üürnikku

Üürnikku is the accusative singular form of the Estonian noun üürnik, which denotes a person who rents property from another person, such as a dwelling or commercial space. In everyday use, üürnik refers to the tenant, and üürnikku is the grammatical form used when the tenant is the direct object in a sentence.

In a typical rental relationship, the tenant (üürnik) agrees to pay rent to the landlord and to use the rented property in accordance with the terms of a lease or rental agreement. The most common context is a dwelling lease (korteri üürileping), but tenancy can also apply to non-residential premises. The lease outlines rent amount and payment schedule, duration, security deposit, maintenance responsibilities, and rules of conduct. The tenant is generally expected to maintain the property and to notify the landlord of essential repairs, while the landlord is responsible for providing a habitable premises and complying with applicable laws.

The legal framework for tenancy in Estonia rests mainly on the Law of Obligations Act and related housing regulations. These laws establish rights and obligations for both tenants and landlords, including conditions for rent changes, termination notices, deposits, and eviction procedures. Disputes may be resolved through negotiation, mediation, or court proceedings, depending on the case.

Etymologically, üürnikku is tied to the root üür meaning rent; the form indicates its syntactic role as the direct object. The base noun üürnik refers to the tenant, while other forms denote number and case in Estonian grammar.