Even a reliable tenant does not replace a properly prepared agreement. Many problems between an owner and a tenant do not arise because either side has bad intentions, but because important terms were not clearly agreed and written down in advance.
That is why a rental agreement is not a formality. It is one of the main ways to protect the owner and the property.
What should be clear before handing over the keys
The agreement should define the rent amount and payment dates, how utility costs are paid, the deposit amount, the rental period and the terms for ending the agreement.
It is also worth recording who will actually live in the apartment, whether pets are allowed, who is responsible for damage and what changes the tenant may make in the apartment.
The fewer questions remain only “in words”, the lower the chance of disputes in the future.
The deposit is not the owner’s only protection
Sometimes owners believe that receiving a deposit is enough and that the main risks are covered.
In practice, it is just as important to properly record the condition of the apartment at the time of handover. Together with the agreement, it is worth preparing a handover act, noting meter readings, the number of keys, the property in the apartment and any existing damage. The apartment condition should preferably also be documented with photos.
This protects both sides and makes it clear at the end of the rental period which damage appeared while the tenant was living in the apartment.
Can you simply download an agreement from the internet?
You can, but a universal template does not always take into account the specifics of the particular apartment and the parties’ arrangements. In addition, legislation and practice change, and some contract terms may turn out to be invalid even if both sides signed them.
That is why at Vendor Kinnisvara we use an up-to-date rental agreement version and adapt it to the specific transaction.
A good agreement starts with the right tenant
The agreement itself does not solve every problem. The whole process works more reliably as a complete sequence:
tenant check → agreeing the terms → rental agreement → apartment handover act.
That is why, when renting out an apartment, Vendor Kinnisvara brokers not only look for a tenant, but also carry out preliminary screening, check candidates and support the formalization of the rental process.
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Helps owners rent out apartments in Tallinn and Harjumaa: from preparing the property and selecting candidates to the agreement and handover.
