On Wednesday, the Riigikogu accepted amendments to the Law of Obligations Act, changing the way rental relationships are regulated.
The bill to amend the Law of Obligations Act initiated by the government was passed in the 101-seat chamber by a vote of 73 to eight.
The amendments will enable market participants to regulate the relations between them in a more flexible manner, while keeping in mind the need to proceed from balanced solutions, spokespeople for the Riigikogu said, pointing out that the regulation concerning the rent of dwellings in Estonia has been unchanged for almost 20 years.
"The law proceeds from balanced solutions, which ensure sufficient protection for the tenant as the weaker side of the contractual relationship and preclude possibilities for misuse, while also offering a feeling of security to the lessor. I believe that more flexible regulation will facilitate the emergence of a rental dwelling stock of good quality and the emergence of trustworthy rent relations in the coming few years," Minister of Justice Raivo Aeg (Isamaa) said according to spokespeople for the ministry.