COVID-19 pandemic and housing

Housing, shared housing and quarantine
Agree with other residents on daily practices, such as the cleaning of common facilities and visitors in shared apartments. Pay special attention to good hand hygiene and the cleaning of common facilities. Sneeze and cough into a tissue or the crook of your arm, not into your hands. Sneeze and cough into a tissue or the crook of your arm, not into your hands. You should avoid inviting guests to a shared apartment and follow the Government’s recommendations and restrictions. Read about the current restrictions and recommendations of the Government here.
If you have symptoms suggestive of coronavirus, if you are ill or have been exposed to the virus, please tell other residents so that they are aware of the matter and know that they may also have to be in quarantine.
It is possible to be in quarantine or isolation in shared apartments but please take other residents into account: avoid human contact, wash your hands, and use a disinfectant and wear a mask. The use of common facilities should be avoided and no guests should be invited to the apartment. Read here about the cleaning of shared apartments.
The roommate with coronavirus must avoid using common facilities and contact with other residents. Please agree on the practices together, so that the person exposed to the coronavirus does not meet others when using a shared kitchen or bathroom, for example.
You may also be exposed to the coronavirus and may have to be in quarantine as well. Please follow the instructions of the authorities in case a family member or roommate falls ill or has symptoms. More information can be found here.
You must stay in your apartment/room when in quarantine and isolation. You cannot invite guests and you should avoid encounters with others and leaving your apartment/room. When living in a shared apartment, tell about your exposure or infection to other residents to make it easier to agree on arrangements. Agree on shifts for common facilities if it is necessary to use them.
If you have symptoms suggestive of a coronavirus infection or have been exposed to coronavirus, you must be in self-quarantine. After getting tested and receiving the result, you will receive more detailed instructions from your healthcare provider. Self-quarantine ends if the test is negative and the symptoms disappear.
Quarantine and isolation is an order by the health care provider and the orders from the doctor must be followed during the quarantine. Read more here.
When you are in quarantine or isolation, avoid using all common facilities, such as a shared kitchen, sauna, laundry room and gym. If it is necessary to use the kitchen or laundry room, wear a face mask and avoid meeting other people. Wash and disinfect your hands always before and after using shared facilities. If you use a shared bathroom with other residents in a shared apartment, make sure that you clean the surfaces after use.
You cannot leave your apartment to shop for groceries. Ask your friends to help you. You can also order food home from grocery stores and restaurants. If you live in a shared apartment, you can also ask your roommates to help you.
During the quarantine (also self-quarantine) and isolation, you must not ask the maintenance service to carry out non-urgent maintenance duties. If you have already agreed on the visit of the maintenance company and have to be in quarantine or isolation, please remember to cancel the visit by calling the maintenance company. You can find the contact information of the maintenance company here.
If the situation is acute, such as a leaking pipe, please tell the maintenance company about your quarantine or isolation in order to ensure safety.
It is important to tell other residents about your coronavirus infection so that everyone can act accordingly and protect themselves from the coronavirus infection.
If you have been in contact with your roommates, they should also be quarantined due to exposure. Contact your healthcare provider to find out how long each one of you needs to be quarantined and who needs to get tested.
If you are exposed by spending time with the infected person, you will be quarantined. Contact your healthcare provider for more detailed instructions.
Coronavirus vaccination is in progress in Finland. Your municipality will inform you when it is possible to get the vaccine. More information about vaccination can be found here.
Leases and rental payment
With leases that have already started, we comply with the notice period of one month (AHVL sections 61–67) It is not possible to rescind the lease.
The notice period is calculated from the last day of the calendar month during which the notice was issued. For example, if you terminate your lease on 14 Sept, your lease will expire on 31 Oct. The first possible termination date is the start date of the lease. Termination can be done by tenants at Domo.
It is possible to sublease apartments during the summer (1 Apr–30 Sept) to anyone for any reason. Outside the summer period, distance learning is not a reason for subleasing. Read more about subleasing here.
It is possible to sublease apartments during the summer (1 Apr–30 Sept) to anyone for any reason. Please remember to make a sublease notification in advance through Domo. More information and instructions can be found here.
If you are unable to enter Finland due to travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus, you can sublease your apartment after summer for a maximum of 3 months.
If you are unable to pay your rent by the due date, please contact us using this form.
If your graduation is delayed or you do not complete the necessary credits due to cancellation or postponement of courses, you can apply for an extension of your right of residence for a maximum of 4 months. To get an extension, you must prove that your studies have been postponed precisely because of the coronavirus pandemic due to cancelled courses, for example. Please contact [email protected]
In other situations, you can submit an application to the Housing Committee here.
In the case of a two-room apartment or a larger apartment rented as a friend’s apartment, at least two first-time tenants must live in the apartment. If your friend gives notice on the lease, you will be given a three-month notice period if the lease has lasted less than a year, and a 6-month notice period if the lease has lasted more than a year. For the period of notice, you will be responsible for the full rent of the apartment.
If the lease has lasted at least 2 months, you also have the opportunity to make a friend swap, read more here.
Visiting the Services Office
Note the exceptional opening hours of the services office and check the opening hours here before visiting the office. Do not come to the office if you have symptoms suggestive of a coronavirus infection. If you are in quarantine or isolation, you cannot come to the office to pick up the keys. Instead, you can authorise someone else to pick up your keys with a power of attorney.
If your moving day is approaching and you are in quarantine or isolation, please contact the landlord at [email protected]
Here you will find current recommendations of THL for travel and instructions for self-quarantine.
Our office is closed except for the moving days. You can check our updated opening hours and contact information here. You can reach us electronically and by phone when our office is closed.
When you enter the office, please wash or disinfect your hands and wear a mask. A limited number of people can visit the office at a time in order to ensure safe distances. Do not come to the office if you have symptoms suggestive of a coronavirus infection.
Useful additional information:
- Updated current news from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
- Do you suspect that you have been infected? Fill in a check-up and make an appointment for a coronavirus test https://www.omaolo.fi/
- Coronavirus epidemic situation and recommendations in the metropolitan area
- Aalto University’s coronavirus information for students
- National coronavirus telephone service: tel. 0295 535 535
- Download Koronavilkku mobile app
Updated corona release: AYY’s rental facilities are available for booking
AYY actively follows government releases and considers the health and well-being of its members, volunteers, associations, and employees in all its actions. The release will be updated when new measures are introduced.
