Resident’s Guide

Our housing stock varies in age and is located in different parts of Kangasala. We extensively renovate flats annually and strive to ensure that life, in terms of living, runs smoothly for our residents.

Smoking indoors has not been permitted in our flats since 2018 (new tenancy agreements), and our new builds and renovated properties completed after 2017 are entirely smoke-free, meaning smoking is not allowed anywhere on the property, including balconies or in the yard.

Starting Your Tenancy

Kiinteistö Oy Taloherttua has approximately 1,100 rental flats in Kangasala, Sahalahti, and Kuhmalahti. Anyone can apply for our flats, but some are subject to ARA restrictions. These flats adhere to specific resident selection criteria, the most common of which are the applicant’s homelessness and low income. Additionally, student flats with their own application requirements and service flats, where resident selection is made by city bodies, are available.

The best way to apply for a flat is by completing an application form on our website. ↵

Applications must always be submitted in writing; verbal applications will not be considered. Applications are valid for three months from the submission date. If you wish, you can renew your application via a link sent to your email. Your details will be stored in our customer information system, and applications with attachments will be retained for approximately three years in accordance with ARA guidelines.

Taloherttua has rental properties throughout Kangasala. These properties include blocks of flats, terraced houses, and semi-detached houses. Flat sizes range from studios under 30m2 to large properties over 100m2. We also have flats specifically for students at Puusepäntie 44. More information on applying for student flats and special conditions can be found on our website under Instructions and Files ↵.

Properties and flats are at different stages of their lifecycle, but we strive to ensure that all homes are in good basic condition for their age when rented out.

Some of our rental flats are state-subsidised ARA and interest-subsidy rental flats, which are subject to resident selection regulations stipulated in various laws and supervised by ARA. Flats must be allocated to those most in need, and selection is based on social appropriateness and financial necessity. Assessment is made based on housing need, assets, and income. The principle of equality in housing provision and resident selection is inviolable.

In resident selection, significant or repeated payment defaults in the applicant’s credit history or previous rent arrears to the same landlord may pose a challenge or even an obstacle. Previous housing history may also affect resident selection.

You do not need to submit attachments with your flat application. However, please be prepared to provide the following documents if requested:

• valid tax certificate (for changed information and assets, the latest pre-filled tax return)
• salary certificate or other proof of income
• copy of Kela benefits and decisions
• possible divorce decree
• pregnancy certificate
• study certificate
• residence permit
• court decision on relocation obligation
• other possible certificates the applicant wishes to refer to

Flat Rentals
Contact: Mon, Tue, and Thu, 9-11 am and 12-3 pm
03 357 5262

Smoking indoors has not been permitted in our flats since 2018 (new tenancy agreements), and our new builds and renovated properties completed after 2017 are entirely smoke-free, meaning smoking is not allowed anywhere on the property, including balconies or in the yard.

Some of our properties have been built with state interest subsidies, meaning asset limits have been agreed upon for a certain period. These flats are therefore intended for low-income individuals and those most in need. Some of our properties are market-rate, meaning they have no asset limits. Assets include, for example, real estate, shares, and funds.

Once debts have been taken into account, the value of assets must not exceed the following maximum amounts (data 2021):

1 person: €34,000
2 people: €43,000
3 people: €48,000
4 people: €59,000
5 people: €71,000

You can check the current asset limits on the city’s website↵.

Agreements are generally made for an indefinite period. However, there are occasionally grounds to make an agreement for a fixed term initially, meaning both a start date and an end date are specified in the agreement. In a fixed-term agreement, neither the landlord nor the tenant can generally terminate the agreement before the end date. Exceptions to this rule are outlined in the Residential Lease Act (AHVL) and must be invoked with proof. The landlord can only terminate or cancel a fixed-term agreement on compelling grounds defined by law. Generally, however, it can be assumed that a fixed-term agreement must be committed to for the agreed period. Taloherttua’s practice is a six-month fixed-term agreement, either two 3-month fixed-term agreements or one 6-month agreement. If living proceeds without disturbance during the fixed-term agreement and rent payments are up to date, the continuation agreement can generally be made for an indefinite period. If rent payments are not made or disturbances occur, the agreement may end after the fixed term, and no new agreement will be made.

An agreement for an indefinite period does not specify an end date, meaning it continues until the agreement is terminated or cancelled. In an indefinite agreement, the tenant’s notice period is one calendar month, i.e., a full month. So, if you give notice for the flat on any day in September, your tenancy will be valid until 31 October. If you give notice on 1 October, your agreement will be valid until the end of November. Your moving day is the last day of the termination month, and this is specified in the tenancy agreement. When the landlord gives notice, the period is longer, up to 6 months, depending on how long you have lived in the flat.

Taloherttua does not make separate tenancy agreements for the same flat, for example, when friends move in together. If separate tenancy agreements are required, a sub-tenancy agreement can be negotiated if necessary. In a sub-tenancy agreement, one resident makes an agreement with the flat owner, Taloherttua, as usual, establishing a tenancy relationship with Taloherttua. This tenant can then make a sub-tenancy agreement with another person by renting less than 50% of the flat’s floor area to their sub-tenant, in which case the main tenant acts as the sub-tenant’s landlord. The main tenant remains fully responsible for rent payments, successful living, and the condition of the flat to Kiinteistö Oy Taloherttua, while the sub-tenant is responsible to the main tenant for matters agreed upon in the sub-tenancy agreement. A sub-tenancy agreement must be agreed upon in advance with Taloherttua, and a copy of the agreement must then be provided to the landlord. Taloherttua does not provide a template for sub-tenancy agreements. Please note that a sub-tenancy agreement has more limited rights than a standard tenancy agreement.

Renting out the flat entirely to a third party, i.e., subletting or re-letting, is prohibited.

Generally, our tenancy agreements begin on the first day of the month and are initially made for a fixed term. Before signing the agreement, you must pay a security deposit. You can pay the deposit yourself or apply for a commitment from Kela for the deposit. More on deposits later.

Flat keys are collected from our office, Urheilutie 2–4, 36200 Kangasala. To sign for the keys, you will need a photo ID. If you do not have a photo ID and cannot obtain one in time, you can provide an informal power of attorney to a named person. As the tenant, you are responsible for the keys, even if you authorise another person to collect them on your behalf.

Change of address notifications must be made to Posti, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, and Herttuan Kiinteistöpalvelu Oy. You can make change of address notifications online or using a paper form:

• Posti, Digital and Population Data Services Agency: https://dvv.fi/muutto
• Herttuan Kiinteistöpalvelu: https://avux.kuparisolutions.fi/herttuankpmuuttoilmoitus/

Remember to arrange an electricity contract with an electricity company. In some of our properties, the electricity contract is included in the rent, but generally, the tenant is responsible for their own electricity. We also strongly recommend obtaining home insurance. If you are a Kela client, remember to notify Kela of your change of address and ensure any housing and other support matters are up to date.

Flats are inspected, and the inspection is always documented when a resident changes. However, after moving into the flat, inspect the apartment carefully and report any defects or deficiencies you notice to the Herttuan Kiinteistöpalvelu Oy office without delay, should anything have been overlooked during the inspection. Defects that disturb your living will be repaired as soon as possible. Observations should primarily be reported online: https://avux.kuparisolutions.fi/herttuankpvikailmoitus/

Flats are rented in the condition they are in at the time of agreement. Any additional fittings must be agreed upon with the property manager. The resident is responsible for any costs arising from modifications. Please note that the level of fittings varies between our different properties. If you wish, you can reserve a parking space and a sauna slot immediately when making the agreement. It is also possible to reserve them later during the tenancy.

Renting is easy and safe. The landlord and the housing company are responsible for the property and the flat, as well as its fixed furnishings. The rented flat is the tenant’s own home, and the landlord does not have the right to enter the flat without notice. If the flat needs to be visited for an inspection or to repair defects, the landlord or maintenance company must notify and/or arrange it well in advance. Exceptions to this are emergencies, such as fire, water damage, or suspicion thereof.

The tenant’s most important responsibility is to pay the rent on time by the due date marked in the agreement. Responsibilities also include the duty to report. This means that the tenant must promptly report any defects or deficiencies noticed in the flat. Typical defects include, for example, a leaking tap or a lost key. If the tenant suspects a major defect, such as moisture damage, or if water damage occurs in the flat, it must be reported immediately. If the duty to report is not followed, the tenant may be liable for compensation, even if the defects are not caused by the tenant themselves.

The tenant also has a responsibility to take good care of the flat, which means maintaining basic cleanliness and the upkeep of self-installed appliances. The surfaces of the flat must also be cared for: normal wear and tear is expected, but for example, tearing wallpaper will have to be compensated by the resident. In addition, the tenant must consider other residents. This means adhering to the housing company’s house rules and ensuring general peace and quiet for everyone.

In brief, the tenant’s responsibilities are:

• Pay rent on time
  • Due date is the 5th of each month
  • Use the reference number when paying
  • If experiencing payment difficulties, contact us as soon as possible
• Keep the flat in good condition
  • Regular cleaning
  • Reporting possible defects: urgent matters immediately, non-urgent matters as soon as possible
• Ensure adherence to house rules and neighbourly harmony
  • Peace and quiet, consideration for neighbours
  • The tenant is also responsible for the behaviour and actions of their guests

The tenancy agreement specifies a security deposit. This is a deposit you pay to the landlord before the start of the tenancy agreement. When you hand over the flat thoroughly cleaned, well-maintained, with your rent paid, and all keys you signed for returned, you will receive the deposit back. After the tenancy agreement ends, the deposit may be used to cover unpaid rent, repairs for damages caused by the tenant, or, for example, the cost of re-keying locks if the tenant has lost keys. If the deposit does not cover everything, the tenant will be invoiced for the costs.

Please note that the deposit cannot be used during the tenancy, nor is it rent paid in advance. The rental deposit is typically equivalent to one to three months’ rent, depending on the rental property, the resident’s housing history, and credit information. You can pay the deposit yourself or apply for a payment commitment from Kela. If you have a Kela payment commitment, you are responsible for ensuring its validity. Failure to provide the deposit is grounds for termination of the agreement.

Living at Taloherttua

For living to be smooth and pleasant, everyone must consider their neighbours. Our housing companies adhere to house rules, which have been agreed upon and approved to ensure the comfort of residents. In addition to the house rules, residents and their guests must comply with public order laws both in the apartments and in the yard areas and common spaces. The full house rules can be found on our website under Instructions and Files↵.

Please note that there may be minor differences in house rules between properties, so if you are unsure which rules apply to your property, please do not hesitate to ask the property management. Failure to comply with the house rules may, at worst, lead to liability for damages or termination of the tenancy.

Upon signing the agreement, you will receive a rent payment transfer form. This transfer form is valid from the initial month of the agreement until the following May: you will not receive a rent invoice by post every month, but rather pay the rent monthly using the same invoice. A new rent invoice will be sent to your home by post.

The due date for rent payments and any separate charges (sauna slot, parking space) is the fifth (5th) day of each month. Remember to use the reference number when paying your rent. The correct reference ensures that the payment is registered on time and allocated to your specific apartment. You can also arrange for your bank to handle your rent payments as a payment service or set up a direct debit. You can inquire about these options with your bank. It is not possible to postpone the rent payment due date, even if you can only pay the rent at the end of the month. If you pay rent late, overdue payments will incur penalty interest in accordance with the Interest Act.

In a housing company, rent is determined per building, meaning each building in the company is its own separate rent determination unit. The rent for a flat consists of capital costs and operating costs. Capital costs include repayments and interest on construction and renovation loans for the building, while operating costs include heating, electricity, and water charges, as well as costs arising from property maintenance. These costs must be covered annually by collected rents. Residents therefore collectively pay the costs of their building by paying rent.

Taloherttua generally reviews its rents annually, and new rents usually come into effect on 1 June. Rent adjustments are always communicated in writing.

If you are on a low income, you can apply for housing benefits from Kela. These benefits include general housing allowance, housing allowance for pensioners, and income support. Kela has defined reasonable amounts for housing expenses per municipality. More information on applying for housing benefits, criteria, and amounts can be found on Kela’s website ↵.

We recommend that every tenant takes out home insurance. Home insurance compensates the tenant for, for example, damage to movable property that the landlord’s and/or housing company’s own insurance does not cover. If damage occurs in the flat due to the tenant and repairs are needed, the tenant will be billed for it. Depending on the nature of the damage and the insurance terms, the tenant’s insurance may cover this.

Each company’s yard has parking spaces available for rent. A parking space can be rented, if available, either immediately upon moving in or at a later stage if needed. Rent for the parking space is charged along with the rent payment. A parking space may not be used for any purpose other than parking a car under one’s own control and in regular use.

Guest parking spaces in the company’s yard are intended for use by guests of residents living in the property. Parking of residents’ own cars in these spaces is not permitted. Cars must not be parked in the yard anywhere other than in the designated areas. Stopping in front of the door is temporarily allowed, for example, for loading/unloading a car, or if a person with mobility difficulties is being transported to the door by car.

The tenant is responsible for the parking space key received and is not entitled to hand it over to an outsider. The tenant is obliged to return the key to the landlord at the end of the tenancy. The notice period for a parking space is one calendar month.

Repeated incorrect use of a parking space will, at minimum, result in the loss of the space.

In most properties without in-apartment saunas, residents have access to the company’s communal sauna. Customers can rent a personal sauna slot, if available, either immediately upon moving in or at a later stage if needed. A usage fee for the sauna slot is charged along with the rent payment.

Users of the communal sauna must rinse the benches, washing facilities, and wash basins after use, and turn off taps and lights. Used ‘vastas’ (birch whisks) etc. must not be left in the sauna. The use of sauna fragrances is recommended to be avoided. Sauna slots can be booked or cancelled by calling the centre. The notice period for a sauna slot is one calendar month.

The use of various sauna fragrances can cause respiratory symptoms in sauna users and is therefore not permitted in communal saunas.

Taloherttua’s properties offer a varying range of common areas. These include, for example, the housing companies’ yards, storage rooms for movable property, laundry rooms and drying rooms, waste collection points, and the property’s corridors and stairwells. It is every resident’s duty to contribute to the cleanliness and pleasantness of these spaces. Items are only allowed to be stored in designated places: please do not leave shoes or prams in the stairwell, or your personal belongings in common areas. Common areas are for the use of all residents, and, for example, loitering in the common yard area in a way that prevents or disturbs others’ use of the yard is not permitted. If you notice defects or deficiencies in the property’s common areas, or if someone is using the areas contrary to the rules, it is your duty to report them to the maintenance company.

Vehicles in the yard may only be parked in designated and marked spaces with the company’s permission. Parking in front of your own front door or on your own lawn area is therefore also prohibited. The housing company’s guest spaces are intended for residents’ guests and are not for long-term parking. Unnecessary idling of vehicles is prohibited. Vehicle repair work, oil changes, or vehicle washing are not permitted in the property areas, nor may vehicles removed from road traffic use be stored in parking areas.

Generally, only personal vehicles in use may be parked in parking areas – not, for example, trailers, caravans, or motorhomes. Various types of vehicle charging are prohibited in parking areas unless a specific charging point is provided in the yard.

Smoking is prohibited in all common areas of housing companies, such as stairwells and basement corridors, as well as in the immediate vicinity of properties and children’s playgrounds. Tenancy agreements concluded in April 2018 and thereafter also prohibit smoking inside the flats. New and renovated properties completed after 2021 are entirely smoke-free, including balconies and the property’s yard.

In the laundry room, only the resident’s personal and household linen may be washed. Users of the laundry room must follow the booking system in use in the company, which is displayed on the laundry room wall. Laundry must be removed from the machine/tumble dryer/drying room immediately after the slot ends, and the facilities must be tidied before the next user. Detergent splashes and any dirt stains must therefore be cleaned away. Dyeing laundry with dyes placed in the washing machine is prohibited. Laundry rooms are not available in all properties, and their equipment level varies by property.

There may be separate instructions for the use of common areas posted on the wall or door of the space. Unnecessary loitering in common areas should be avoided, and when moving through them, general cleanliness must be maintained, and doors must be locked.

The maintenance company, Herttuan Kiinteistöpalvelu Oy, is responsible for the care and upkeep of the properties and their yard areas. Herttuan Kiinteistöpalvelu is a maintenance company owned by the city, which maintains and cleans, as well as manages and rents out properties owned directly or indirectly by the city.

The maintenance company’s duties include, for example:

• receiving defect reports and taking necessary actions
• maintaining cleanliness of outdoor areas: e.g., emptying bins and mowing lawns
• minor repairs
• door opening
• flag hoisting
• sanding during winter

You can also provide feedback; we are happy to develop our operations together with our customers.

Telephone Service:
Weekdays 8 am – 4 pm
Switchboard number: 03 357 5260

Defect Report ↵
Feedback ↵

Most of our properties have Elisa cable TV, through which flats also have access to a free 25 Mbps internet connection. Utilising the internet requires the tenant to purchase a cable modem. The connection must be activated separately according to Elisa’s instructions.

As always, there are a few exceptions:

• Kompankaari 17 has an Elisa fibre optic connection.
• Puusepäntie 44 has a Telia fibre optic connection. For orders, please refer to the separate instructions.
• Unfortunately, internet included in the rent is not available in Kuhmalahti. These properties do not have cable television; TV is received via a communal antenna.

In addition to basic connections, a wider range of services can be explored on network operators’ availability websites by performing an availability search with your home address.

Pets are allowed in all our properties. Pets must be kept on a leash outside the apartments and must be continuously under their owner’s control and supervision.

Pets are not allowed to roam freely in the housing company’s yard, nor should they be exercised in or near areas reserved for children’s play. Pets must not disturb residents of the building or others legitimately moving within the building, for example, by making noise.

The owner must ensure that the pet does not soil stairwells, lawns, planted areas, yards, building walls, or parked vehicles.

Generally, flats do not come with a dishwasher provided by the landlord, but tenants may acquire one if they wish.

You must contact us in advance regarding the acquisition of a dishwasher, and a plumber is required for its installation. It is advisable to keep the installation invoice in case something goes wrong, so that you can claim compensation from your home insurance. Costs related to dishwasher installation are the responsibility of the resident.

Resident activity is voluntary activity by residents aimed at increasing living comfort and bringing residents’ views into decision-making, as well as providing an opportunity to influence. Resident democracy and its principles of influence are stipulated by law (Act on Joint Administration in Rental Housing) and much information on its organisation and operation can be found, for example, on ARA’s website (search: ‘resident democracy’)

Taloherttua’s resident democracy structure in a nutshell:

Resident Meeting

Each property aims to hold an annual resident meeting. The starting point is that if there is no resident representative in the property yet, or if the resident meeting cannot be arranged through them for one reason or another, the landlord convenes the meeting, and the landlord is most often represented by the company’s property manager. The meeting will at least address the selection of a possible resident committee and resident representative, as well as current issues concerning the property, if any.
The meeting may also discuss building-level matters or financial matters in more detail.

Nowadays, it is also possible for a resident meeting to address a housing disturbance issue if it is particularly difficult or widely affecting the property. In such a case, a memorandum or minutes concerning the handling of such an issue can serve as a written complaint on the matter and even as grounds for issuing a warning.

In buildings where a resident representative has already been elected, it is possible to organise resident activities and meet more often if desired to discuss various matters. It is advisable to submit a memorandum or minutes of the meetings to the property management.

Resident Representative

The resident representative elected at the resident meeting participates in resident representative meetings at agreed intervals and receives more detailed information on current company matters.

The resident representative acts as a channel for information between the building and the property management. The resident representative is therefore a party elected by the residents of the property to represent them to the landlord. The resident representative’s duty is to bring up matters concerning the entire building to the landlord. However, the resident representative does not handle anyone’s personal affairs, nor can they dictate or decide on matters between the tenant and the landlord.

Resident Representatives’ Meeting

Resident representatives from different buildings meet regularly but informally, several times a year. The resident representatives’ meeting, like a ‘residents’ board’, discusses common company matters. Information is thoroughly reviewed in these meetings, and building-level matters are also discussed, though perhaps more in terms of monitoring and feedback. Invited speakers also present and initiate discussions at the meetings.

In Taloherttua’s resident democracy model, the resident representatives’ meeting is also the body that annually issues a statement on rent and usage fee adjustments, financial statements, and the budget.

The chairperson of the resident representatives’ meeting, elected from among the resident representatives, also serves as the residents’ representative on the Board of Directors of Kiinteistö Oy Taloherttua. The company’s CEO generally acts as the meeting secretary, also handling invitation arrangements and the agenda.

The chairperson of the resident representatives’ meeting, elected to Taloherttua’s Board of Directors, represents the residents’ perspective on the board and brings the residents’ voice to decision-making. Board work is not actual resident activity but normal board work, which is subject to strict and partly statutory confidentiality obligations. Board work focuses on safeguarding the company’s position and interests and implementing the owner’s will.

Resident Activities

As stated above, resident activity is voluntary, unpaid work, and always reflects the people involved. Traditional spring and autumn work parties still hold their ground as cornerstones of resident activity, but various other resident activity projects also emerge from time to time, and, for example, various hobby rooms have sometimes been established in properties on this basis. Resident activity is richer in properties where a small resident committee of 3–5 members has been elected to support the resident representative. Committee members can be selected on a voluntary basis or, if there is high interest, even by drawing lots. Activities vary in different properties, as residents’ needs are diverse.

If there are no resident activities or a resident representative in your building, a resident meeting is a natural starting point, and its organisation can be done in cooperation with the landlord.

Resident activities should serve all residents equally, so it is best to discuss their nature and operating methods with your neighbours in the neighbourhood.

Housing companies can organise communal work parties to improve living comfort. The purpose of these work parties is to benefit all residents. The neighbourhood or a resident meeting can initiate, for example, the repair of a fence or the renovation of a barbecue shelter. These must always be communicated in advance, and a written proposal of what will be done during the work party must be submitted. The written proposal can be sent by email to keskus@herttuankp.fi or by paper to our office. Verbal permissions are not given. If the work party or modifications are approved, the landlord will provide tools and materials for the work.

If your flat includes a private yard area, you are responsible for its tidiness and maintenance. If you wish to make changes to your yard area, you must contact us and ask for permission for the changes. No modifications may be made without written permission, neither inside the flat nor in its yard.

Rewards
Kiinteistö Oy Taloherttua has a system for rewarding long-term residents, meaning residents who have lived in the same flat for a long time are rewarded every five years.

The calculation for rewards began for everyone on 1 January 2013, meaning the first five-year reward was possible in 2018. The principle and condition for the reward is that the same flat has been lived in for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 years, the flat has been well-maintained without damage, and the rent has been paid during the rent determination month, with no rent arrears. If the building undergoes a complete renovation, the calculation period begins from the completion of the renovation.

Content of Rewards:

• 5 years: Painting or wallpapering the walls of one room, or another improvement of similar magnitude to the flat.
• 10 years: Painting or wallpapering the walls of one room and laminate flooring for the room.
• 15 years: Painting or wallpapering the walls of one room and laminate flooring for the room, as well as renewing the refrigerator, dishwasher, or cooker in the flat.
• 20 years: Wallpapering the entire apartment.
• 25 years: Wallpapering the entire apartment and installing laminate flooring.
• 30 years: Renovation worth approximately €2,000, to be agreed upon with the resident.

The reward can also be implemented on a case-by-case basis as another improvement of similar magnitude to the flat. Materials and products may vary from what is described here.

If you are interested in this benefit, please contact keskus@herttuankp.fi or call 03 357 5260.

RTV Discount
As our resident, you are entitled to pre-negotiated discount percentages when shopping at RTV. Discounts vary by product category, and you can ask RTV staff for more information. Materials can be purchased for pre-agreed renovation work in your own home, but also for your own projects, meaning they do not have to be related to your rental flat.

To receive the discount, you will need a customer number, which you can obtain from us via the centre. Please do not share the customer number for external use.

When living in close proximity, it is important to remember to consider your neighbours. For this reason, housing companies adhere to house rules, and breaking them can lead to consequences. So, please be considerate of others when you live here. Especially during quiet hours, noise should be avoided, but normal sounds of living are still permitted. For example, using the toilet or a baby crying are normal parts of life, which may cause some noise to carry to a neighbour’s apartment at night. However, unnecessary banging, slamming doors, listening to music, or doing laundry are things that should not be done during quiet hours. During the day, more sounds of living are allowed, but disturbances should still not be caused. For example, continuous shouting or listening to music at an unreasonably loud volume are things that disturb neighbours even during the day.

If you feel disturbed by a neighbour, it is advisable to first discuss the matter with them, if possible. It may be that the neighbour has not considered that your bedroom is located behind their living room wall, and that watching television in the evening is clearly audible in your flat. Often, a friendly reminder from a neighbour yields better results than a written notice from the landlord. If this does not help, or if you do not feel comfortable discussing the disturbance with your neighbour, you can make a written report. Especially if disturbances are continuous, it is important that the landlord receives written notification from several residents of the property. This enables the landlord to intervene in the situation. Due to confidentiality, the landlord cannot discuss measures with the resident who made the report, but every written complaint is processed and evaluated to determine what actions are needed in the situation.

If necessary, you can contact housing advisory services and consider what should be done in the situation. A housing advisor also cannot do anything without a written report but can help you think about the situation and possible solutions. More information on disturbance reports and housing advisory services can be found in the ‘Problem Situations’ section of this guide.

Your housing needs may change during your tenancy. Perhaps your family grew and you need more space, or your life situation changed, and it’s time to reduce housing costs. At KOy Taloherttua, you can apply for an internal transfer to a more suitable flat. You can apply for a transfer by completing a flat application. Transfer applications are valid for three months at a time. In these applications too, priority is given to those with urgent housing needs, so if your situation is acute, remember to state your reasons in the application. For a transfer to be possible, your rent payments must be up to date, and your current flat must be lived in tidily. The practice is that the tenant must have lived in the current flat for at least one year without any problems, unless there is a significant change in housing needs, for example, due to health reasons.

If the tenancy agreement has been made in the names of more than one person, an individual tenant can terminate the agreement on their own behalf. In this case, a one-calendar-month notice period also applies, but tenants can agree on different arrangements among themselves. In this situation, the deposit may need to be renewed or transferred to the names of the remaining tenant(s). If you have a deposit commitment, e.g., from KELA, please confirm the terms of the deposit with them in advance. New tenants cannot be added to a tenancy agreement retrospectively: this aims to prevent bypassing the housing queue.

Home Maintenance

You are allowed to decorate your home as you wish. It is permissible to attach, for example, a reasonable number of pictures to the walls. Remember to leave nails and screws in place and do not remove them unless you intend to fill the holes when you move out. Use appropriate fastening methods and products for walls, and as always, moderation in everything – a very holey or nail-ridden wall is not considered normal wear and tear.

Modifications and renovations must be discussed in advance with the technical property manager. Such changes requiring permission may relate to interior spaces, for example, painting or wallpapering walls, or fixed furnishings. If you have your own yard, you might consider repairing a fence, acquiring a trampoline, or digging a flower bed – for all of these, it is good to contact us in advance. The tenant is responsible for the costs of modifications themselves; in some cases, it may be possible to obtain materials from the landlord if a permanent renovation-type solution is being made. When permission is granted, it will be agreed whether the works are permanent, in which case they remain in the flat when you move out (e.g., a peephole or security lock), or whether you must restore the property to its original condition.

If your flat includes a yard or balcony, you must ensure its cleanliness. These spaces are not storage areas and affect not only your own comfort but also that of your neighbours.

The tenant has a duty to take careful care of the flat. This means looking after the condition and cleanliness of the flat. Please keep the apartment basically tidy, and do not, for example, accumulate waste or rubbish bags in the hallway or outside the apartment door. Good home maintenance also affects indoor air quality, in addition to comfort. Tenancy agreements concluded in April 2018 and thereafter prohibit smoking inside the flats.

Cleaning that falls under the tenant’s responsibility includes, among other things, washing windows, keeping the kitchen and its appliances clean, cleaning cooker hoods, and regularly cleaning floor drains. Remember not to put rubbish or grease down the drain, as they may block the pipes. The cost of unblocking a clogged drain will be paid by the resident if the blockage was caused by their own actions. Ventilation valves should be cleaned at least twice a year, more often if necessary. The grease filter of the cooker hood must be removed and cleaned regularly, at least every few months.

Shaking out rugs is permitted only on designated balconies or areas between 7:00 AM and 9:00 PM. Shaking and airing out clothes and linen
as well as drying small laundry items is permitted on apartment balconies only within the railings.

Marttaliitto’s website provides good tips, for example, on assembling necessary cleaning supplies and cleaning different surfaces. At the end of this guide, there is also Martat’s cleaning calendar.

Each property’s yard has waste collection. The types of waste collected vary by property. If you believe your housing company is missing an essential collection bin, you can contact us and suggest acquiring a new waste collection type. Depending on the property, your company may have its own collection points for mixed waste, biowaste, cardboard, paper, glass, metal, and plastic. If not all of these are collected at your property, you can check the nearest recycling point at https://www.kierratys.info or https://pjhoy.fi/jateasema/kangasalan-jateasemat

Household waste and rubbish must be taken well-packaged to waste bins, and the lids of the waste bins must be closed. Waste must not be left next to the bins, nor should rubbish bags be stored next to the front door or in stairwells. Waste must be sorted according to the area’s waste collection guidelines. The resident must arrange for the removal of waste other than household waste themselves. For household appliances, furniture, or other comparable waste left next to the waste bins, the person who left the waste will be charged for its removal. Environmentally harmful waste must be delivered to collection points designated by the authorities.

Mixed Waste
Dirty food plastics, papers and cardboards, porcelain and ceramics, non-recyclable textiles, incandescent and halogen lamps, cosmetics, cigarette butts, nappies, plastic items, pet waste, etc.

Biowaste
Compostable waste, such as food (leftovers, peels, coffee grounds and filter bags), kitchen paper, napkins, plants and leaves. Biowaste can be packed in newspaper, a paper bag, or a biodegradable bag.

Cardboard
Cardboard boxes and food packaging, paper bags, paper roll cores, etc. Rinse, drain, flatten, and nest if possible. Dirty and wet cardboard belongs in mixed waste.

Paper
Newspapers and magazines, advertisements, envelopes, softcover books, and other paper. Wet and dirty paper, cardboard, or paper bags do not belong in the paper waste bin!

Glass
Packaging glass includes glass bottles and glass jars. Remove caps and lids. Labels and rings left from caps may remain. Only packaging glass belongs in glass collection; for example, porcelain, dishes, and mirrors belong in mixed waste!

Metal
Cans and drink containers, aluminium trays and foils, pots, cutlery, and empty, depressurised paints and aerosols.

Plastic
Food and detergent packaging, plastic bags, and plastic wraps. Dirty plastic packaging, PVC, or plastic items such as buckets or toys do not belong in plastic collection.

Textiles
Intact, clean, and usable clothes can be taken to a flea market, recycling centre, or collection bin. Broken but clean and dry textiles can be taken to Nextiili in Tampere.

Wood Waste
Various wood materials: boards, parquet, plywood, branchless tree trunks. Nails, screws, or hinges attached to wood do not need to be removed. Wood waste is collected at the waste station.

Garden Waste
Leaves and raked waste, plant tops, and grass. Twigs should be sorted separately. Note that quite often in spring and autumn, a large waste container for garden waste appears in the property’s yard – at least larger items of this type should be timed to coincide with this.

Hazardous waste, medicines
Paints, glues, solvents, chemicals, waste oils, batteries, fluorescent tubes and energy-saving lamps. Hazardous waste should be kept in its original packaging and can be taken to a waste station or waste centre. Unnecessary and expired medicines, syringes, thermometers, etc., can be returned to a pharmacy.

Electrical appliances
Anything that can be plugged into a socket, or that runs on batteries or a rechargeable battery. Small electrical appliances are accepted at many shops. Larger appliances can be taken to a waste station or waste centre.

Large waste and metals
Furniture, mattresses, rugs, tents, snow pushers, bicycles, etc., which do not belong in a waste bin due to their size or weight. Such waste can be taken to a waste station or waste centre. Remember also to recycle items that are still usable!

In addition to the condition of the flat, the temperature and ventilation are, of course, essential factors affecting living comfort.

A suitable temperature for flats is approximately 21 degrees +/- 1 degree. The temperature in the bedroom can be slightly lower than this, and in the bathroom, a degree or two warmer is fine.

Most of our buildings have mechanical exhaust ventilation, where an exhaust air unit mechanically removes air from the flat through exhaust air valves. Replacement air is obtained either through replacement air valves in the walls or window frames, or through gaps left in the window seals. Dust accumulates easily on ventilation valves, and the resident must clean them regularly, for example, by vacuuming.

Our newer properties have mechanical supply and exhaust ventilation, implemented either on a flat-specific or building-specific basis. In flat-specific implementations, the ventilation unit may be located within the flat, most often in the bathroom. Ventilation units located in the flat often allow for the adjustment of the temperature of the air blown into the flat. This temperature setting should be approximately 12–15 degrees. A temperature set too high unnecessarily increases electricity consumption. Let the flat’s primary heating system (usually wall radiators) heat the flat and use the ventilation unit only for comfort control in normal situations. If such a ventilation unit is found in your flat, please read the operating instructions carefully. The resident does not need to worry about using the bypass damper designed for the season; maintenance will set it to the summer or winter setting while changing the filters in the machine (usually in spring and autumn).

The kitchen cooker hood is also one exhaust air route. When cooking, the cooker hood’s grease filter becomes dirty and, over time, clogged, weakening the ventilation. Please remember to clean the grease filter regularly.

The building’s ventilation is a extensive but sensitive system, to which individual changes cannot be made without affecting the entire property. Adjusting or blocking supply and exhaust air valves is strictly prohibited. Under no circumstances should a flat-specific ventilation unit be switched off completely.

Airing

The most effective way to air rooms has been proven to be a cross-draught for a couple of minutes, if this is possible to implement. Airing into the stairwell is not permitted and is not particularly useful either. For the functionality of the ventilation, it is also essential to have a proper supply of replacement air, so it is good to check the condition of window and door seals from time to time to ensure that the flow of replacement air from the correct place is sufficient.

Especially during summer heatwaves, you should take care to air the flat and protect it from the sun’s heat. Airing should be done during the coolest time, i.e., in the evenings and at night. During the daytime, doors and windows should be kept closed, and curtains and/or blinds shut. You should eliminate heat sources from inside the flat: turn off unnecessary electrical appliances and reduce the use of the sauna. If conditions are uncomfortable, contact maintenance to see if relief is available, for example, through longer night-time boost periods for the ventilation.

Heating

The heating season always starts a bit slowly. When the temperature fluctuates around zero degrees, the automation regulating the heating does not yet start heating at full power and, in particular, does not have time to adapt to changes in the outdoor temperature; it is common that in these conditions, a maintenance technician occasionally has to perform adjustment work at the property. Changes are not real-time, so patience is unfortunately required. When temperatures finally stay sufficiently cool, the heating stays on and the building’s temperature rises. The same phenomenon is repeated in the spring at the end of the heating season – the daily temperature fluctuations between the night and the day warmed by the spring sun can be considerable, and the automation-controlled heating cannot keep up here either.

You can influence this yourself by communicating and, in addition to the aforementioned methods, by ensuring that radiators are not covered by, for example, curtains or large furniture or tabletops, so that heat can circulate as freely as possible.

Energy costs account for more than a third of all property maintenance expenses on average. By keeping an eye on energy use, you can concretely influence consumption, and thus the formation of costs and environmental impacts. Kiinteistö Oy Taloherttua strives for its part to promote sustainable development. For example, by monitoring the temperatures and consumption of properties, it is possible to track whether there is, for example, heat loss in a property, and thereby intervene in such unnecessary consumption.

The following are a few tips with which you can do your part to save both nature and your own wallet in the form of smaller electricity bills:

• The recommended indoor temperature for a home is 20–21 degrees; in the bedroom, the recommendation is lower than this, as you sleep better in a cooler room.
• Efficient ventilation saves electricity. For example, when airing, efficient cross-draught should be utilised.
• If the seals on doors or windows are not in good condition, submit a fault report so that the seals can be fixed and electricity consumption reduced.
• Switch off the power to devices when you are not using them.
• In lighting, you should favour LED bulbs, and remember to turn off the lights when leaving a room.

If you are interested in energy-saving tips, a wide range of information and tip lists can be found online:

• https://www.martat.fi/marttakoulu/kodinhoito/saasta-energiaa-saasta-ymparistoa-ja-kukkaroa/
• https://ilmasto-opas.fi/fi/
• https://www.motiva.fi/
  https://www.kuluttajaliitto.fi/materiaalit/vastuullinen-kuluttaminen-energiansaasto/

The law requires that every flat must have a smoke alarm for every 60 m² of floor space. According to the law, the occupant of the flat is responsible for ensuring the existence and functionality of smoke alarms. During the tenancy, taking care of this is therefore the tenant’s responsibility. The tenant must therefore check the functionality of the smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries if necessary. The tenant also acquires a smoke alarm(s) if necessary, if the flat does not have a fire alarm system connected to the mains electricity.

Fire safety also includes ensuring that electrical safety is in order. Therefore, please do not use broken devices or cables with damaged protective surfaces. If your flat has a sauna, please do not use it for drying laundry or storing items. Also, ensure that there are no textiles on top of electric radiators.

Faults occasionally occur in flats, which it is important for the resident to report to the maintenance company without delay so that the fault can be repaired. In particular, leaking water fixtures or pipes or faults in the electrical system are things that must be reported immediately before any damage already caused or danger worsens.

You can submit a fault report to the maintenance company via the website, by calling, or by sending an email to the centre. Urgent matters should always be handled by calling. Outside office hours, the maintenance company’s emergency number is available. It is the tenant’s duty to report observed faults.

Most common tasks to be reported to maintenance and falling under their responsibility

• various water fixture leaks (toilet cistern leaks through, tap drips)
• malfunctions of the refrigerator or cooker
• the temperature of the flat is not normal (guideline temperature approximately +20-22°C)
• there is a fault in a socket/the flat is without electricity
• a fixed fixture is broken
• opening the door to the flat

You can most conveniently submit a fault report electronically at https://avux.kuparisolutions.fi/herttuankpvikailmoitus/
or by calling on weekdays from 8 am to 4 pm, centre tel. 03 357 5260

Urgent emergency matters outside office hours tel. 010 338 5000

Problem situations

Tenants on a tenancy agreement are responsible for both their own conduct and the conduct and actions of their guests while staying on the property. If there are two people on the agreement, they are jointly and severally liable for the rent and disturbances. In other words, even if the tenants have agreed between themselves to split the rent payment, both tenants mentioned in the tenancy agreement are responsible. The tenants mentioned in the agreement are also responsible for the actions of their guests and everyone living in the flat.

Sometimes living does not go as hoped, and a neighbour does not follow the house rules. If the disturbance is minor, such as listening to loud music in the evening, it is worth pointing it out to the neighbour face-to-face or, for example, by writing a friendly note about the matter in their letterbox. Often situations are resolved by this, if it has been a case of the neighbour not being aware of the disturbance caused by their actions. Normal sounds of living are not grounds for a disturbance report; for example, you are allowed to use the toilet and shower at night, and children are allowed to make noise while playing during the day. However, unnecessary noise should be avoided, and the neighbours’ right to peace and quiet should be remembered.

If the situation is not resolved by a friendly conversation, approaching the neighbour does not feel like a good idea, or the disturbance is continuous and/or disruptive and does not fall within the scope of normal life, you can submit a written disturbance report to us. Especially if the causing of disturbances is continuous or particularly reprehensible, it is important that the landlord receives written notification of the matter from several residents living in the property. This way, the landlord is able to intervene in the situation. Remember that in an acute situation, you should contact the police: for example, sounds of violence must be reported to the emergency number. Representatives of the housing company do not receive information from the police about visits, so if the authorities are a familiar sight at someone’s door due to housing disturbances, we would appreciate a report of this from neighbours.

Due to confidentiality, the landlord cannot discuss measures with the resident who made the report. Likewise, the person who made the report is not disclosed to the person causing the disturbance. However, every written report is processed and evaluated, and measures are taken as necessary. If necessary, you can contact the housing advisory service and consider what should be done in the situation. The housing advisor also cannot do anything about the matter or discuss the situation of other neighbours without a written report, but can listen and help think about the situation and solutions to it.

Every disturbance report is reviewed, and action is taken based on the reports according to the situation. Based on the report, for example, a housing advisor or property manager can contact the person who caused the disturbance and discuss the situation, but the outcome can also be a reminder, a warning, or even a notice of termination of the tenancy agreement. The landlord’s representatives do not intervene in mutual disputes between neighbours or inappropriate behaviour if the residents do not cause a disturbance by it. However, every resident is entitled to peace and quiet, and everyone should promote pleasant living for all through their own actions.

A disturbance report must always be made in writing. You can find the template for a disturbance report on our website. You can also make a report informally, for example by email or on a piece of paper; however, it must include the following information:

• The name of the resident causing the disturbance and the resident’s flat number
• The time of the disturbance
• As accurate a description of the incident as possible
• The date of the report, the name and contact details of the person reporting (all of them, if there are several).

It is good to note that if a complaint is anonymous, it will not be processed.

The report should be delivered to the property management either by email to keskus@herttuankp.fi or by post:

Herttuan Kiinteistöpalvelu Oy
Urheilutie 2-4
36200 Kangasala

Warnings and the landlord’s right to terminate a tenancy agreement are described in more detail in the Act on Residential Leases 31.3.1995/481 Sections 61–67.

As a rule, a reminder urges the tenant to correct their actions, and if the reason that led to the contact does not continue and the situation is corrected, no further measures are taken.
A warning can be given, for example, after a reminder if the problems continue or for a more serious disturbance/problem. After a warning, the tenant has time to correct their actions, but if the situation continues as before, the landlord may have the right to terminate or cancel the tenancy agreement. A tenancy agreement can be cancelled even without giving a warning if the tenant has acted in an extremely reprehensible manner, i.e., the disturbance or other breach has been significant.

If you know you have caused a disturbance yourself or have received a reminder or warning about it, you can contact us to clarify the matter. If you wish, you can write your own response to the matter. Your own activity and contacting the landlord is a good thing and brings confidence in you and your desire to follow the common rules better in the future. If your tenancy agreement is for a fixed term and you have received a warning about your living, the agreement will likely not be renewed but will end as agreed at the end of the fixed term.

Keys must be kept carefully, and keys must not be handed over to outsiders. You can, of course, keep a spare key with a trusted acquaintance, but you are still responsible for it yourself. If one of the keys is lost, however, report it to us without delay. Kiinteistö Oy Taloherttua will take care of re-keying the locks and acquiring new keys if necessary.

We do not accept self-made keys to replace lost ones. If a flat key or keys are lost, you are liable to compensate for the costs incurred from re-keying the locks and acquiring the keys.

If you need a door opening, call us on weekdays between 8 am and 4 pm at the centre number 03 357 5260. Outside these hours, the property maintenance emergency service answers at 010 338 5000.

Please note that the cost of a door opening performed during emergency hours is invoiced to the resident, the amount being 80 euros. The person ordering the door opening must prove their identity and be registered as a resident of the building.

If you have difficulties with rent payment, contact our rent control as soon as possible. Through rent control, you can, for example, get a new rent invoice if you have lost the rent payment details, or you can agree on a payment plan if you want to pay overdue rent in instalments. If you want to agree on a payment plan, please get in touch before the due date of the payment reminder. Agreeing on a payment plan does not bring you additional costs; you only pay late payment interest on unpaid receivables. If the arrears have already been transferred to debt collection, you can no longer agree on a plan with the landlord, meaning you must contact the collection company Intrum. You can ask Taloherttua’s housing advisor for advice on applying for possible housing benefits or consider the financial situation and a realistic payment plan together.

The due date for rent payment is the fifth day of each month, and the due date cannot be changed. Late rent accrues late payment interest in accordance with the Interest Act. If the rent is unpaid by the middle of the current month, you will receive a payment reminder with a payment period of 2 weeks. If the payment reminder is not paid, the rent arrears are transferred to the collection company Intrum Justitia. In the future, unpaid rents will be transferred to Intrum without a separate payment reminder. Collection will result in collection costs for you.

Taloherttua and the City of Kangasala’s social services have a practice where the landlord makes a concern notification to social services about the accumulation of arrears if it seems that you might need help in resolving the situation. This way, social services have time to investigate the situation and offer their help even before a possible threat of eviction. Without this cooperation, information about rent debt only reaches social services at the stage where the arrears have been transferred to enforcement and an eviction date has been set based on them.

When the rent debt grows large enough, Intrum can take legal action to terminate the tenancy agreement and collect the receivables. This means that the rent arrears are transferred to legal proceedings, from which they can be transferred to enforcement for the implementation of the eviction. You can therefore be evicted from your flat. This results in a payment default entry, which can make it difficult to obtain a flat in the future. We have prepared a rent debt chart on our website, which shows what happens to rent debt and what costs are incurred from non-payment of rent.

In case of rent payment problems, you should get in touch as quickly as possible; let’s find a suitable solution together!

Rent control:
Mon, Tue and Thu 9 am – 11 am, 12 pm – 3 pm
vuokravalvonta@herttuankp.fi
tel. 03 357 5261

Housing advisory service:
Tue–Fri 9 am – 11 am, 12 pm – 3 pm
asumisneuvonta@herttuankp.fi
tel. 044 423 5776

Collection company Intrum:
https://www.intrum.fi/fi/asiakaspalvelu/ota-yhteytta/

Kela
https://www.kela.fi/asiakaspalvelu

Kiinteistö Oy Taloherttua offers housing advisory services, which include service guidance and advice in problem situations related to housing and financial problems, as well as their prevention. These situations can include rent payment problems, threat of eviction, or poor maintenance of the flat. The housing advisor helps and advises on various housing matters and, if necessary, directs you to the correct employee or service.

The housing advisor can contact residents themselves, for example, in matters related to rent arrears or housing disturbances. Residents can also contact the housing advisory service directly themselves.

The service is voluntary and free of charge. The housing advisory service cannot offer concrete help or guidance, such as help with shopping, cleaning, or paying bills, but can assist in clarifying, for example, the amount of bills and thinking together about a plan for paying them. With the client’s permission, the housing advisor can cooperate with, for example, social services if it is a matter of clarifying the need for support or, for example, applying for financial support for rent arrears.

These are things that have been clarified with the housing advisory service, for example:

• Financial matters, such as
• rent payment problems
• benefit matters
• sufficiency of money and budgeting
• clarifying the debt situation
• payment plans
• concern about a neighbour’s ability to cope at home
• applying for services
• threat of eviction
• neighbourly relations

The service hours for the housing advisory service can be found below and here.

Moving out

At some point, moving may become relevant. You can submit a notice of termination as soon as you know the moving date, but at the latest one calendar month in advance. The notice period for a tenant in agreements valid until further notice is therefore one calendar month. A fixed-term tenancy agreement cannot be terminated except for very compelling reasons, such as the start of work or study in another locality. A sudden deterioration in the financial situation, on the other hand, is not a legal ground for termination.

A notice of termination must always be made in writing. You can find the template for a notice of termination on our website. A notice of termination can also be made directly electronically; however, this requires electronic identification for the service. If you do not want to use the ready-made template, you can write the notice of termination informally by hand or on a computer. The notice must include:

• the tenant’s name, personal identity code and contact details
• the address of the flat being terminated
• text stating the termination and the date of termination
• date and signature
• account number for the return of the security deposit, if the deposit was paid in cash

All handed-over keys must be returned to our office, Urheilutie 2–4 36200 Kangasala, at the latest on the end date of the tenancy. The tenant has an obligation to pay rent for the period of possession of the flat, meaning that if you return the keys only a week after the termination date, you must pay rent for that period.

When moving out, the tenant must clean the flat to a tidy condition. You will receive moving-out instructions when you give notice of termination of the flat. The instructions can be found on our website. If the move-out cleaning has not been performed properly, cleaning costs will be deducted from the security deposit.

If you paid the security deposit in cash into an account at the start of the tenancy, you will receive the deposit back into the account you specified, provided the rent is up to date, the flat is intact and cleaned, and all keys have been returned. If the security deposit was provided as a Kela payment commitment, we will invoice Kela for any repair or cleaning measures. This may affect the granting of a new security deposit. On our website, you will find an indicative price list for various cleaning and repair measures.

Ordinary wear and tear, for example, the ageing of the flat’s surfaces, is not included in the costs to be compensated. Instead, poor care of surfaces and the resulting damage must be compensated by the tenant. The tenant is responsible for all such damage that they themselves or another person staying in the flat causes intentionally or through negligence.

The main principle is that the landlord takes care of the maintenance of the property and keeps the flat’s technology functional when the tenant reports possible faults. Flats are always rented in the condition they are in, and the tenant is responsible for the correct use and cleanliness of the flat.

Normal or ordinary wear and tear
Ordinary wear and tear refers to the normal wear and tear of a rental flat that occurs over time, such as the ageing of the flat’s surfaces (including walls and floors). It is natural that living leaves marks in the flat over time.

Ordinary wear and tear can generally be considered to be damage that has arisen over a long period of time. It is also worth remembering that the duration of the tenancy is significant when assessing ordinary wear and tear. After a long tenancy, more marks must be accepted.

Ordinary wear and tear cannot be considered to be, for example, scratches that have arisen from furniture being moved by dragging it along the floor.

Likewise, large dents or other larger marks caused by items falling on the floor or hitting the wall (for example, a crack in a floor or wall tile or a hole in a rug or laminate) are generally not ordinary wear and tear. It is also not ordinary wear and tear that a crack has appeared in the toilet washbasin, e.g., because items have fallen into it.

Deep holes and abrasions in the flat’s internal doors or walls cannot be considered ordinary wear and tear. Drawing on walls or wallpaper, tears in wallpaper or other soiling of surfaces are also not ordinary wear and tear.

In short, it can be stated that normal wear and tear of the flat is therefore the landlord’s responsibility, but in practice, all wear and tear and damage deviating from that are the tenant’s responsibility, possibly also matters subject to compensation liability. If additional equipment or modification work is carried out in the flat, these are subject to permission, are generally the responsibility of the tenant, and can also be agreed upon in writing such that the installations must be removed and the marks tidied or restored.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

“I have an urgent need for a flat. I need a flat quickly!”

Fill in a housing application and make sure you mention your urgent situation in it. A flat cannot be obtained without a housing application. If you wish, you can call or send an email to the rental staff and tell them you have submitted an urgent application. Every application is processed, and we will contact you if a flat can be offered.

“I know a certain flat is becoming vacant and I want to go and see that flat. How can I do that?”

The first step to getting a flat is making a housing application. Only a person to whom the flat has been offered can go to see it. General viewings are not organised. It may also be that a flat is vacant but requires, for example, renovation, or the current resident still has a valid agreement even though they no longer live in the flat. In these situations, the flat cannot yet be offered to anyone.

How long is the queue, how long will it take for me to be offered a flat?

At Taloherttua, applications are processed taking the urgency of the situation into account. We follow ARA’s guidelines on resident selection, where the selection criteria are the need for housing, wealth and income. The housing situation also determines to whom a flat is offered. Even if there is a homeless person living alone in the queue, they cannot be offered, for example, a three-room flat; instead, a less urgent family with children will receive an offer “faster” if the current housing situation is such that there are no one-person flats to offer.

I can always pay the rent at the end of the month, and I don’t want a monthly payment reminder for it.

The due date for rent payment is always the 5th of the month for all residents, and it cannot be moved. An automatic payment reminder is sent for unpaid rents. If you know you will always pay the rent at the end of the month, we recommend, if possible, turning the rent payment so that you pay the rent in advance. This way you avoid the late payment interest required by law and the accumulation of possible collection costs added to payment reminders.

I would like the rent as an e-invoice to my online bank, how do I proceed?

An e-invoice agreement is made with your own bank. You can make the agreement in the online bank or at a branch. Taloherttua cannot agree on an e-invoice on your behalf. You must ensure the validity of the e-invoice yourself – some banks make agreements, for example, for a year at a time.

I receive housing benefit from Kela, which is paid directly to the landlord. I want a rent invoice that shows only my deductible share.

Even if you do not pay the full amount of the rent from your own account yourself, you are still responsible for the payment of the rent yourself. The landlord cannot know how long the payment of housing benefit will continue and in what amount. The amount of housing benefit may change or Kela may request its review, which you must take care of applying for yourself. For this reason, the rent invoice shows the total amount of the rent and any separate costs.

I cannot submit a fault report electronically

Fault reports should primarily be made electronically, in which case they are logged in our system. If you cannot make an electronic report, you can call our centre at tel. 03 357 5260 or drop by during office opening hours, in which case the report will be logged in the system on your behalf.

I need a door opening, who do I contact?

If you need a door opening during office hours, call our centre at tel. 03 3575 260. During emergency hours, i.e., weekdays from 4 pm to 8 am, on public holidays and weekends, the property maintenance emergency service answers at 0400 233 389. The cost of a door opening performed during emergency hours, €87, is invoiced to the resident.

A neighbour constantly parks in a visitor space or in front of the door, other neighbour disturbances.

Report the matter to us in writing by email, on paper or, for example, via a disturbance report. If incorrect parking is continuous, state in the report how long the situation has continued, as well as the car’s registration details.

I want to terminate my flat, how far in advance should it be done?

The flat must be terminated in writing. Termination is easiest with the electronic termination form.

You can also print out the notice of termination found on our website and deliver it to us, or you can come in person to make the notice.

The notice period for a flat for a tenant is one calendar month. Termination always takes place at the end of the month, meaning you still pay the next month’s rent. You can, of course, also terminate earlier. So if you terminate your flat during January, your agreement ends at the earliest at the end of February. Remember to state the account number for the possible return of the security deposit when terminating. Please note that in our tenancy agreements, the end date of the agreement is always the last day of the month.

I have paid the security deposit in cash, when will I get it back?

A housing inspector checks the flat after the agreement has ended. If everything is in order, the security deposit is returned in full within approximately two weeks of the end of the agreement. If the final cleaning of the flat has not been done or there is something to be repaired in the flat but the work does not take the entire deposit, the money is returned once the invoices are clear.

The following can be deducted from the security deposit:

• unpaid rents
• insufficient final cleaning
• repairs for damage caused by the resident (normal wear and tear is not counted)
• re-keying of locks (not all keys are returned)

You can find the direct contact details for our office and housing services here: https://taloherttua.fi/yhteystiedot/