liitetalo

Liitetalo is a Finnish term for an attached house—a residential building that is joined to one or more neighboring dwellings along a shared wall. Liitetalot are part of the broader category of low-rise, multi-unit housing and are common in Finnish suburbs and housing estates. They typically appear in rows or in paired duplex configurations and may be two or more stories tall; each unit usually has its own entrance and outdoor space, while sharing party walls with adjacent units.

Ownership and structure commonly place liitetalot within a housing company (taloyhtiö) where residents own shares corresponding to a dwelling in the building rather than the land. The building’s common parts are owned collectively, and maintenance is coordinated by the company. Fire safety and insulation requirements regulate the shared walls, while regulations determine how common areas and outdoor spaces are managed.

Advantages of liitetalot include efficient land use, potential energy savings due to shared walls, and often lower purchase prices compared with detached houses. They can offer a balance between private living space and community-oriented design. Disadvantages may include reduced privacy and potential sound transmission through the party wall, depending on construction quality and insulation.

Terminology varies by region and developer. The concept is sometimes described as paritalo (duplex) or rivitalo (row house) in practice, and the exact features of a liitetalo can differ between projects. Legally and practically, liitetalot are defined within Finland’s building codes and housing regulations as part of residential multi-unit housing.