Guides
Blog and guides for housing company boards
Plain-language how-to guides for managing a new building’s warranty period — from the annual inspection to claims and security documents.
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Financing the PTS repairs: company loan, capitalization, or paying in one go — a board comparison guide
When the PTS forecasts the repairs, the board must decide how to finance them. A comparison of the company loan, the one-off project-share payment, and capitalization versus income recognition — clearly, and without tax advice.
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HTJ notification of maintenance and alteration works: a board guide
The Housing Information System (HTJ) notification duty for maintenance and alteration works became continuous on 1 July 2026. Here is what a board must report, when, and how a shareholder's alteration ends up in the register.
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Running a Finnish housing company without a property manager: what self-management requires in 2026
A property manager (isännöitsijä) is not mandatory for a Finnish housing company (AOYL 7:1). This guide covers the statutory duties the board keeps, who issues the manager's certificate, and how self-managed companies succeed.
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Finland's €110M energy renovation grant for housing companies (2026–2027): how boards should prepare
Finland has earmarked €110 million for energy renovation grants for residential buildings in 2026–2027. Applications are not open yet — here is what the government decided, what the draft decree proposes, and what a housing company board should do now.
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Smoke detectors in a Finnish housing company: responsibility moved to the company on 1 Jan 2026
A reform of the Finnish Rescue Act moved smoke detector purchase and maintenance from residents to housing companies on 1 January 2026. What the law requires, how many detectors are needed, and what the board must do now.
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Housing company board decision-making in Finland: what the board may decide without a general meeting
What a Finnish housing company board may decide without a general meeting, how to document resolutions under AOYL chapter 7, and why email decisions go wrong.
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The housing company annual cycle and statutory deadlines: a board year plan
The Finnish housing company annual cycle: when financial statements are due, when the general meeting must be held, and how the board stays on top of deadlines.
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Maintenance needs assessment (KPTS) and long-term plan (PTS) in a Finnish housing company
The maintenance needs assessment (AOYL 6:3) and long-term plan (PTS) in a Finnish housing company: what the law requires and how to build and finance one.
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Company loan and capital charge from the shareholder's perspective: interest, amortisation and paying off your share
What a company loan and financing charge mean for shareholders: interest, amortisation, loan share, and how to pay it off. Choose your repayment method wisely.
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What does fixing a construction defect cost — and who pays?
Who pays for construction defect repairs: the builder or the housing company? Liability depends on the warranty phase. How to estimate costs and assign responsibility.
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Security documents are binding: good building practice is no defence
When the build deviates from what was agreed, the builder cannot escape by invoking good building practice. How the agreed terms, security documents and defects connect under Finnish law.
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Electronic general meeting and remote voting in a housing company: what the law allows
What AOYL permits for electronic general meetings, how remote participation, advance voting, and proxies work, and how to run the meeting end to end.
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Competitive tendering for a housing company: how to tender maintenance, renovations and insurance
Competitive tendering saves money and raises quality. Learn how to write an RFQ, compare bids objectively, and make a well-documented decision.
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How to document a construction defect properly: photos, measurements and a timeline as evidence
Proper documentation decides the outcome of a construction defect claim. How to build a watertight evidence file with photos, measurements and a timeline.
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The Finnish Housing Information System (HTJ): what a housing company must report, and by when
What must a housing company report to HTJ, and when? The key deadline is 30 June 2026 — here is how to prepare in good time.
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Maintenance charges in a housing company: care charge, capital charge and reference numbers
How maintenance charges work in a Finnish housing company: care charge, capital charge, charge bases, permanent reference numbers and payment reconciliation.
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The most common construction defects in new buildings — and how to spot them in time
The most common construction defects in new-build homes: waterproofing, floor slopes, ventilation, sound insulation. How to spot defects and claim in time.
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Shareholder alterations and the renovation notice (Finland)
When a renovation requires an alteration notice, what the board may demand, and what happens if the notice is skipped. A clear guide for shareholders and boards.
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A systematic inspection of a new apartment: test every season before the warranty period ends
Inspect a new apartment thoroughly: room by room and season by season across the warranty period, before the annual inspection deadline.
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When does a housing company need an external building expert — and how to choose the right one
When to hire an external building expert, which specialist suits which situation, and what an independent expert statement costs a housing company.
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How to take a construction defect to the Consumer Disputes Board (KRIL)
When the builder won't fix the defect: the Consumer Disputes Board process step by step — claim, consumer advice, the free application and timeline.
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Hidden defects in a new home: what they are and who is liable
A hidden defect cannot be spotted at inspection. The builder may be liable for up to 10 years — provided you complain as soon as you discover it.
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The annual inspection: a checklist for the housing company board
The annual inspection is the last easy moment to report construction defects. How to prepare, and what to check in every room.
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Making a written defect claim to the builder: how to do it correctly and on time
What a written defect claim is, how to make one, and why an open claim must usually be renewed roughly every three years or the right may lapse.
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Warranty period and ten-year liability: the builder's responsibility in a new build
The warranty period lasts 2 years, the ten-year liability 10. Understand when the burden of proof rests on the builder and when it shifts to the company.
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