Yhtiövastikkeet

Yhtiövastikkeet, often translated as housing company fees or maintenance charges, are regular payments made by apartment owners in a housing cooperative (asunto-osakeyhtiö) in Finland. These fees are essential for the upkeep and management of the property.

The purpose of yhtiövastikkeet is to cover the ongoing expenses of the housing company. These typically include the repayment of loans taken for housing development or renovations, interest on those loans, water charges, heating costs, electricity for common areas, waste management, and regular maintenance of the building and grounds. They also contribute to the housing company's reserve fund, which is used for unexpected repairs or future major renovations.

The amount of yhtiövastike is determined by the housing company's annual general meeting. It is usually calculated based on the apartment's size, measured in square meters, and its share of ownership in the housing company. This means larger apartments or those with a greater ownership share generally have higher yhtiövastikkeet.

There are generally two types of yhtiövastike: the hoitovastike (maintenance fee) and the pääomavastike (capital fee). The hoitovastike covers the regular operating expenses, while the pääomavastike is specifically for repaying loans and interest. Some housing companies may also have additional charges for services like sauna or parking. Yhtiövastikkeet are usually paid monthly.