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What is a tenant committee?

A tenant committee is a body composed of the tenants of a building or property, whose purpose is to promote a pleasant living environment, a sense of community, and tenants’ ability to influence matters related to their own living environment. It acts as a link between tenants and the landlord and provides a concrete channel for raising development proposals, feedback, and concerns.

The tenant committee can be elected from among the tenants at a tenant meeting. Committee members are volunteers, and their role is based on a shared desire to improve daily life and the atmosphere in the building.

The tasks of the tenant committee may include, for example:

  • Representing tenants in matters concerning the building
  • Monitoring the use and order of common areas
  • Implementing proposals to improve living comfort (e.g., purchasing shared items)
  • Communicating information between residents and the landlord
  • Organizing community events and volunteer work
  • Providing input on building repairs and projects
  • The tenant committee does not make decisions on financial or administrative matters on its own, but it plays an important role in bringing tenants’ opinions and views to the fore. Its activities are based on openness, cooperation, and giving equal consideration to all tenants.

The cooperation body is a step up from the tenant committee:

The cooperation body operates on a broader level than the tenant committee of a single building. It consists of tenant representatives from several housing complexes(one representative per property) and works in cooperation with the landlord on matters affecting the entire organization.

The purpose of the cooperation body is to ensure that tenants have the opportunity to influence decisions affecting them on a broader scale as well. It addresses, among other things, issues related to rent setting, financial matters, repair plans, and housing development.

The key tasks of the cooperation body are:

  • Participating in the review of rent setting and financial planning
  • Issuing statements on significant repair and investment projects
  • Monitoring the implementation of tenant democracy
  • Making development proposals to improve housing services
  • Supporting tenant committees and strengthening the flow of information
  • The cooperation body engages in dialogue with the landlord and promotes transparency in decision-making. Through this, tenants have the opportunity to receive information about financial and operational policies and to voice their views before decisions are made.

Why is tenant participation important?

Tenant democracy is based on the idea that tenants have the right to influence their own living environment. When tenants participate in decision-making and development, the following results:

  • Better communication
  • More equitable decision-making
  • Greater sense of community
  • Higher quality of life
  • Proactive problem-solving
  • Active participation benefits both residents and the landlord. Cooperation builds trust, streamlines operations, and helps develop housing in the long term.

How to get involved?

All tenants can attend tenant meetings and run for the tenant committee. Members of the cooperative body are usually selected from among tenant representatives, and participation offers the opportunity to have a broad impact on the development of housing.

Participation does not require any special expertise; an interest in shared issues and a desire to act constructively are sufficient. Join the tenant committee for your building!

Our new residential property will be completed in the lovely Hatanpää neighborhood at the end of April and will be ready for occupancy from the beginning of May. Boijenkatu 3 B offers comfortable and functional living right next to the Arboretum’s green outdoor areas and summer flowers. The area combines the peace of nature with excellent transport links, making it the perfect place for those who want to live close to the city center but appreciate being close to nature. A tram line is also scheduled for completion in 2027, which will further improve transport links.

The housing complex will have 38 apartments and they are designed for smooth everyday living, space, and modern comfort. Each home has a dishwasher, a glazed balcony, and the option of a laundry tower. The project will include spacious 32.5-33m² studios, 40m² one-bedroom apartments, and 61m² two-bedroom apartments. Rents range from 555€ to 592€ for studios, 642€ to 675€ for two-room apartments, and 857€ to 899€ for three-room apartments. Water is billed according to consumption, and tenants sign their own electricity contracts. The property will also have shared facilities for residents, such as a sauna, laundry and drying room, community/club room, outdoor equipment, pram and storage room, and a bicycle workshop where you can service and store your bike.

The bedrooms have plenty of storage space thanks to wardrobes with practical shelves and hanging rails. In the studios, the alcoves are complemented by overhead cabinets, which provide additional storage space without compromising on the use of space.

Applications open on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Fill out the application and you can soon start your summer next to Tampere’s beloved summer environment.

In the early 1960s, Tampere became aware of a problem that was familiar to many growing cities in Finland. More and more young people were moving to the city to study, but there was little affordable housing suitable for students. The housing shortage made everyday life difficult, and student housing was not yet organized or systematically planned.

Can you guess what was the most common solution for student housing in the 1960s? Before the construction of actual student housing, accommodation was mainly arranged through private landlords or sublandlords. Students lived as subtenants, often in cramped conditions, and finding a place to live was largely based on acquaintances and connections. Stable and predictable housing was something one could only dream of and this inevitably affected the progress of studies.

However, even back then, student housing was centered around the same idea as it is today: the need for affordable and safe homes that support studying and everyday life. For many students, their first home meant independence, new beginnings, and lifelong memories.

POAS was known as Peltolammin opiskelija-asunnot Oy (Peltolammi Student Housing Ltd) when it was founded, as the first student apartments were built in Peltolammi. In 2003, following a corporate merger, the name was changed to its current form, Pirkan Opiskelija-asunnot Oy. This marked the beginning of a development that has grown and expanded over the decades to meet the changing needs of the student community. Today, we have dozens of properties across Tampere, and we are widely known by the acronym POAS.

However, our goal has remained the same since our founding: to promote the idea of affordable, functional housing that meets the needs of students. We want to do our part to ensure that students can focus on their studies and provide them with homes that are easy to live in, grow in, and enjoy.

In honor of our anniversary, we want to be even more involved in the everyday lives of our partners and tenants and organize something special for our tenants. This is our way of thanking all for making POAS more than just a housing provider. Our tenants have created a community with which we have been able to share a journey for several decades.

In 2025, POAS had an unusually high number of near misses related to fire safety. The most common hazards were caused by the incorrect use of saunas and stoves or ovens in apartments. In this article, we remind all residents of the importance of fire safety by highlighting real near misses in their own context and explaining the costs they incur.

Case 1

What happened?

According to the tenant, they were cooking and left the stove on. They fell asleep and woke up to a fire. There was food in a pot on the stove, and next to the pot were a carton of eggs and a roll of baking paper, which caught fire. According to the resident, he did not have home insurance. The fire alarm was not working due to a broken battery. There was also a smell of burning in the stairwell.

Main points:

  • Total cost of damage repair: 17 500€
  • Tenant’s smoke alarm not working
  • Tenant did not have home insurance
  • Tenant did not report the damage to the emergency services

Case 2

What happened?

According to the resident, they had been drying towels on top of the sauna heater guard rail. For some reason, the heater had been left on and the towels had caught fire. The fire spread from the towels to the protective railing of the sauna heater, the wall panels, and the door. The resident extinguished the fire himself but did not report it to the emergency services.

Main points:

  • Total repair costs 4200€
  • Tenats’s smoke alarm not working
  • Tenant does not have home insurance
  • Damage not reported to POAS; maintenance worker noticed damage during separate visit

Case 3

What happened?

In one property, grease had been poured down the drain in several apartments, causing a major blockage in the sewer system. In such cases, there is a high risk of sewage rising from the sewers into the apartments, causing water damage.

What can you do to improve your own safety and that of others?

Small actions can prevent major damage. Familiarize yourself with the most important safety instructions and check that your home is safe every day and every holiday.

1. Working smoke alarm – the most important safety device in your home

  • A working smoke alarm gives you crucial minutes to escape safely.
  • Test your smoke alarm regularly; testing smoke alarms is the responsibility of the tenant.
  • If your smoke alarm is broken, missing, or out of batteries, report it to POAS immediately.

2. Sauna use and safety

  • The sauna must not be used for storage!
  • Nothing may be dried near the sauna heater.
  • Always turn off the stove after use and make sure that it does not remain on.
  • Children must not be left unattended in the sauna.
  • Ensure adequate ventilation and compliance with the safety distances around the stove.
  • Do not use the sauna to heat the apartment!

3. Oven and heating

  • Clean the oven and stove regularly, as grease residues can catch fire.
  • Do not leave the stove or oven unattended, even for a short time.
  • Do not dry laundry on heating appliances.
  • Do not use the oven to heat your home!

4. Additional heaters

The use of additional heaters is not recommended. Only use additional heaters in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Their thermostats may interfere with the temperature measurement and heating system, which distorts the indoor temperature data and increases electricity consumption

  • As heating costs rise, rent may also increase.
  • Never cover the heater or place it too close to textiles or furniture.
  • Always turn off the heater before going to bed or leaving home.
  • Check that the cord is not pinched or damaged.

5. Fire safety is especially important during the winter and holiday season

  • Do not leave candles burning unattended. Place them on a non-flammable surface.
  • Choose LED candles
  • Christmas lights must be intact, CE marked, and intended for indoor or outdoor use as appropriate.
  • Be especially careful when cooking food
  • Oil or grease left on the stove can easily catch fire!

Do not pour grease down the drain! Hot grease can cause drain blockages and even a fire hazard in your home and on the premises. Collect the grease in a container and dispose of it as bio or mixed waste according to the instructions.

Remember:

Prevention is the best remedy. Regular checks and carefulness in everyday tasks effectively prevent fires and increase the safety of you and others living in the building.

Follow our Instagram channel @poaskoti and take part in our Christmas calendar competition!

As usual, POAS’s Christmas calendar will be published on our Instagram channel from December 1 to 24, 2025. A new calendar window will be published every day. This year, each window will contain a question related to POAS.

You can enter the draw for the day’s surprise prize by commenting your answer on the post! The competition is open to everyone, and you don’t have to live at POAS to participate. Some of the questions are based on information that can be found on our website and may require a little detective work. Some are completely guesswork questions. Correct answers are not required to participate in the draw.

The door for each day opens on our Instagram channel every morning, and a daily prize, such as movie tickets and various product prizes, will be raffled off among all those who respond to the day’s post. In addition, all participants in the Christmas calendar will be entered into a draw for the grand prize of a 50€ gift card to Partioaitta! The grand prize draw will take place by January 2, 2026, and the winner will be contacted personally on Instagram.

Daily prize draw prizes:

  • Finnkino movie tickets
  • POAS product prizes

Prizes vary depending on the day. All prizes will be delivered to the winners electronically or by mail, so there is no need to visit our office to claim your prize.

The main prize is a 50€ gift card to Partioaitta! The amount loaded onto the gift card can be used in parts or all at once. The gift card can be used to pay for purchases in Partioaitta stores and online. The gift card is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. The gift card cannot be returned or exchanged for cash.

Instructions, rules, and data protection:

  • Competition period: December 1–24, 2025
  • The competition is open to everyone, and participation does not require living in POAS.
  • To enter the prize draw, comment on the Instagram post according to the instructions on the door.
  • The daily prize draw will take place on the working days following the opening of the door. The daily prize will be drawn from among those who have participated in the competition for that door on the same day. For example, if the competition is published in the morning, those who comment on the post by 11:59 p.m. on the same day will be entered into the draw. Participation in the draw does not require a correct answer.
  • The grand prize will be drawn by January 2, 2026. The grand prize will be drawn among all those who have participated in the daily draws.
  • POAS will announce the correct answer to the daily competition question and the results of the draw by replying to the comment thread for each day’s door on Instagram. PLEASE NOTE The draw may not necessarily take place on the following day due to public holidays, but we will always announce when the draw has taken place for each day’s door.
  • The winner will be notified personally via Instagram message about winning the prize draw and the delivery of the prize. Prizes will be delivered to winners either electronically or by post.
  • POAS collects and processes the personal and contact information provided by participants for the purpose of conducting the prize draw, contacting the winners, and delivering the prizes. The personal information provided will not be used for direct marketing or disclosed to third parties. The personal data collected will be destroyed in a secure manner after the draw has ended.
  • Each participant must release Instagram from all liability. Instagram does not endorse or administer the campaign in any way.
  • Participation in the draw is free of charge. The prize cannot be exchanged, returned, or converted into cash.
  • By participating in the competition, the participant accepts these rules.

More information:
POAS Marketing
markkinointi@poas.fi

Personnel changes  

Nelli Jokelainen (on the left), who has worked as Marketing Specialist since 2019, will take temporary sabbatical leave starting from October. Anna Nguyen, who has been working at POAS for several summers, will take over from Nelli. Like Nelli, Anna will handle POAS’ marketing and rent supervision. Good luck Anna!

Heating is on in all our apartments. However, as outdoor temperature drops, it may still feel cold inside your apartment. In this article we explain why and what you can do to influence the temperature inside the apartment yourself.

How does the heating system work?

Nearly all our buildings are heated by district heating. Tampereen Energia produces the thermal energy we use with 100% renewable, wood-based energy sources. Thermal energy circulates in the regional district heating network and it is transferred to the water circulating radiators in your apartment. The heating water flow of the buildings is no longer cut off during summertime to avoid the pump malfunctions. The building automation system automatically manages the heating according to the outdoor temperature. This means that hot water starts circulating in the radiators when the outdoor temperature drops low enough.

Why does the radiator feel cold, even though heating is on?

The desired room temperature is 20-22ºC. The radiator may feel cold when touching it once the desired temperature is reached. This means that the heating is on even if the radiator feels cool at times.

We sometimes receive feedback that it is chilly inside the apartment, and feels like cold air comes inside. This is common especially in the beginning of the heating season, when the relative humidity of the air is high due to the season. In the fall, it takes a while before the building structures have warmed up and relative humidity is reduced. Larger drops in outdoor temperature can make it feel cold inside before the indoor temperature stabilizes to match the change. As temperature rises and falls, the windows in the apartment react immediately to the change in temperature, and the heating may not have time to react to the sudden change in temperature as quickly.

How can you influence the room temperature yourself?

We recommend to move the curtains/furniture away from the front of the radiators. Don’t let the heat escape by opening the windows when radiators are on. You can adjust the flow of hot water from the radiator valves. Monitor the room temperature with a thermometer, and notify POAS by submitting a Notice of Defects, if you notice significantly low temperatures or faults in the structures of windows or front doors. Do not bleed (let the air out) the radiators yourself, as improper bleeding results in a loss of pressure in the radiator network. If the radiator is leaking water, notify POAS immediately.

More information on heating can be found from our tenant guide.

From this article you can read about our new building projects that are currently under construction.

Tieteenkatu 4, Hervanta area

This building was completed in August 2025. First tenants moved in on 1st September 2025.

Tieteenkatu 4 is located in northern Hervanta. The housing complex consists of 52 apartments directed for students and young employed people. Apartments have modern surface materials. Tiled bathrooms have grey floors and white walls. There are connections for washing machine and tumble dryer. Kitchens are equipped with a dishwasher and induction stove. Some apartments have a French balconette, and some have a larger balcony with glass windows. Floor heating and a top speed POASnet internet (up to 1Gbit/s) is included in the rent. Tenants can use gym, laundry, sauna and club room. See photos, floorplans and rents of the apartments: Tieteenkatu 4 B

Note! Tenants must make their own electricity contract, and water is paid for according to own consumption.

Few 1-bedroom-apartments available in Tieteenkatu 4

There are still a few 1-bedroom-apartments (2H in Finnish) to which we have not yet selected tenants. These 1-br-apartments are 43–45 square meters in size, and the rent varies depending on the floor and size of the apartment. The rents are between €829–859/month. Apply for these apartments now, and you could be moving into your brand new home soon!

Apartments are primarily offered to working people under 30 years old. Apartments are applied by submitting a housing application on our website. 

Coming in 2026: Boijenkatu 3, Hatanpää area

New building project is currently under construction in Hatanpää area. This complex is estimated to be completed in summer 2026. There are 38 apartments ranging from studios to 2-bedroom-apartments. All apartments have a balcony with glass windows! Excellent location right next to the Arboretum park area, and less than 3 km from the city center!

– Spacious studio apartments 32-33 m²
– 1-bedroom-apartments 40 m²
– 2-bedroom-apartments 61 m²

Coming in 2026: Vaahterakuja 3B and 3C, Peltolammi area

In Peltolammi area, the second phase of the Vaahterakuja 3 development project has begun. The first phase (Vaahterakuja 3A) was completed in summer 2020, and the project will continue with the construction of buildings Vaahterakuja 3B and 3C. The contractor is Pohjola Rakennus Oy Finland. Estimated completion of buildings is in August 2026.

The application period to these new apartments will begin later, stay tuned for more information!

Updated 8/2025

We currently have over 2200 valid housing applications in our system. We receive many questions regarding the availability of apartments and the status of the housing application. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Are there any apartments immediately available? 
Immediately available apartments are not shown on our website. Studios, 1-bedroom-apartments and 2-bedroom-apartments which become available in August 2025 have already been rented out. We have some rooms in shared apartments available quickly, so if you are still looking for an apartment from Tampere in August, apply for a room in shared apartment.

How are tenants selected?
We make all tenant selections based on the housing applications, so all applicants must submit an electronic housing application on our website. We consider the reasons for needing a new apartment and the urgency of the situation of each tenant, so applicants in the most urgent need for housing will be prioritized. Therefore, the number and situation of other applicants who have applied for same apartment have an influence on the apartment offering.

Since we have received state support for constructing affordable housing, there are wealth and income limits we need to consider when selecting tenants.

What is my position in the apartment queue?
POAS does not have apartment queues at all, as all tenant selections are made based on the applicants’ need of an apartment and the urgency of their situation.

I have submitted an application but I have not received any response?
Unfortunately we cannot respond to all applicants, but we will contact you by email if we are able to offer you an apartment.

How can I edit my application?
Housing applications cannot be edited online. If you wish to make changes to your application, you can just submit a new one. Submitting a new application will automatically expire the previous one. Since all tenants are selected based on the urgency of the situation, the submission date of the application does not affect your chances of getting an apartment. The application is valid for three months, so please submit a new application also, if you are still in need of an apartment after three months.

What if I cannot provide the attachments when submitting the application?
No worries, you can still apply for an apartment! Attachments, such as an employment contract or a certificate of a study place, are asked at the latest when we are making the rental agreement. So you can provide your attachments later on. We recommend you to submit your housing application as soon as you know you need a new apartment, even if you do not yet have the necessary attachments. Then we can take a look at your situation already in advance.

I found a nice apartment on your website, how can I go to see it?
The apartment selection shown on our website covers our entire selection of rental apartments, including those that are currently occupied. Unfortunately, vacant apartments are not shown separately.

You will be able to see the apartment after you have received an apartment offer. If the apartment cannot be visited during previous tenancy, you will have the opportunity to accept the offered apartment based on photos and other information provided. So please familiarize yourself with our apartment selection carefully before applying. Photos, layouts, rents and other details of our housing complexes can be found in our apartment selection.

Does making an appointment to POAS office or calling affect my chances of getting an apartment?
Calling or visiting the office will not affect your chances of getting an apartment, as all apartments are rented based on the housing applications, and we will consider the situation of all applicants when offering apartments. You may have to queue for our phone service, especially during busy times. If you want to update your information or tell us more about your housing needs, please submit a new housing application.

How can I improve my chances of getting an apartment?
In addition to the other applicants, the chances of getting an apartment depend on the number of available apartments as well. If you apply for a certain type or size of apartment in a particular building, you may have to wait a long time before that kind of apartment is vacated. If you need an apartment quickly, we recommend that you apply for a wide range of different types of apartments in different areas. For example, if you are looking for an apartment in Hervanta area with a maximum rent of EUR 550 per month, do not limit your application to studio apartments only. In many of our housing complexes, there are also 1-bedroom-apartments in the same price range. Please also note that some of our housing complexes are directed to students only, so in principal we cannot offer an apartment from these complexes to employed applicants. You can find information on these apartments in our apartment selection.

What is the best time of the year to get an apartment?
The number of applicants and vacant apartments varies in different seasons. In the spring and early summer, there are more apartments vacated in relation to the number of applications compared to other seasons. In August-September, there are the most applicants, and all available apartments are rented out quickly. If you are able to schedule your moving later in the fall (October-November) or spring, you may have a better chance of getting an apartment from us.

Before applying, please familiarize yourself with our application instructions, where you will find more information regarding our tenant selections and application process.