So, I got an apartment. When can I move in?

After your tenancy agreement has begun, you can move into your Kuopas apartment. You don’t have to move in the first day of the contract. Also, you don’t have to send us receipts about your rent payments.

You can find the instructions for using the storage room in your building in the storage room. Add room number and date to the storage room list when you claim the storage box. When you move out, overline your mark.

Furnished apartments have bed with a new mattress, blanket and a pillow. If the apartment was rented the previous month, a new mattress, blanket and pillow are delivered to your apartment during the first business day of the month. The apartment may have the old bed set left from the previous tenant, if you move in during the weekend and the first day of the month is during a weekend or a holiday. During the first business day of the month, the logistics company will use a key to access the rooms if no one is home.

How do I get the keys to my apartment?

As a tenant you are entitled to receive a single key to your apartment. The key also lets you into the common facilities in your house. If you move in with your partner or with a child, you may get more keys.

You can get the keys from the Kuopas office (at Torikatu 15, 70110 KUOPIO) beginning from the first day of your rent agreement. If the 1st day of the month is on a weekend or a holiday and our office is otherwise closed, our key collection service is open 8-9 am.

It is possible, that the previous tenant of your new apartment is moving to another Kuopas apartment. In that case, the previous tenant has an extended move out time until 13.00 during the first day of the month. Please collaborate in your moving in and moving out during the beginning of that day. You can start the move in from 8.00.

All other times outside our office hours it is possible to get access to the apartment through our 24/7 service by paying a non returnable fee of 70€. The key has to be collected from our office. We will ask for your ID-card and signature when giving the key. It is possible that the previous and coming tenant make a written contract of transferring the keys. See instructions from Tenant’s guide.

You’ll get the keys free of charge during working hours:

• Monday to Friday at 12.00–15.00
• First working day in every month at 8.00–15.30

You can also authorize someone else to collect the key for you. Send Kuopas an email with name of the person coming to get the key for you. We will ask for their ID as well.

Please remember, that the rooms in shared apartments have locks. Don’t leave your key inside and lock the door.

If you are picking up the key during a weekend or outside our office hours, please use the backyard door and ring the doorbell (asiakaspalvelu). See this map for guidance: Kuopas entrance map

What should I do first?

When you pick up your keys, you should fill in the Move-in inspection (within 14 days), a form which you should fill in as first thing when you go into your apartment and inspect the condition of it.

If there is something in the apartment that needs fixing, please fill in a Fault report also. Our customer service does not handle Fault reports by email.

If the previous tenant has not cleaned the apartment well or something is missing, please immediately contact our maintenance service.

You can fill in the Move-in inspection here.

How to get a smooth start for living?

By law, it is the tenant`s responsibility to notify the local registration authorities of a change of address. Visit www.changeaddress.fi to make the fastest and most affordable notification of change of address around the clock. Remember to inform your room number if you are living in a shared apartment.

You can find information about internet here: Internet, TV and modems

If in your apartment offer is written that you will need to buy your own electricity, you need to make your own electricity contract. This is usually the case in family apartments. In that case please read the instructions for that: Instructions for electricity contract

If you need a parking space for your car, or if you want to your own sauna turn, please contact the Kuopas housing office customerservice@kuopas.fi. Unfortunately you can’t charge electric vehicles from the heating posts.

Information regarding bus tickets and public transport schedules can be found from Kuopio region public transport’s (Vilkku) website.

Rent

The student houses are financed by state-subsidized housing loans and the rents are calculated on a non-profit basis. A separate fee is charged for the use of electricity, sauna and parking. These fees are in the rent invoice. In furnished apartments the furniture fee is already included in the rent.

Payments

The rent and other fees are due the 5th of each month. If the payment is delayed, collection company Intrum Oy will charge normal overdue charges and interest for overdue. Your rent payment information can be found from the rent agreement. You can pay multiple rents in one payment, if you like.

When paying the rent, use the pre-printed rent invoices which you get with your key from Kuopas. We always also send the rent invoice to your email. Please make sure you pay your rent to the correct bank account and use the correct reference number. Do not pay your rent to the deposit account. All payments must be done by using a bank transfer. Finnish banks don’t accept cash for payments, so please keep that in mind. If necessary, open a bank account in your home country from where you can make the international payments on time.Please, do not send receipts of your monthly rental payments to Kuopas, as we don’t need them.

The charges that are not paid or that are paid late will be handled by a collection company called Intrum Oy. If Intrum sends you a bill, you should pay the missing rent to them. You can call and ask help from Intrum, the number is in the collection letter, if you happen to receive one. You can always also call or email Kuopas, if you have any questions about rent payments.

What kind of rules and regulations should I follow?

Make yourself at home!

Living in a student house means co-operation with your room mates and neighbours. Order regulations and other rules are meant to be followed. By using common sense and by also listening to the opinions of others in interaction with roommates and neighbours, you can positively affect your own as well as community’s enjoyment.

You can download our rules and regulations here.

Also see our Tenant’s guide, there are many usefull guides that can answer your questions.

Also note that as a tenant you are responsible for cleaning and minor maintenance work of your apartment. See more information here: Home maintenance

Do I need home insurance?

Yes, it is a good idea. The real estate insurance taken by Kuopas does not cover the damages of your personal property or your own accidents.

Let’s say, if water damage takes place in an apartment near you and damages your belongings, a home insurance is the only way to get compensation. Also, if your own dish machine, as an example, breaks down and leaks water to the floor, the repair work for the floor is expensive and insurance is a good thing to have.

Contact insurance companies for more information. As an example: https://www.op.fi/private-customers/insurance/home-insurance