Etuosto

Etuosto refers to a legal right in Finnish law that grants certain parties priority to purchase a property under specific circumstances. This right is typically established when a property is sold, and the etuosto holder has the option to buy the property at the agreed-upon price instead of the original buyer. The purpose of etuosto is often to protect the interests of related parties or to consolidate land ownership.

There are several types of etuosto rights, with the most common being the landlord's right to purchase leased property (vuokraoikeus) and the neighboring landowner's right to purchase (naapurinosto). In some cases, the right can also be held by specific associations or individuals. The conditions and procedures for exercising the etuosto right are regulated by law, primarily in the Land Redemption Act (Metsäkiinteistöjen lunastuslaki) and the Act on Residential Leases (Laki asuinhuoneiston vuokrauksesta).

The etuosto holder must typically be notified of the sale and given a specific timeframe to exercise their right. If the right is exercised, the etuosto holder steps into the shoes of the original buyer, assuming the same contractual obligations, including the purchase price. If the etuosto right is not exercised within the stipulated period, it expires, and the property sale proceeds with the original buyer. The existence and nature of an etuosto right are usually noted in the property's official title deeds.