Frequently asked questions
Most popular
If urgent repair work is needed in your apartment, contact the maintenance company. You will find the contact details by writing your street address on 'Contact details of your home building' box at Contact us -page. If the need for maintenance is less urgent, you can send us a message at OmaSATO. OmaSATO knows who to forward you message to, so you don't have to worry if you know the responsible actor.
Some wear and tear in your apartment is normal. However, sometimes it is sloppiness that causes an extra reason for cleaning or repairs. In these situations we will invoice you in accordance with the List of customer charges.
Whatever home-related issue is on your mind, don't hesitate to contact our customer service for advice.
From fault to fix
It is easy to file a defect report but what happens next? And are there right or wrong ways to fill out the report?
1. Add homes to your application
2. Identify yourself and apply
3. View the home and decide
1. Add homes to your apartment application
Visit our Find a home page to browse our range of rental apartments and to add interesting homes to your application. If you change your mind or other intriguing apartments become available, you will be able to edit your application and add or remove homes later on. And do not worry, sending us an application does not commit you to anything.
2. Identify yourself and send your application
Once you have selected the homes for your application, identify yourself using your online banking codes or mobile ID. This identification will enable us to save your details securely, check your credit history, avoid any misconduct and identify you as a home-swapper if you already live in a SATO home.We will check the credit data history of applicants from the database of Suomen Asiakastieto Oy. If you are renting a home together with someone else, both of you will see if you pass the credit history check. We will also check the details of your possible previous history as a SATO customer, including any disturbance notices.
If you do not want to go through the sign-in process involving identification, you will only be able to apply for our ARA-subsidised rental homes.
3. View the home and decide
Once you have submitted your application and it checks out, we will contact you automatically. In some cases we need to check the application out manually, and it may take a bit more time for us to contact you.
It is important that you visit the apartment either on site or by taking a virtual tour before deciding if you want to rent it. As soon as we have processed your application we will usually let you choose the most suitable viewing time online. Easy!
Once you have visited the apartment and confirmed us that you are interested in renting it, you can sign a lease before you even leave the apartment showing. Otherwise our sales consultant will get in touch with you, and signing the lease is swiftly done online!
Good to know
- We allow several applicants to view a home at the same time. At times there are so many applicants for one apartment that we can only provide a viewing for some of them.
- Because there are several customers viewing the apartment at the same time, it is possible that we may not be able to offer it to you. In that case, we will let you know how to renew your application.
If you need help with applying for an apartment, our customer service will be happy to help you. Choose your preferred way to contact below.
Current topics
What is the Act on Residential Leases?
The Act on Residential Leases, also known as the Residential Leases Act or simply AHVL, applies to agreements under which a building or part of a building is rented out for residential use. In SATO’s case, this means the agreement under which we rent a rental apartment to you as your home.
Complying with the Act is a given for us, and we want to make sure that any changes to it are easy for both our current and future residents to understand. On sato.fi, we explain legislative changes as clearly as possible and avoid unnecessary jargon. Whenever the Act is applied, the official legal text naturally takes precedence.
Take a read on legislation | finlex.fi
The updated Act enters into force on 1 October 2026. The Act does not apply to short-term letting, which is prohibited in SATO apartments.
What does the reform mean for current SATO residents*?
If you move out of your SATO home and have paid a security deposit, you are entitled, within 14 days of the end date of your tenancy agreement, either to have the deposit returned or to be informed if we are using part or all of it, for example to cover the cost of repairs to the apartment.
You have the right to receive, free of charge, an explanation of how your rent increase has been calculated. The Act also confirms your right to receive written notice of a rent increase, which has already been standard practice at SATO for many years.
Under the updated Act, smoking is prohibited in SATO homes, on balconies and in private outdoor areas belonging to the apartment without the need for a separate notice. Previously, a separate prohibition was required, but the ban is now automatic and applies to both new and existing tenancy agreements. The ban also applies to your guests and to anyone else living in the apartment, not only the person who signed the tenancy agreement with us. We will send our residents a separate notice about this well in advance.
The rules on transferring a tenancy agreement to a family member living in the same SATO home are becoming stricter. At present, the agreement can be transferred to a family member registered as living in the apartment from the very first day of the tenancy. Going forward, this will only be possible after one year of residence. In other words, the family member must have been officially registered as living in your SATO home for at least one year before the tenancy agreement can be transferred into their name.
The updated Act also introduces two requirements that have already been included in SATO’s tenancy agreements. You must inform us of everyone living in your apartment, and you must also notify us if your contact details change.
The Act also changes the concept of the moving-out day to the tenancy end date. However, SATO does not intend to introduce this change to either existing or new tenancy agreements. This means that if you live in a SATO home, you must move out by 12 noon on the first working day after your tenancy agreement ends.
What does the reform mean for future SATO residents*?
The rights and responsibilities described above also apply to you.
In addition, new tenancy agreements will include a clause stating that SATO may terminate a tenancy agreement electronically. Previously, termination required a physically delivered document. This option for electronic notification also applies to notices of termination, warnings and rent increase notices. Residents may still choose to receive these documents in paper form if they prefer.
What does the reform mean for SATO?
The rights described above for residents are, in turn, our responsibilities.
The reform also changes the notice periods for landlords. If your tenancy has lasted for less than two years, we may terminate the tenancy agreement by giving three months’ notice. If your tenancy has lasted for more than two years, the notice period is four months. However, you can rest assured that we terminate tenancy agreements only in exceptional circumstances.
The updated Act also allows landlords to terminate a tenancy agreement for other exceptionally serious reasons. Termination is often related to persistent disruptive behaviour in the apartment, and the reform may make it easier to terminate agreements in such cases. In addition, SATO will have the right to sell or dispose of any belongings left in the apartment after the tenancy has ended, following the procedure set out in the Act.
The change that is likely to affect residents most is that we will have the right to enter your apartment at a time notified in advance, even if we are unable to agree on a suitable appointment with you. We will, however, continue to do our best to arrange visits at a time that suits you.
The reform also allows us and our residents to agree to communicate entirely by electronic means. In practice, most communication from SATO already reaches you electronically.
*Resident who has signed a tenancy agreement with SATO (tenant).
Which topic is on your mind? What theme is closest to your question?
Finding a home
Here you can find answers to questions such as: What is the difference between an apartment application and the webshop? What happens at an apartment showing? Can I move into the same apartment with friends? How do payment defaults affect finding an apartment?
Renting a home
Here you can find answers to questions such as: How is the lease agreement made? Do I need to pay an agency fee? Can I have a cat or dog in my home? Is smoking allowed in a SATO rental apartment? What should I do if I disagree with SATO?
Living in a SATOhome
Here you can find answers to questions such as: What repairs can I carry out in my home, and which are SATO's responsibility? What do the House Expert and Service Manager do? Can I sublet my home short term? How does water billing work? And what should I do if my neighbour is making noise?
Moving
Here you can find answers to questions such as: How can I find out the condition of my future home? How do I collect or return my keys? What is the official moving day? What do I need to remember when doing the moving-out cleaning?