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Resident democracy

Heka has an extensive resident democracy system and diverse resident activities. The resident democracy system gives resident decision-making power and influence in matters concerning their own housing, increases the comfort of living and promotes the maintenance of apartment buildings.

The purpose of resident democracy is to secure timely and sufficient information flow between residents and Heka in the joint management arrangements.  

Amendment to the Act on Joint Management and the tenant democracy by-law 

Heka’s tenant democracy is based on the Act on Joint Management and Heka’s tenant democracy by-law. The new Act on Joint Management will enter into force on 1 January 2024. The amendment will also update Heka’s tenant democracy by-law, which will be known hereinafter as the “resident democracy by-law”.  

Even though the actual by-law will take effect on 1 January 2024, the decisions and choices at the resident meetings of autumn 2023 will already adhere to the updated by-law.  

Some names will change in conjunction with the update of the tenant democracy by-law.  

  • The building committee will be known hereinafter as the “resident committee”
  • The tenant advisory board will be known hereinafter as the “regional committee”
  • The tenant advisory board will be known hereinafter as the “resident advisory board”

The new names are used on Heka’s website and this page. 

Heka’s resident democracy system 

Heka’s resident democracy system operates on three levels:  

  • Each property has a resident committee elected by the resident meeting. 
  • Representatives of the resident committee form the regional committee. Within Heka, the regional committee brings together resident committees in the rent equalisation area, distributes information and provides training. There is a total of 21 regional committees. 
  • All the Heka residents are represented by the resident advisory board, which features members from each regional committee.  

In addition to this, the residents have their own representatives in Heka’s Board of Directors and cooperation body.  

At the level of the properties themselves, the resident meetings, which are open to all, are among the most important customer democracy bodies. At the meetings, residents discuss matters related to their residential buildings, brainstorm shared activities and decide on the use of the appropriations for resident activities. The resident meetings also select the members of the building committee. Alternatively, a trustee and a deputy can be elected. 

More information on resident democracy is provided in the Act on Joint Management and Heka’s resident democracy by-law, which is based on it.

Particularly active residents also have the opportunity to take part in the joint management bodies of Heka and the residents.  

Heka’s resident cooperation bodies