When moving, there are many things to remember, and moving can be exciting — sometimes even stressful. Grab our checklist of tips for a smooth and worry-free move!
When you have found a new home for yourself, it’s time to let go of the old one.
Remember to terminate your lease in advance. The notice period for rental apartments is always specified in the lease agreement, but it typically ranges from 1 to 2 months. You can confirm the exact notice period in your lease agreement.
If you live in a property you own or are in the process of selling it before buying a new one, it’s advisable to take action well in advance. Sales times vary greatly by region, and recently they have often been quite long. Start the sales process early and be prepared for it to potentially take months.
When selling a property, remember to specify in the sales contract the electricity, district heating or gas connections, and water connections separately. These are movable property items and should be transferred to the new owner in the sale. Including them in the sales contract makes it easy to transfer them to your name with the local energy or water company.
It’s advisable to decide on the moving date well in advance. Arrange for professional movers or ask friends for help as soon as the date is confirmed. Also, check your employment contract to see if you’re entitled to a paid moving day. Inform your employer of the moving date to secure additional time off for the move.
If you’re planning to hire a moving company and can influence the timing, opt for a weekday in the middle of the month. Many moving companies offer lower rates when moves don’t fall on weekends or around the end of the month, which are typically busier times.
In addition to arranging for the physical move of your belongings, ensure you allocate enough time for the final cleaning. You can either do the cleaning yourself or hire professionals for the job. When purchasing cleaning services, you may be eligible for a tax deduction for household expenses.
Read more about the tax credit for household expenses
Once you have decided on the moving date, make change of address notifications to the local registry office (maistraatti) and to Posti (Finnish postal service). You can conveniently do this through the joint online service provided by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Digi- ja väestötietovirasto) and Posti.
Go to the joint online service of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency and Posti
Posti offers a free one-month moving mail service where your letter mail is forwarded to your new address. You can also purchase a year-long service where all mail delivered by Posti will be forwarded to your new address for the duration of the year, even if it’s addressed to your old address.
Your new address information is transmitted from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Digi- ja väestötietovirasto) to most official entities, but not necessarily to all of them. Therefore, remember to inform others who need your new address. Notify your workplace or school, your children’s school or daycare, as well as any other parties such as magazine subscriptions, organizations you belong to, and businesses whose services or products you use or have delivered to your home. And of course, inform relatives and friends whom you wish to share your new address with.
It’s advisable to arrange the electricity contract for your new home in advance to ensure that you have power available as soon as you need it in your new residence.
Please note that an electricity contract does not transfer automatically. Each electricity contract is specific to the property and individual. In addition to setting up a new contract for your new home, you must remember to terminate the electricity contract for your old residence.
You can make an electricity contract up to 3 months in advance. It’s recommended to arrange a new electricity contract for your new home at least two weeks before your moving day. If your new home has its own solar power system, you can also arrange a purchase agreement at the same time and start benefiting from the solar production right from your moving day.
If you have forgotten to arrange the electricity contract or for any other reason need power immediately, please contact our customer service by phone. Our experts are available on weekdays from 9 AM to 2 PM to assist you.
Check out our contact information
If you live in Kerava or Sipoo, we will connect electricity to your home on the same day your electricity contract becomes effective. If you have made an electricity contract with us elsewhere in Finland, the local distribution network company will handle the connection of electricity.
It’s a good idea to start packing well in advance so that you don’t have to rush on moving day to fill boxes. Moving boxes can be purchased or rented, and you can often get cardboard boxes for free from grocery stores.
For packing, you’ll need packing tape to seal the boxes, a marker to label the contents of the boxes, and bubble wrap or old newspapers to protect your belongings. Hand trucks can also be helpful for moving larger items like appliances.
If you’ve hired a moving service, you can also inquire about additional services such as extra protection for your furniture during the move or even full-service packing and cleaning from start to finish.
Notify both the future and current property managers (isännöitsijä) about your move. It may take some time to get your name on the door, so it’s best to notify them as soon as you know your moving date.
At the same time, it’s a good idea to inquire about sauna shifts, laundry facilities, and parking spots at your new residence, if you need them. For instance, there may be a waiting list for parking spots in the housing company, so it’s wise to inquire well in advance.
Protect the surfaces of both your old and new apartments from dents and scratches, such as door frames and floors. Take photos of any existing deficiencies in both places, such as stubborn dirt, broken items, or other issues, and report them to the property manager (isännöitsijä).
Frequently asked questions
