Important Notice to Tenants Regarding Changes in Legislation

Dear Tenant,

The Act on Residential Leases (AHVL) will be amended as of 1 October 2026.

The aim of the reform is to clarify the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants and to reduce ambiguities and disputes related to tenancy agreements.

This notice outlines the key changes from the tenant’s perspective.

The changes will take effect on 1 October.

TENANTS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT PERSONS LIVING IN THE APARTMENT:

• If information about other residents was not provided when the tenancy agreement was concluded, you must provide this information without delay after being informed by the landlord of this obligation, and thereafter whenever the circumstances change.
• If you share the apartment with other persons, you must notify the landlord in writing of the number of residents and the basis on which each person is entitled to live in the apartment.
• You may provide a free-form description of the basis on which each person is entitled to live in the apartment (e.g. spouse, child, subtenant).
• For adult residents, you must also provide their name, date of birth and contact details.
• If information about other residents was already provided when the tenancy agreement was concluded (i.e. the information is currently up to date), any subsequent changes must be reported to the landlord without delay.

The notification can be submitted in writing by completing the change-of-address notification form available on our website and returning the signed form to our office.

You can also submit the signed form by email to vuokraus@sevas.fi

The landlord has a legitimate need to know who lives in the apartment and on what basis. This information is relevant, for example, to the maintenance of the apartment, monitoring its use, investigating disturbances, communication, and fulfilling the landlord’s statutory obligations. Failure to comply with the notification requirement may result in termination or cancellation of the tenancy agreement.

SMOKING BAN:

• The smoking ban applies both to tenancy agreements and tenancies that are in force when the Act enters into force and to those concluded after the Act takes effect.
• The smoking ban covers the use of all tobacco products intended to be smoked or otherwise heated (including smoking herbal products intended for smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes, as well as the smoke, vapour and particles generated by them).
• The smoking ban applies to the interior of the apartment, any balcony or terrace belonging to the apartment, and any other private indoor or outdoor area associated with the apartment.
• The smoking ban applies to smoking in general, not only to smoking by the tenant. The tenant is responsible for ensuring that other persons living in the apartment, guests, and anyone else using the apartment or other premises referred to in the Act with the tenant’s permission also comply with the smoking ban.
• Violation of the smoking ban may result in termination or cancellation of the tenancy agreement.
• In future, smoking will only be permitted outdoors in an area specifically designated for this purpose by the property owner.

CHANGES TO NOTICE PERIODS:

• The landlord’s longer notice period will be reduced from six months to four months (4 months). In addition, the longer notice period will in future apply only if the tenancy of the apartment has continued uninterrupted for at least two years immediately before notice is given.
• The landlord’s shorter notice period will remain three months (3 months). In future, it will apply to tenancies that have lasted for less than two years.
• The tenant’s notice period will also remain unchanged at one calendar month (1 month).
• The change will automatically apply to tenancy agreements concluded after the Act enters into force. However, the change will not apply to existing tenancy agreements unless the parties agree otherwise after the Act has entered into force.

THE LANDLORD’S RIGHT TO CANCEL A TENANCY AGREEMENT WILL BE EXPANDED

• In future, a tenancy agreement may also be cancelled on the basis of another exceptionally compelling reason.
• Such an “exceptionally compelling reason” may include, for example, a tenant committing a serious violent offence in the immediate vicinity of the apartment, residential building or property in a manner that endangers the peace and sense of security of neighbours in their homes.

PROPERTY LEFT IN THE APARTMENT AFTER THE TENANCY ENDS

• If a tenant leaves property inside the apartment, on a balcony belonging to the apartment, or in another private indoor or outdoor area associated with the apartment after the tenancy has ended, ownership of that property will, after a specified period, transfer to the landlord free of charge (without compensation).
• The period is one month (1 month) from the date on which the landlord notifies the tenant of the property and of the transfer of ownership.
• If the notification cannot be delivered to the tenant, the period is four months from the date on which the tenant vacated the apartment or, if reliable information about that date is unavailable, from the date on which the landlord took possession of the apartment.
• The landlord will take care of the property on behalf of the tenant until the tenant collects it or until the above-mentioned period has expired.
• However, the landlord may immediately dispose of waste and other property that is clearly of no value, except where the items in question are photographs, documents or other similar items.

Kind regards,
SEVAS KODIT OY
Sami Siikala
Managing Director