Kielo held a Kick-off event at the beginning of October

At the beginning of October, Kielo organized a Kick-off event for its members operating across Finland. This gathering provided an opportunity to discuss current topics related to marketing, leasing, and responsibility. It was particularly significant, as the Kielo brand had been launched in early summer, making fall the perfect time to come together and share updates on our journey under the national Kielo brand.

We were delighted to welcome key partners of Kielo, who contributed valuable insights through their presentations. Iina Lahtinen and Riku Rauhanen from Bird & Bird shared their expertise, with Iina discussing challenges associated with lease agreements and Riku addressing crucial issues in data protection, responding to pressing questions from the audience.

The Nuances of Lease Agreements

When leasing properties and office premises, it is essential to draft the lease agreement thoroughly, considering the needs of both the landlord and the tenant. Reviewing the terms and details of the agreement is crucial to ensure that all parties understand their responsibilities and obligations. Under the guidance of Iina Lahtinen, we explored key considerations in the preparation of lease agreements.

The Act on the Leasing of Business Premises (LHVL) recognizes only fixed-term and indefinite lease agreements. It is essential to choose a contract that best meets the business needs of the parties involved. Conflicts can arise due to issues such as rights of possession, the commencement of the lease term, and discrepancies in payments, so clear communication and careful documentation are crucial.

“It’s advisable to agree on the parties’ responsibilities regarding the maintenance of the premises in the agreement. Perhaps surprisingly, the law does not provide a direct answer to this,” Lahtinen explains.

A well-drafted lease agreement prevents problems and protects the rights of both parties. Clear terms and responsibilities reduce ambiguities and enhance the smoothness of collaboration.

Data Protection Issues in Leasing

A key topic was the data protection issues related to leasing properties and office premises. Rauhanen highlighted that “bottlenecks often arise around the additional services included in lease agreements.” He continued, stating that “access control and video surveillance often spark discussions about which party acts as the data controller.”

Another common issue occurs in situations where a data processor wants to use the tenant’s personal data for its own purposes. In such cases, legal grounds for processing are required, meaning that the processor must obtain consent from the data subjects.

“As is often said, data protection laws rarely outright prohibit actions—they simply set the rules for how data processing should be conducted correctly,” Rauhanen noted.

Future Perspectives

Kielo takes both lease agreements and data protection matters seriously, as careful consideration of these issues benefits both Kielo and the tenants. The presentations from our partners were clearly beneficial for the Kielo team. Bird & Bird will certainly continue to enhance and deepen the knowledge of the entire team on these topics. By working together, the Kielo members develop and succeed, ensuring high quality in all their operations while also creating sustainable customer relationships.