Did you receive an interest invoice, and are you wondering what it is? If you do not pay your rent, a utility charge or an invoice by the due date, you will be charged interest on the late payment, accrued from the due date.

Read more about interest invoices and interest on late payments

Most of Heka’s buildings have a civil defence shelter, which are maintained through periodic inspections

Most Heka properties have dedicated civil defence shelters, in addition to which some areas in Helsinki have area-specific civil defence shelters. Under normal circumstances, the shelters of apartment buildings are usually used for storing movable property. Thanks to regular inspections, the civil defence shelters of Heka buildings can be deployed within 72 hours, if necessary.

15.1.2026 12:43
Kaksi aikuista ja lapsi istuvat lattialla. Ympärillä kotivaratarvikkeita. Kuvituskuva.

This week, Heka is organising the SUOJA26 exercise with the Helsinki Rescue Association Helpe, where a group of Heka residents and other volunteers will carry out a planned change of use of a shelter and spend 12 or 24 hours in the shelter.

You can find information about the shelters of your property in your property’s emergency plan, which you can find on your locations’s page and in the OmaHeka resident porta l.

Civil defence shelters are inspected regularly

Heka’s shelters are inspected every ten years as specified by law. In addition, the building safety officers and Heka’s maintenance services regularly check the equipment of the shelters. The purpose of these inspections is to ensure that the shelters remain in working order. One of the things covered in the inspections is that the safety equipment and, e.g. medication kept in the shelters are up to date, and expired iodine tablets are replaced with new ones.

In the event that the civil defence shelters of Heka buildings need to be deployed, the deployment will be carried out in accordance with orders issued by the authorities. According to Finnish rescue authorities, Finland is not currently facing any threats that would require the deployment of civil defence shelters.

Helsinki’s civil defence shelters can accommodate around 900,000 people

In total, there are about 5,500 shelters in Helsinki, and they provide a safe space for about 955,000 people. Under normal circumstances, the shelters are used in accordance with the building permit, for example, as storage rooms, recreational and social facilities or parking garages.

Rescue services have compiled a comprehensive set of information on civil defence on its website .

Take care of your emergency supplies

In the event of emergencies such as major power cuts, water supply disruptions, storms or loss of digital connections, the authorities may not be able to help immediately. Therefore, every household should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days, or 72 hours.

This includes having enough food and water that is easy to prepare and suitable for everyone in the family. You should also have a battery-powered radio and torch, an emergency power supply for charging your phone, essential medicines, a camping stove and matches, and cash.

See the 72tuntia.fi/en website for a more detailed listing and instructions.

Vesipulloja, säilykkeitä, taskulamppu, reppu, käteistä rajaa ja muita kotivaratarpeita. Kuvituskuva.

Pictures: Essi Kuula, Otavamedia