5 easy steps for you who are moving out

The first thing you need to do is terminate your lease. Your lease agreement specifies the notice period required for termination. As a general rule, there is a three-month notice period for rental properties. This means that you will need to pay rent for three months after you have given notice to terminate the lease, even if you move out before that time.

If you wish to move out before the three-month notice period, we will do our best to find a new tenant as quickly as possible. However, please note that some apartments may require repairs or follow specific regulations, which may result in a longer processing time before the apartment can be advertised as available.

You can terminate your lease by using our digital form through the button below or by sending a written notice to us. If there are multiple tenants on the lease agreement, it is important that all of you sign the termination notice.

Please remember to include your customer number, which can be found on our letters or rent invoices, along with your contact information (email address and phone number) and your new address.

Deadlines

We must receive your termination notice no later than 12:00 PM on the first business day of a month. This is provided that the first day is a business day and does not fall immediately before a public holiday. In that case, the termination notice must be received no later than 12:00 PM on the following business day.

Remember to settle maintenance expenses:

If your apartment is associated with an internal maintenance account, the account will be closed when you terminate your tenancy. This is because the account belongs to the lease itself. You must ensure that any maintenance work you have undertaken, such as painting or floor repairs, is approved and settled before you terminate your tenancy, as agreed, using the maintenance account.

What do you need to refurbish?

In your lease agreement, you can find information about whether you are required to refurbish the apartment when you move out. The extent of the work typically depends on when your lease agreement was entered into. If the lease agreement was entered into before July 1, 2015, you usually have to return the rental property in the same condition as when you took over. This usually means that when you move out, you either have to return the rental property as it is or refurbish it.

If the lease agreement was entered into after July 1, 2015, you will be responsible for the cost of painting and floor varnishing if it is specified in your lease contract that you are responsible for internal maintenance and if it is assessed at the time of moving out that maintenance is required.

If you did not receive the rental property in a newly refurbished condition, you will typically receive a deduction in the refurbishment costs.

If your rental property has been neglected, you will always have to pay for refurbishment work resulting from the neglect. Neglect can include damages caused by:

• Incorrect use of the rental property (e.g., painting in colors not allowed according to the lease agreement).

• Smoking inside the rental property, requiring the use of nicotine sealant before painting.

• Incorrect maintenance of the property (e.g., work not carried out in a professional manner).

• Failure to perform ongoing painting and flooring work, even though you were obligated to perform internal maintenance (typically every 4-5 years).

• Display of improper behavior (e.g., burn marks, moisture damage, holes, or scratches on the surface).

• It is important to inform the landlord of any damages or the need for the landlord to carry out maintenance work.

Do you want to handle the refurbishment yourself?

You may have a preference for handling the refurbishment yourself or using a professional tradesperson. In both cases, it is crucial that the work is done to a satisfactory quality. We always recommend the use of environmentally friendly products for the benefit of future tenants and the environment. If you live in an eco-labeled property, it is a requirement stated in your lease agreement.

The refurbishment should be completed typically 10 working days before your contract expires.

We will inspect the refurbishment during the move-out inspection, and if the refurbishment is not approved, we will carry out the necessary work at your expense.

If DEAS is to handle the refurbishment:

If you prefer not to handle the refurbishment yourself, we will be happy to take care of it. This is the choice made by the majority of residents who are moving out.

We always strive to keep the costs as low as possible while ensuring the necessary quality. Cleaning, floor treatment, and painting are done using environmentally friendly products.

Property Inspection

Once we have received your notice of termination, we will confirm it to you in a letter or an email. In this communication, we will also inform you about the next steps you need to take.

Simultaneously, we will send you an invitation to a property inspection, which can be conducted once you have vacated the apartment. This means that the entire apartment must be emptied and cleaned.

If you are unable to attend, please contact the caretaker well in advance, preferably no later than two days prior to the inspection.

Completion of Relocation Report

During the property inspection, the responsible inspector will go through the apartment with you and document any necessary repairs or maintenance tasks. The report will also indicate whether you or the landlord are responsible for covering the costs of the work.

If you disagree or have any doubts, it is important to discuss them with the inspector during the inspection itself.

Both you and the inspector will sign the report upon its completion. Once the relocation report is filled out, it will be sent to you via email.

Disagreements?

If you and the landlord do not agree on the extent of your refurbishment obligations, you can request the tenancy tribunal to settle the matter.

Move-out settlement

A move-out settlement provides a breakdown of the financial transactions between you and the landlord, including your deposit, prepaid rent, refurbishment costs, as well as any outstanding payments such as utilities, consumption fees, and antenna charges. Additionally, a portion of the heating expenses is often withheld as an estimate, which can only be finalized once the next heating bill is available. We understand that you naturally desire a prompt settlement. If no refurbishment work is required in your apartment, you will receive a move-out settlement approximately 2-3 weeks from the date you are no longer liable for rent payment. If refurbishment work is necessary in the apartment, it will take some time before the work is completed and we receive invoices from the craftsmen. Therefore, you can typically expect the move-out settlement around 8-10 weeks after the date you are no longer liable for rent payment. If you disagree with your move-out settlement, we kindly ask you to contact us in writing.

Settlement of heating, water, and electricity

When you receive your move-out settlement, please be aware that the heating or water billing may not be finalized, and therefore you may receive the settlement later.

In your lease agreement, you can find the date when the heating billing period concludes. For example, if your move-out date is on April 1st, and the heating billing period concludes on March 1st, it will take more than a year after your move-out before we can make a final calculation.

Together with the responsible inspector, you will read the electricity meter - remember that you are responsible for notifying the electricity company about terminating the lease.

Potential new tenants must have the opportunity to view your apartment before you move out. Therefore, we kindly request your assistance with the viewings.

To make it easier for you, we will send you a form where you can provide information on how and, if applicable, when you can conduct the viewings. Please note that the telephone number you provide will be shared in the offer letters with applicants, so they can contact you to schedule a viewing appointment.

You should be available to conduct viewings for at least two hours every other day on weekdays, at a time convenient for you.

We are here for you during the move-out process

We understand that there are many things to manage during your move-out. We are here to assist you through the process in the best possible way.

You are always welcome to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.