FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What should I do if the owner of the apartment changes, the tap is dripping or the smoke alarm won’t stop beeping for no reason? What about whose responsibility it is for tasks related to maintaining the property? Here you will find frequently asked questions and answers regarding property management and related matters. However, if you don’t find what you are looking for, feel free to contact our customer service:  044 737 2250!

How do I log on to the Teams meetings?

For holding remote meetings, we use the programme Microsoft Teams

Teams works on your computer through your browser without the need to upload any software. You can send a link to your the meeting’s Teams space in your invitation to your housing association meeting. By typing the link in your Internet browser’s address field, you will be taken directly to the meeting. However, you should remember that some browsers (especially old versions) do not support the Teams software.

For the best user experience, we recommend downloading the software to your own device. If you use a tablet or a smart phone, you are required to download the app.

Download the programme for free:

https://products.office.com/fi-fi/microsoft-teams/download-app

What do documents cost ordered through the on-line shop?

Property manager certificate 87,00 €
 * expedited service fee (delivery on the same day for orders before noon) 60,00 €
Annual report 7,50 €
Articles of association 7,50 €
Floor plan 7,50 €
Loan share statement when requested separately 50,00 €

Prices include 24% VAT
The final total price will be displayed in the on-line shop’s final total.

How does it work when there’s a change in owner?

Report a change in owner immediately to the property management office.

The new shareholder will not receive the rights pertaining to a shareholder until s/he has been entered in the list of shares. For example, a new shareholder may not participate in housing association meetings and exercise his/her right to vote before due entry in the list of shares.

The following documents are needed for the most common changes in shareholder:

In the case of a purchase  

  1. Copy of the title
  2. Copy of the stock certificate with the seller’s endorsement
  3. Proof of transfer tax that you receive from the tax authority once you have made a notification of transfer tax

In the case of a bequest  

  1. Estate division or estate inventory
  2. Stock certificate with transfer notation (unbroken series of surrender notations)
  3. Report of family relationships to the point when the deceased turned 15 years of age in the event that the estate inventory was not confirmed with the city administration
  4. Notification of transfer tax if the shares are redeemed with funds outside the estate

In the case of a distribution as a result of divorce or death

  1. Legal property division document
  2. Stock certificate with transfer notation (unbroken series of surrender notations)
  3. Notification of transfer tax if the shares are redeemed with funds not related to the distributed assets (compensation)

In the case of a gift acquisition

  1. Copy of the deed of covenant
  2. Copy of the stock certificate with the endorsement
  3. If needed, an official certificate that makes it clear whether the donor is married or single, or that the spouse consents to donating the flat that has been used as a shared residence

In the case of a last will and testament

  1. Stock certificate or a copy of the stock certificate with appropriate transfer notation
  2. The last will and testament in its entirety, or containing information about its legality as well as the notice of delivery and certificates of authenticity for the last will and testament
  3. Estate inventory
  4. Report of family relationships if the estate inventory has not been separately confirmed by the city administration
  5. Report of payment of transfer tax if share was redeemed using external funds

Whom should I contact in which situations?

Maintenance company is responsible

The maintenance company takes care of the repairs that accrue to the housing association’s responsibility, cleaning, and the care of exterior areas according to the maintenance agreement. You can contact the maintenance company when you have trouble with the following issues, for example: getting a door open, flag raising, heating, ventilation, snow work, grass cutting and cleaning as well as water fittings.

Customer service is responsible

Contact our customer service when you want to get in touch with the experts who take care of your housing association. Our customer service also manages your housing association’s  Housing info service (Asumisinfo).

Property manager is responsible

The property manager is the administrative and technical advisor for the housing association. Among other things, the property manager serves in maintenance issues and the association’s administrative agreement and meetings issues that fall under the responsibility of the property and the association. You can find contact information for your own property manager at the Contact information page.

Accountant is responsible

As the name says, the accountant takes care of the accounting for the housing association. You can contact the accountant for issues regarding property manager certificates, loan shares and shareholder instalments as well as matters regarding board member remuneration. You can find contact information for our accountants at the Contact information page.

The real estate secretary is responsible

The real estate secretary is the person who administers information about shareholders and residents. You can contact the property secretary for the status of owner and tenant changes, association payments and other payment matters as well as parking space and sauna turn reservations. You can find contact information for our property secretaries at the Contact information page.

What kinds of renovations and moderations am I required to report?

According to the new condominium law, the shareholder must report to the housing association in advance any modification work in writing if it can affect the association or property, building, or flat share which is the responsibility of another shareholder; alternatively, this shall apply if it can affect the use of a condominium belonging to the association or to another shareholder. The shareholder must also attach the requisite explanations of the measures included in the renovation (with sufficient itemisation).

Modification work may not begin before the association or other shareholder has had reasonable time to process the notification of modification work. 

Always report:

– Bathroom and kitchen renovations
– Changing taps and toilet seats
– Any renovations that may affect the heating system, water supply, electricity, drains, ventilation or acoustics (for example moving walls)
– Floor renovations if there can be an effect on sound isolation and thus on the neighbouring flat

The following do not need to be reported: 

– Small surface repairs
– Wallpapering or painting the walls

If you aren’t sure whether your repairs should be reported, ask the property management office before starting your repair whether the repair you’re planning requires notification.

How do I make a report about renovations and modifications?

Always report renovations in writing to the property management office no later than two (2) weeks before the beginning date of the renovations.

It’s convenient to make the report here Maintenance and modification work form.

You will need the following information to complete the form: 

– Name and contact information of the shareholder (address, phone number, e-mail address)
– Exact address where the potential modification work is planned
– What repairs or modification work will be done
– When the repairs or modifications will be done (planned beginning of renovations and duration)
– Who will be performing the renovations (as well as the names, contact information and business ID numbers of the planners, contractors and inspectors)

Remember to post a notice about your repairs and the schedule for them on the notice board for your neighbours as well. Include your own contact information on the notice in case there are questions. 

Why is there a charge for reporting repairs?

The shareholder is charged for the cost of monitoring repairs.

The condominium board has the responsibility to maintain a modification register of the renovations performed in the flats and to organise supervision of renovations. In practice, the board orders maintenance of the register and organisation of supervision from the property management company. The shareholder shall pay any expenses caused by this. Professional supervision is beneficial to the shareholder, because supervision assures that the repair work is performed and documented appropriately.

Modification work performed in the flats is also seen in the property manager certificate.

Inspection does not erase the responsibility of the client or the one performing the work.

The owner has the responsibility to repair damage if the renovation causes damage to the housing association or to other residents.

What kind of home insurance should I take?

It’s always a good idea to take an insurance, and on time. The housing association’s property insurance only covers damage caused to the property, so each resident must ensure that there is insurance cover for personal property.

Questions regarding insurance become, or rather should become, particularly topical at the time when a young person leaves home or when a young couple acquires its first home together. All manner of damage can occur, and repairing such damage can become expensive without insurance. It is also worthwhile to take a home insurance even before the removal, because the most complicated items during a removal are fragile home objects such as CD players, guitars and computer devices.

Comprehensive home insurance will cover for example:

Increased living expenses caused by water damage, when the resident must stay elsewhere during the repair period.

Ceilings and walls blackened by combustion gas, if a fire caused by the neighbour’s television causes damage to the surface of the property.

Stolen items of value and consumer electronics, when you return from shopping and your exterior door looks odd, and when you come inside you notice that your belongings are gone.

Items meant for everyday use in the household, clothing, sports equipment, home electronics and tools as well as the home’s valuable items if damage occurs.

Liability for damages, when you have caused damage to a landlord or neighbour. Tort law is based on the principle that it is the responsibility of the person causing damage to repair it. If you forget to turn off the hob or iron, or the tap is left on and water leaks into the lower floor, damage can be in the tens of thousands of Euro, and most of the expense is incurred by the party causing the damage.

Neither the insurance carried by the housing association nor that of your neighbour will cover such damage. For this reason, each home needs its own insurance. Only home insurance will safeguard your belongings.

Home insurance safeguards several kinds of housing

Those who rent or have an owner-occupied housing share insure their belongings; those living in a single-owner home insure both their belongings and the building. Those who have cabins need insurance that covers both the building and the belongings.

What is the housing association's responsibility and what is the shareholder’s responsibility?

The division of responsibility table of the housing association indicates how maintenance responsibilities are shared between the shareholder and the housing association. The guide is a summary of the official division of responsibility table that legal and technical experts at the Finnish Real Estate Federation and the Finnish Real Estate Management Federation put together. The guide is based on current condominium law. Large or larger renovations such as façades and roofs that are the direct responsibility of the housing association are not listed in this table.

In the list you can see the division of responsibilities for such cases in which flaws and deficiencies are caused by so-called normal living, use and age. If the Articles of Association has regulations that deviate from the division of responsibilities table here, the Articles of Association shall be followed.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROPERTY

DOORS The housing association’s responsibility The shareholder’s responsibility
The front door to the flat and the outermost balcony door X
The flat’s connecting and interior doors X
The lock and name plate on the mail box X
Access lock (door of flat and balcony door) X
Lock serialisation and spare keys X
Safety lock (installed by the shareholder) X
Safety chain and burglary protection X
Peep-hole (responsibility of shareholder if the shareholder installed it) X
Seal of inner doors X
Door closer (door pump) and hold-open device (inside the flat) X
Door stopper and hold-open device (outside the door) X

 

WINDOWS The housing association’s responsibility The shareholder’s responsibility
Outer frame and casing X
Inner frame and intermediate frame X
Maintenance of windows, insulation and painting (interior windows) X
Operation and fitting of external frames X
Operation and fitting of internal frames X
Outdoor glass X
Indoor and intermediate glass X

 

WALL, CEILING AND FLOOR SURFACES IN THE FLAT AND ACCESSORIES The housing association’s responsibility The shareholder’s responsibility
Surface structure of walls, internal ceilings and floors X
Suspended ceilings, indoor stairs and levelling surfaces X
Fixed furnishings (cabinets, window sills, curtain rods) X

 

WET AREAS AND SAUNA COMPARTMENTS The housing association’s responsibility The shareholder’s responsibility
Wall, ceiling and floor coatings X
Waterproofing X
Fixed furnishings (for example benches, mirror cabinets) X

 

BALCONIES The housing association’s responsibility The shareholder’s responsibility
The interior surfaces and cleaning of the balcony as well as the interior side of the railing (not the façade surfaces) X
The balcony railing’s exterior surface and insulation X
Waterproofing and insulation of the balcony X
Façade parts (back and side walls) X
Drainage system X
Acquisition and maintenance of balcony glazing X

 

WATER, SEWERAGE AND HEATING SYSTEMS The housing association’s responsibility The shareholder’s responsibility
Vents (radiator vents, stopcocks and fixed vents) X
Water taps and mixers X
WC seat, seat lid, water tank and flush valve system X
Connection hoses, showers and hand showers X
Tubs and sinks (for example hand-washing sinks, bathtubs, jacuzzi, shower tray) X
Water taps and mixers X
Connection of washing machine (with any suction cups) X
Repair and replacement of basin’s water trap/odour trap X
Cleaning and removal of blockage of basin’s water trap/odour trap X
Reporting of blockage of basin’s water trap/odour trap X
All plugs of basin’s water trap/odour trap X
Sewer blockage X
Responsibility to report sewer blockage X
Removal of sewer blockage X
Repair and replacement of floor drain X
Cleaning of floor drain (as far as possible by hand without tools) X
Reporting of floor drain blockage X
Removal of floor drain blockage X
Air heat pump (installed by shareholder) X
Water heaters (water-circulating radiators and floor heating) X
Aeration of radiators X

 

VENTILATION SYSTEMS The housing association’s responsibility The shareholder’s responsibility
Repair and replacement of replacement air and supply air valves (flat’s exterior and interior parts), cleaning of the flat’s exterior parts X
Cleaning of replacement air valve, flat’s interior parts X
Cleaning of replacement air valve, flat’s exterior parts X
Replacement and change of filters (in the replacement air valves and the central heating/cooling) X
Repair and replacement of exhaust air valve X
Cleaning of exhaust air valve X
Duct cleaning X
Range dome/hood (the device and ventilation controllers) X
Lamp and light switch for the range dome X
Replacement of grease filter for the range dome X
Cleaning of grease filter for the range dome X
Range fan (may not be installed without permission from the housing association!) X

 

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS The housing association’s responsibility The shareholder’s responsibility
Light bulbs, fuses and lighters in the flat X
Lighting fixtures and lampshades in the flat X
Switches and electrical outlets X
Flat’s distribution board (fuse box) X
Flat’s electrical heaters and heating cables with regulators (for example floor heating and electric radiator) X
Electric heaters installed by the shareholder X
Hot water accumulator X
Sauna stove with control panel X
Car heating outlet X
Electric car charging post with equipment X
Electric car charging post with equipment installed by shareholder X
Home appliances X
Maintenance and notification systems (technical building notification systems, such as HVAC alarms, mains-operated leak detectors) X
Door bell, door buzzer and access control systems and door telephone X
Smoke detector (connected to electrical system) X
Smoke detector (battery operated) X

 

TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS The housing association’s responsibility The shareholder’s responsibility
Universal cabling network and optical fibre network X
Telephone network X
Wireless network X
Computer and telephone outlets X

 

FENCED YARD AREA OF THE FLAT The housing association’s responsibility The shareholder’s responsibility
Trees (felling and cutting of branches) X
Fence line X
Fence line, built by shareholder X
Terrace X
Terrace, built by shareholder X

Where do I get keys for the parking space?

You can get keys for the parking space from the maintenance company. You can find the maintenance company for your housing association on your association’s notice board.

What if there is another car in my parking space?

Place a friendly notice on the windscreen. If your notice doesn’t help, report the number of the parking space and the registration number of the car parked there in error to the property manager at the following e-mail address: isannointi@nosteisannointi.fi.

What should I do if the smoke detector is beeping for no reason?

If the smoke detectors are battery-operated

The resident is responsible for obtaining, installing, and changing the batteries for battery-operated smoke detectors. If needed, you can request help from the maintenance company of your housing association for a fee. You can find the maintenance company for your housing association on your association’s notice board.

If the smoke detectors are connected to the mains power

If the smoke detectors are connected to the mains power and installed by the housing association, the responsibility for their care falls to the housing association. In this case, contact the housing association and ask the maintenance office to change the backup battery. You can find the maintenance company for your housing association on your association’s notice board.

What should I do if the tap or another water fitting leaks?

Report the leak at once to the maintenance company. Tell them whether they can access the flat using a master key and whether they will encounter pets. You can find the maintenance company for your housing association on your association’s notice board.

Who is responsible for gritting when conditions are slippery?

The maintenance company is responsible for gritting. If the gritting has not yet been done and you notice that the area is slippery, please notify the maintenance company about this directly. You can find the maintenance company for your housing association on your association’s notice board.

If your housing association does not have a maintenance company, gritting is done as a rule by the shareholders themselves according to a work shift list.

If you are unsure about the practice, contact the property manager at the following e-mail address: isannointi@nosteisannointi.fi.

How do I reserve a sauna turn and a parking space?

Please contact the property secretary for issues regarding parking spaces and sauna turns. Send a message about your need for a sauna turn or a parking space to the following e-mail: isannointi@nosteisannointi.fi.

How do I get my name changed on the door?

Have you reported your removal to the property management office? The maintenance office changes names according to the removal information.

You can report your removal conveniently on-line at Removal notification form.

What shall I do if my neighbour is bothering me?

Please make a written notification of disturbance on our pages so that the property manager can proceed with the issue. The property manager cannot intervene unless a written notification of disturbance has arrived.

Submit a notification of disturbance on-line using the Notification of disturbance form.

What do I do if the Internet breaks down or the TV doesn't work?

Contact the housing association’s carriers/service providers directly. If you wish to start using a new Internet connection or if you have just moved into a flat, the Internet will be turned on through the service provider.

What do I do if my flat is cold?

The recommended temperature setting for residential flats is 20-21 degrees Celsius in the living areas and 18-20 degrees Celsius in the bedrooms. Room temperature is properly measured at one metre above the floor surface, not close to an exterior wall or a window. If the temperature in your flat is clearly cooler than what is recommended, please contact the maintenance company.

You can find the maintenance company for your housing association on your association’s notice board.

Easy, care-free housing and ownership.