All people must formally register their primary residence. In addition, all tenants (including foreigners, people with residence permits, etc.) have the right to register their rental property as their place of residence. The registration should be done within 30 days of moving in.
- The tenant must prove the right to use the living space to submit a notice of residence. For verifying purposes, either a copy of the rental agreement or written and signed permission from the owner is suitable. The official state portal provides an overview of rights and instructions for applying (the information is in Estonian, English, and Russian).
There is no reason for the landlord not to authorise the residence registration, as the tenant has a legitimate need and interest to register their long-term residence correctly. Furthermore, several services and opportunities for the tenant depend on it (benefits, access to local kindergarten and school or free public transport). Usually, employers also ask for residence information for the employment contract.
- For example: if a person has chosen a rental home in a particular area and the landlord prevents them from registering their residence, the tenant's children may not be able to go to the nearest school.
Allowing registration will in no way adversely affect the landlord. The tenant does not acquire any property rights over the dwelling. If the tenant moves out and has not re-registered, the landlord can unilaterally cancel the tenant's registration (via e-Population Register).
If the landlord refuses to register the tenant's residence or unjustifiably obstructs the tenant's rights, the tenant has a valid reason to terminate the rental agreement.