Tenant’s responsibilities

Since the holder does not own their right-of-occupancy apartment, they have statutory and contractual obligations towards the apartment’s owner, meaning HASO. For example, the holder must make sure that their own actions do not reduce the value of the apartment. However, the holder is also entitled to receive control of the apartment in accordance with the right-of-occupancy agreement and the law, meaning that the apartment needs to be in a condition as required by the law.

The obligations include, among others:

Defect notifications
Holders of the right of occupancy must take care of their apartment and the shared facilities to which they have access. The holder must, without delay, report any damage or defects that the housing company is liable to repair. The defect notification must be filed immediately if the repairs need to be done immediately to prevent the damage from spreading.

Contribution to maintenance, repairs and changes
The tenants must contribute to the maintenance, repair and change work agreed on by reading the instructions and adhering to them. Tenants’ most common contribution obligations include:

  • allowing access to the apartment at the time agreed on
  • arranging the required space by moving furniture as instructed
  • ensuring that pets do not disturb the work agreed on
  • letting workers work in peace, as needed.

Responsibility for guests
Tenants are responsible for the behaviour and actions of their guests in the building’s premises. Tenants are required to take the necessary action to restore and ensure order.

Joint liability of spouses
If spouses use the apartment as their shared apartment based on the right of occupancy, they are also jointly liable for the obligations based on the Right-Of-Occupancy Housing Act and right-of-occupancy agreement. In the event of a separation, if the holder of the right of occupancy moves out of the apartment, they must transfer the right of occupancy to their spouse. A spouse who is not a party to the right-of-occupancy agreement must still fulfil the obligations based on the agreement for as long as they are staying in the apartment, even if the other spouse has moved out.

Paying the maintenance charge
You must pay the maintenance charge monthly by the 5th day of the month to the bank account specified by the housing company. Unpaid maintenance charges and other payment obligations of less than two months will be charged in connection with the termination by deducting them from the deposit and the potential index increase of the right-of-occupancy payment.

If you are facing financial uncertainty, please contact our rental accountant (kaija.kuisma@kiinteistotahkola.fi) to agree on payment arrangements. You should act as quickly as possible to prevent financial difficulties from piling up.

Late payment interest and payment reminders
Delayed payment of the maintenance charge leads to consequences. Late payment interest must be paid for the delayed sum. The fee for a payment reminder is 5 euros.

Legal proceedings and related expenses
The payment reminder will include a due date for paying the debt, after which the right-of-occupancy housing company will take necessary legal action to terminate the right-of-occupancy agreement and to collect its receivables through recovery proceedings. The debtor will be responsible for the expenses related to legal action as ruled by the court. Legal proceedings will influence your creditworthiness negatively.

Eviction and collection of receivables through recovery proceedings
After a court ruling on terminating the right-of-occupancy agreement, the housing company will check if the defendant/debtor has transferred the apartment to the housing company’s free control in accordance with the court ruling. If needed, the housing company will request that recovery authorities execute the eviction and collection of the receivables.

Other payment obligations
The holder of the right of occupancy must also fulfil their other payment obligations, which may include:

  • other charges (rent for the carpark, parking spaces and rented storage space)
  • utility fees (sauna and laundry room fees, other use of shared facilities subject to a charge)
  • opening the apartment door (invoiced by the maintenance company)
  • user services subject to a charge
  • additional keys
  • water charges if the apartment has its own water meter
  • additions and changes included in the holder’s cost liability
  • repairs included in the holder’s cost liability
  • other costs caused to the housing company and included in the holder’s cost liability.

Neglecting the obligations may lead to the right of occupancy being terminated and to liability for the damages.

The holder of the right of occupancy is entitled to receive control of the apartment in accordance with the right-of-occupancy agreement and the law. The apartment must be in the condition required by law.