The right to use land that belongs to someone else is called a right of use or an easement. Such a right can be, for example, access to a well, water supply or sewage, or to moor a boat in an area someone else owns.
Others rights of use include road rights (in Finnish), a property’s right of lease or a joint ownership agreement.
When should a right of use be registered?
It is good to register a right of use once you have agreed on the right with another property owner and you want to ensure that the agreement holds. Registration ensures that the right is not contingent on the agreement alone. This way, the right of use is retained even when the property owner changes.
Rights of use must be agreed with the property owner. It’s possible that such a right has been granted to a particular person or property.
A right that benefits a person can be registered as a special right. Such a right is valid for a set period of time and is valid only for the person in question.
A right that benefits a property can be registered through an easement survey. Such a right is permanent and will be transferred to the next property owner upon transfer.
| Special right | Easement |
|---|---|
| Right that benefits a person | Right that benefits a property |
| Applies only to the person in question | Applies to the property owner |
| Valid for a set period of time | Generally permanent |
| Only particular rights are possible (check the list in the Land Code, in Finnish) | Only particular rights are possible (check the list in the Real Estate Formation Act, in Finnish) |
| Costs 172 euros | Costs roughly 750 - 1,500 euros |
| Processing takes roughly two months | Processing takes roughly four months |
Once you know if you are applying for a special right or an easement, read the registration instructions:
- How to apply for the registration of a special right
- How to apply for the registration of an easement through an easement survey
How to apply for the registration of a special right
- Collect all necessary attachments and save them in .jpg or .pdf format.
Apply for a registration of a special right in the online service:
- individual customers in Finnish and in Swedish
- organisational customers in Finnish and in SwedishPersons that are registered as having the right to sign on behalf of an organisation in Trade Register can sign in to the service on behalf of an organisation.
- First, select the property that you want to apply to register a special right for. Select ‘Rekisteröi muu oikeus' (Register other right) and then ‘Hae erityisen oikeuden kirjaamista' (Application to register a special right).
- Complete the application and include any possible attachments.
Registration of a special right is paid in the Online service when the application is submitted.
If you cannot use our online services, you can also apply for the registration of a special right with an application form in Finnish or in Swedish (suomi.fi).
Cost of a special right
Registration of a special right costs 172 euros.
Stages and duration of registering a special right
Registration takes about two months.
- We will review your application.
- If necessary, you may be asked for additional information.
- The new data is available in the register.
- You will be sent an invoice. The payment term is generally set at 30 days.
How to apply for the registration of an easement through an easement survey
- Agree on the easement with the property owner. You can use the agreement template (in Finnish) at suomi.fi for this.
- Prepare your attachments, such as agreements and map drawings, and save them in either pdf or jpg format.
Apply for a registration of an easement in the online service:
- individual customers in Finnish and in Swedish
- organisational customers in Finnish and in SwedishPersons that are registered as having the right to sign on behalf of an organisation in Trade Register can sign in to the service on behalf of an organisation.
- First, select the property that you want to apply to register an easement for. Select ‘Maanmittaustoimitukset' (Cadastral surveys) and then ‘Hae rasitetoimitusta' (Apply for easement survey).
- Complete the application and include any possible attachments.
If you do not have access to the online service, you can also apply for an easement survey with a application form (suomi.fi) in Finnish.
If you want electronic copies of the survey documents, enable Suomi.fi messages (in Finnish).
Price of an easement survey
The price of an easement survey is determined by the number of working hours it takes. The average cost of an easement survey is 750 - 1,500 €. The price varies on a case by case basis.
Stages and duration of the easement survey
Easement surveys last for about four months.
After the application
- You will be sent a notification with the contact details of the cadastral surveyor who’s handling the easement survey. You may contact the surveyor if your need for the easement survey is urgent.
- You will be notified of when the easement survey will take place. The cadastral surveyor will notify you roughly one month before your application is processed.
Easement survey (roughly three months after application)
- On site, the cadastral surveyor will measure the location of the easement on a map, if necessary.
- The surveyor decides whether it is possible to establish the easement.
- The surveyor decides on the easement fee, if it has not been agreed upon.
- The easement survey will be reviewed in a meeting that you do not need to attend. If the matter is clear, the matter can be decided without a meeting.
After the easement survey (roughly one month after processing)
- The new data is available in the register.
- You will be sent an invoice, if you are determined to be the payer in the easement survey. The payment term is generally set at 30 days.
Any stated processing times are averages. They are affected by the time of year, among others, as it is usually not possible to take measurements in winter.