Information for tenants moving out

Taking care of the apartment is a shared responsibility of the tenant and the landlord.

Moving-out day

Tenancy agreements signed before 1st October 2026

For tenancy agreements signed before 1st October 2026, the moving-out day is the first weekday of the month. The keys must be returned to TYS by 9 a.m. on the moving-out day at the latest.

Tenancy agreements signed on or after 1st October 2026

For tenancy agreements signed on or after 1st October 2026, the moving-out day is the end date of the tenancy agreement. The apartment keys must be returned to TYS by the end of the moving-out day.

Internal transfers

For internal transfers, the moving-out day is the same as the moving-in day of the new apartment. The keys to the old apartment must be returned by the end of the day.

Moving inspection

After you have sent a notice of termination, an inspection of renovation needs will be performed in the apartment. The inspection will be carried out usually with a master key, between 8:00-16:00., and the visit does not need to be agreed separately with the inspector nor does the tenant need to be present.The apartment does not need to be cleaned for this inspection. If you have a pet in your apartment, or you do not agree to the use of a master key for some other reason, you can make an appointment for the inspection with the inspector. Please note that the apartment should be inspected as soon as possible after sending the notice of termination.

If you have given a permission to inspect your apartment using a master key but prevent the inspector accessing the apartment, or if you have agreed on a time for the visit but are not present at the agreed time, an invoice according to the liability price list will be sent to you due to the unnecessary inspection visit.

The apartment’s renovation needs will be reviewed during the inspection. The apartment’s cleanliness level will also be inspected. Often, the tenant is still living in the apartment at this point and the moving-out cleaning has not been done, which will be taken into account during the inspection. A report will be left in the apartment after the inspection, detailing the matters that the tenant needs to rectify before moving out. The inspection report reflects the situation at the moment of the inspection and, as such. The tenant has the duty to take good care of the apartment until the end of their rental agreement and they must perform the final cleaning.

If you live in a shared apartment, please remember to tell your flatmates you are moving out and that the apartment will be inspected. Please also take care of the final clean-up of the shared premises.

Moving out cleaning

After moving out, the apartment must be clean and completely emptied of the tenant’s belongings. If the apartment is left unclean, it will be cleaned by a professional cleaning company, and the costs will be charged to the tenant(s). The cleaning charge will be in accordance with the liability price list.

When moving out, clean the following:

Throughout the apartment

 

  • Vacuum and wash the floors.
  • Wipe the skirting boards.
  • Clean stains and dirt from walls, light switches, doors, and door handles.
  • Empty and clean cupboards and drawers. Wipe the doors and handles as well. Remember to clean the tops of the cupboards!
  • Wash the windows. A window opener can be borrowed from the TYS office if needed. If it is freezing outside, clean only the interior surfaces. Also wipe the window frames and sills.
  • Remove dust from behind and between radiators where possible. Wipe the outer surfaces of the radiators.
  • Clean the ventilation valves.
  • Take out the trash.

In the kitchen

  • Clean the sinks and faucets.
  • Empty and clean cupboards inside and out.
  • Clean worktops and tiles. Remember the seams between the tiles!
  • Clean the trash cupboard and waste bins.
  • Clean the oven and wash the oven racks and baking trays.
  • Clean the drawer beneath the oven.
  • Pull the stove out of its recess and clean it thoroughly on all sides.
  • Clean the floor and walls behind and underneath the stove.
  • Clean the stovetop, knobs, and handles.
  • Clean the cooker hood and its grease filter. Remove the grease filter and wash it with dishwashing detergent or place it in the dishwasher if it is dishwasher-safe.
  • Clean the refrigerator inside and out. Move the refrigerator and vacuum behind it.
  • Defrost the freezer and wipe the defrosted, empty freezer clean. Note: The tenant must supervise the freezer defrosting for its entire duration.
  • Switch off the refrigerator and leave the doors open (in shared apartments only if the entire apartment is being vacated).

In the bathroom and toilet

  • Clean the sink. Remember also the underside of the sink!
  • Clean the mirror and bathroom cabinets.
  • Clean faucets and remove limescale.
  • Clean the showerhead, shower hose, and soap holder.
  • Clean the toilet bowl inside and out. Remember to clean all layers of the toilet seat! Also clean under the water inlet rim and the base of the toilet.
  • Wash the walls and floor. Remember the seams between the tiles!
  • Clean the floor drain. Remove the drain cover, remove hair and dirt from inside the drain with a brush, and rinse with water.

On the balcony and in the yard

  • Remove all belongings.
  • Sweep loose debris from the balcony floor.
  • Cut grass and remove excess leaves, plants, and trash from the yard.

Move-out cleaning in a shared apartment

Move-out cleaning in a shared apartment includes cleaning your own room as well as thoroughly cleaning the shared areas of the apartment together with your roommates (see the items above). Even if your roommates continue to live in the apartment after you move out, the goal is that the new tenant can move into a clean apartment.

TYS Cleaning Check

Before your tenancy ends, you will receive a link to the TYS Cleaning Check via email. In the service, you take photos of your apartment after completing the final cleaning and submit them for evaluation. The cleaning tasks are organized by room, so you can clearly see what needs to be cleaned before moving out.

The service uses artificial intelligence to assess the level of cleanliness based on your photos and sends you feedback by email. You will also be informed of any areas that may require additional cleaning.

You can also complete the TYS Cleaning Check via the link below.

Complete the TYS Cleaning Check

A check-list for tenants moving out

  • Send a notice of termination through the Tenant Pages at least one full calendar month before moving out.
  • Make sure that the inspector is able to inspect the apartment, either by using a master key or during a time you have agreed on.
  • Reserve enough time for packing and arranging the move.
  • Submit a notification of change of address through https://www.posti.fi/changeaddress/
  • Please report all faults you observe in the apartment well in advance before moving out by filling in a fault report.
  • Clear out and clean the apartment. If you agree with the new tenant that you will leave some of your belongings for them, remember to report this to TYS or label these items clearly in the apartment.
  • Remember to also clear out your possible storage locker and balcony/terrace.
  • If you have a dishwasher, it is important that you plug all the connections after disconnecting the machine.
  • Complete the TYS Cleaning Check
  • You can return the keys to the office during its opening hours or to the return hatch during evenings/weekends.
  • If you have paid a deposit, it will be returned to you within a month of the agreement’s end.

Keys

The apartment keys must be returned to the TYS office or handed over directly to the apartment’s next tenant with a key transfer agreement.
If you return the keys to the TYS office, please return the keys through the key return slot on the left side of the office’s windows. Put the keys in an envelope and write your name and the old apartment’s address on it. You can find envelopes in the light-coloured mailbox near the key return slot, if you need them. Please remember to also return the key to your parking space and storage locker, if you have them.

The deadline for returning the keys depends on the date when the tenancy agreement was signed:

Tenancy agreements signed before 1st October 2026

The keys must be returned to TYS by 9 a.m. on the moving-out day (the first weekday of the month) at the latest.

Tenancy agreements signed on or after 1st October 2026

The apartment keys must be returned to TYS by the end of the moving-out day (the end date of the tenancy agreement).

Internal transfers

The keys to the old apartment must be returned to TYS by the end of the day.

Acquiring keys directly from the tenant moving out

It is also possible that the tenant moving in and the tenant moving out will agree on key transfer between themselves. In this case, a key handover agreement must be made. We recommend that the tenant moving out confirms in advance who is moving into the apartment by contacting TYS Office.

The tenant moving in must fill in a key handover agreement on TYS´website. You can find a link to the form below.  Always fill out the form at the apartment to check that the tenant moving out has completed the final cleaning. Please note that by sending the form the tenant moving in takes possession and responsibility of the apartment and keys and accepts the cleanliness level of the apartment.

Note that the tenat moving out can only hand over the apartment keys to the tenant moving in. Possible parking and/or storage space keys must always be returned to the TYS office. 

Key handover agreement

Parking during a move

Due to a move or short-term transport of goods, it is permitted to drive a car into the yard area. The car may only remain in the yard area for the duration of loading or unloading. After this, the vehicle must be moved immediately to a designated parking space. During unloading, someone must stay near the vehicle to inform parking enforcement if necessary that the vehicle is there due to a move.

Returning the security deposit

If you have paid a security deposit, it will either be refunded or you will be notified of its use within two weeks of the end of your rental agreement. A refund requires your bank account number, so please remember to add your account number in the Tenant Pages. If you do not have an IBAN account, please provide your account number, the account holder’s name and address, the bank’s name and address, and the bank’s BIC/SWIFT code. The teanat is responsible for ensuring that the account details provided are correct.

Apply for a TYS apartment today!

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