deposit account pledge. Make sure you take the lessor’s original copy and the account holder’s copy with you when you leave the bank. The copies are identified in the upper right-hand corner of the document.
Tapiola Pankki
The security account pledge issued by Tapiola Pankki has a section entitled ‘Varojen nosto’ (‘Withdrawal of funds’). When dealing with the bank clerk, please mention that we require an ‘x’ placed in the box beside ‘Vuokranantajalla on oikeus minua kuulematta nostaa pantatut varat’ (‘The lessor retains the right to withdraw the deposited funds without consulting me’). We are unfortunately unable to hand over the keys against a security deposit if an ‘x’ is not entered in this section. Tapiola Pankki only draws up one original copy of a security account pledge. Make sure you take this original copy with you when you leave the bank.
Osuuspankki
It is not usually possible to open a security deposit account with Osuuspankki without the signature of the lessor on the lease agreement. However, when you are at the bank you can suggest that the bank gives you a preaddressed return envelope that Vuokraturva can use to return the lease agreement by mail once it has been signed by the lessor. Thus, Osuuspankki will receive a copy of the lease agreement for its archives. We have worked in this way with several Osuuspankki branches for several years. Make sure you take the lessor’s original copy of the security account document with you when you leave the bank.
Nordea
Nordea draws up three copies of a security account pledge. Make sure you take the lessor’s original copy and account holder’s copy with you when you leave the bank. The copies are identified in the upper right-hand corner of the document.
Aktia
Aktia works in several different ways. If the bank draws up only one original copy of the security account pledge, make sure that you take this original copy with you when you leave the bank. If the bank draws up copies for all the parties involved (the bank, tenant/account holder and lessor), make sure that you take the account holder’s copy and lessor’s copy of the security account pledge with you when you leave the bank.
Handelsbanken
Handelsbanken works in several different ways. If the bank draws up only one original copy of the security account pledge, make sure that you take this original copy with you when you leave the bank. If the bank draws up copies for all the parties involved (the bank, tenant/account holder and lessor), make sure that you take the account holder’s copy and lessor’s copy of the security account pledge with you when you leave the bank.
Ålandsbanken
Ålandsbanken draws up three copies of a security account pledge. Make sure that you take the lessor’s original copy and the account holder’s copy with you when you leave the bank. The copies are identified in the upper left-hand corner of the document.
S-pankki
S-pankki draws up only one original copy of a security account pledge. Make sure you take this original copy with you when you leave the bank.
Things to remember at the beginning of tenancy
This section includes useful guidelines and practical tips that will help you settle into your new home and guarantee that your tenancy is as smooth as possible from beginning to end.
Use the guidelines in this section as a checklist at the beginning, during and at the end or your lease agreement to make sure you remember all the important things. Observing these guidelines will help you avoid many unpleasant surprises and allow you to focus full-heartedly on living in your new home.
- Make a change of address notification with the population register centre, the city administrative court and post office. The easiest way to do this is over the Internet at www.muuttoilmoitus.fi or by phoning 0203 456 456.
- Notify your new address to banks, insurance companies, newspapers and magazines, associations, the library, teleoperators, friends and family.
- Notify the house manager or the maintenance company of the new housing company that you are moving in. You can often find the contact details of the house manager on the housing company’s notice board.
- Make an electricity agreement.
- Make an agreement with Gasum if there is a gas oven in your home.
- Update the billing information for the water agreement if you are renting a house.
- Make a waste disposal agreement if you are renting a house.
- Transfer your landline telephone connection.
- Transfer or get a new Internet connection.
- Take out home insurance with the company of your choice. The lease agreement drawn up by Vuokraturva stipulates that you take out the minimum home insurance but we recommend that you also take out fully comprehensive insurance to cover more eventualities. You must mail a copy of your home insurance to the lessor.
- You must hand over the security deposit document to Vuokraturva before you are given the keys. If you have opened a security deposit account in a bank, Vuokraturva will forward the original security account pledge to the lessor. You can thus contact the lessor directly at the end of your tenancy to request the return of your security deposit.
- The previous tenant usually leaves any extra keys in the apartment. If this is not the case and you need more keys, the easiest way to get them is to contact the lessor personally.
- Remember to start paying your rent into the lessor’s bank account. You will not receive separate bills for the rent; you pay the rent based on the information in the lease agreement. Always remember to use the full address of the rental apartment when paying your rent.
Things to remember during tenancy
- The two main responsibilities of tenants are to pay the agreed rent at the agreed time and to take good care of the apartment.
- According to law, the due date for rent is the second banking day of each rent period, i.e. a calendar month. However, it is possible for the tenant and lessor to agree upon a different day. The rent and possible water fee are paid as a joint sum monthly into the lessor’s account on the date specified in the lease agreement.
- Unless otherwise specified, pay the fee for a parking place included in the lease agreement directly into the lessor’s account.
- The fees for parking places, communal laundry room and sauna ordered directly from the housing company are generally paid directly to the housing company.
- The electricity company will send you a separate bill.
- Unless otherwise agreed, the lessor is responsible for ensuring that the apartment is in the condition that it was when shown and that it remains in the condition that the tenant could reasonably expect. The so-called normal wear and tear of the apartment is the lessor’s responsibility and unless otherwise specified, the lessor is responsible for plumbing fixtures kitchen furnishings and built-in cupboards.
- You are not allowed to make any alterations to the apartment without the lessor’s permission. If the tenant carries out repairs during tenancy with the lessor’s permission, the two parties must agree upon the choice of materials and which of the parties will bear the costs for the alterations. It is also a good idea to agree whether possible installations or fixtures that the tenant has purchased will remain in the apartment when tenancy ends and whether the tenant will receive reimbursement for the work done.
- If the lessor is responsible for keeping the apartment in good condition, the tenant in turn is obliged to inform the lessor immediately of any faults or defects in the apartment. By doing so, the two parties are able to correct the fault or defect quickly.
- Notify an agent from Vuokraturva immediately if there are changes in tenancy during the time the lease agreement is in force.
Things to remember at the end of tenancy
- Towards the end of the tenancy, you must send in a verifiable manner notice of termination in writing to the lessor. If a lease agreement is in force until further notice, the tenant’s period of notice is one calendar month. You should also give notice well before the month ends so that the lessor can receive the notice on time and confirm that he or she has received it, and you should also send a copy of the notice to Vuokraturva. You also need to check your lease agreement for the first possible day to give notice.
- You cannot give notice when the lease agreement is in force for a fixed period. This type of contract is binding on both parties for the duration of the tenancy.
- When your tenancy has ended, the lessor must return your security deposit immediately if all the rents have been paid and there is no damage to the apartment that cannot be considered normal wear and tear. To ensure the return of your security deposit, you must contact the lessor directly. If your security deposit was in the form of a separate bank account, the lessor will release your money by signing the security pledge he or she received from Vuokraturva at the beginning of your tenancy after your tenancy has ended. If you paid the security directly into the lessor’s bank account, the lessor will pay the sum into your account.
- You agree with the lessor on when and how to return the keys.
Electricity companies
Insurance companies
Gas agreement
Water agreement
- Helsinki Water, tel. (09) 3103 3028
- Espoo Water, tel. (09) 8165 41
- Vantaa Water, tel. (09) 8392 2322
Waste management
Vuokraturva Oy LKV [A]
Ilmalankuja 2
00240 Helsinki
Finland
Tel. 010 2327 300
Fax (09) 6877 5511
phone service mon-sun 8-20
office times mon-fri 8-20
customerservice@vuokraturva.fi
Tax Reg. no 1543822-4