Heka is a city-owned housing company that owns over 50,000 state-subsidised apartments throughout Helsinki. Each year, the City of Helsinki allocates between 3,000 and 4,000 low-rent housing units to applicants showing the greatest need. Heka apartments do not charge security deposit, and leases are generally for an indefinite period.
A newly renovated Heka building at Vellamonkatu 17 will be completed at the end of the year 2025. The estimated completion date is 31 December.
You can apply for apartments in Vellamonkatu 17 starting from 7 October. There is no set application period, and the tenant selection continues until all the apartments have residents. You can add some of the apartments directly to the application. If you already have a valid housing application, you can edit the application and add apartments from Vellamonkatu 17 to it. You can also find more information on the apartments on Oikotie.fi.
Tenant selection for the location prioritises tenants who lived in the building before the renovation. The old tenants have been sent a letter with information on how to apply for the apartments.
The building has 128 apartments. The sizes range from 34 square meter 2-room apartments to 57,5 square meter 3-room apartments. The kitchens include a dishwasher, oven with stovetop and a refrigerator/freezer.
The building’s common areas include a laundry room, sauna, balconies for airing clothes and various storage spaces.
The insides of apartments, common areas and the stairwells will be renovated, and building service technology and plumbing will be renewed.
Vellamonkatu 17 is located in Hermanni next to the Violanpuisto park. Other parks and green areas such as the Vallila allotment garden are also nearby. The city centre, Pasila and Kalasatama are easily accessible by tram and bus and buses to Vantaa are close as well.
Fun facts about Heka apartments
- Heka does not charge a security deposit from residents.
- Heka’s lease agreements are valid until further notice. The period of notice of the lease agreements for residents is one calendar month.
- All new Heka buildings are non-smoking.
- Each apartment in a new building has its own water meter, and they charge for the water based on consumption.
- Pets are welcome in Heka apartments and there is no need to report them separately.
- Heka’s locations have versatile facilities shared by the residents, such as laundry rooms that are free of charge as well as clubrooms and shared saunas.
How to apply for an apartment in a renovated Heka building
If you already have a valid housing application, you can add new apartments to your application by editing your application during the application period.
Please note that Heka tenant selection uses income limits according to a government ruling which came to effect in the beginning of 2025. The income limits are used both for new tenants and those changing from one Heka apartment to another.