Moving (in or out)
A new home, a happy day, but also a chance for a tiny meltdown: When is the last day to leave in the termination of the lease? Whose name will be put on the door? Are any of my friends available to help me move? Do I have to wash the windows, too? And who takes Lassie to walk? We have the answers for very nearly all of these questions.
You will find the address of the key management location either on the email we sent you confirming your lease, at OmaSATO or (if you signed the lease in person) in the back pocket of the 'Enjoying you home' guide.
Please do not receive the keys directly from the previous resident. We are keeping record of the keys, and will charge you for the possible missing ones when you move out.
When picking up the keys, prepare to present
- your valid official ID (such as driving licence or passport)
- signed lease agreement°
- receipt of the security deposit payment (if the deposit is €0, it shows on the lease)
Please note that the keys are given only to the person who has signed the lease with SATO. We do not hand over the keys in exchange for a mandate.
If you're moving from one SATO home to another you can order a key courier°° to carry your home keys. Read more about the benefits for residents switching SATOhomes >
General instructions
You will get the keys to your new home on the first day your lease agreement is valid. If that day falls on a weekend or public holiday, you will get the keys on the following working day after 12.00 midday.
If you need extra keys, you can order them via OmaSATO.
Contact us as soon as you can via OmaSATO if you lose a key. For rekeying prices see the List of customer charges.
°If you’ve signed the lease agreement electronically, you can show it, for example, on your phone when you pick up the keys.
°°The key courier operates in Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo, Kauniainen, Kirkkonummi, Järvenpää, Kerava, Tuusula, Nurmijärvi ja Porvoo.
Once you’ve cleaned the apartment and moved your belongings to your new home, return the keys of your old home no later than by 12:00 midday on the business day following the date of termination of your lease agreement.
You can check the drop-off place's address from the lease termination instructions email we have sent you, at OmaSATO or by reaching out to our customer service. We recommend you also check the opening hours beforehand.
If you’re moving from one SATOhome to another, you can conveniently return your keys using a key courier by ordering the service through OmaSATO. OmaSATO recognises you as a SATOhome shifter. When you return your keys via the key courier, the courier photographs the keys and carries them in a closed envelope to the key management.
Also remember to return any high-security lock and car parking space heater outlet keys. Please leave the high-security lock unlocked when you move out.
It’s really important that you do not give your home keys directly to the next resident. We keep a record of the keys and will invoice you for any missing keys and re-keying of locks. We will also invoice any re-keying costs that may arise from the late return of the keys.
°The key courier operates in Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo, Kauniainen, Kirkkonummi, Järvenpää, Kerava, Tuusula, Nurmijärvi ja Porvoo.
The move-in day for SATOhomes is the first working day of the month. If that day falls on a weekend or public holiday, you will get the keys on the following working day after 12:00 midday.
The moving-out day is the business day following the end date of your lease agreement. The apartment must be fully available to the new tenant (or to SATO in case of renovations) by 12:00 midday on the moving-out day.
Swapping from one SATOhome to another
Is your family growing? Did you get a job from another city? Are you dreaming about swapping rental apartment just for a change in scenery? As a SATO resident you get some excellent benefits when shifting from one SATO rental apartment to another.
The notification of move and notification of arrival both have their specific purpose:
You must submit an official notification of move to the Digital and Population Data services Agency within a week of your move. You can do this online in the joint online service of the Digital and Population Data services Agency and Posti.
The notification of arrival can almost always be filled in on the website of your maintenance company. It helps the maintenance company register you and any others moving in with you as residents of the building.
Remember that the notification of arrival does not replace the statutory notification of move, which you have to take care of separately.
If you need help in filling in the notifications, or you want your name to be changed to the nameplate on your door and the list of names at the entrance of the building, please contact our Customer Service. We will be happy to help you.
Informing the change of your address to the Finnish postal service ensures your post arriving to you for a month after your move if it has been directed to your old address.
Remember also to inform the change of your address to other institutions such as your insurance policy provider and bank. Many officials receive information of your move via the Finnish population data services agency or Posti.
Remember to update your electricity, water and internet contracts when moving to a new home.
Electricity
Electricity is not included in the rent unless this is mentioned separately in the lease agreement. You should enter into an electricity contract with the electricity company of your choice so that the electricity connection of your new home will be on starting from your moving-in day.
Water
Water is not included in the rent. The effectual water fee is mentioned on the webpage of each available SATO RentHome.
Internet connection
Internet connection is included in the rent of approximately 22,000 SATO rental homes, so your new home building is likely to be ready for Telia broadband access.
As a SATO resident you will have access to a broadband connection at the basic speed free of charge, and special discount rates will be available from Telia for faster speeds.
To start using the broadband connection, call Telia’s Customer Service on 0200 11611.
SATO’s rental homes are inspected usually before the previous resident moves out. The moving-out inspector determines whether the apartment needs to be renovated.
We recommend you to visit the apartment before you sign the lease agreement. Make sure you inform SATO or the letting agent in good time of any defects in the SATO home offered to you as you will accept the home in the state of repair and condition existing at the date of agreement. This includes any renovation found necessary by the inspector.
When you rent an apartment through our webshop, you can visit it after confirming the lease agreement. Please remember to book the apartment showing while completing the rental process online, as it cannot be booked afterwards. We offer a satisfaction guarantee for lease agreements made through the webshop: if the apartment does not meet your expectations, you can cancel the agreement during the showing.
If SATO does not have the apartment renovated and you feel your new home is in need of painting, you order SATO's painting kit for DIY renovation via OmaSATO. In addition to white paint you can select one color scheme of your choice from the Tikkurila range, from colours SATO has pre-selected for you. Please not the exceptions mentioned in the instructions such as the age of the apartment as well as the rent being paid for the current month.
When you move out and have taken a good care of your home, we will return your deposit to you as long as you remember to give us your bank account number when filling in the lease termination notice.