Having money trouble? You are not alone – contact us in time to resolve any issues with rent payment
Changing life situations, unemployment or surprising expenses can lead to financial difficulties. You must, however, pay your rent every month. If you have trouble paying your rent, contact Heka well in advance. Advice and support are available if you have trouble paying your rent.
At Heka, residents are supported through financial difficulties in many ways to avoid eviction due to rental debt. You do have to pay rent and other fees on time, but we can offer guidance and solutions to tackle your issues.
Heka’s Collection Specialist Leea Pajari encourages residents to take action in challenging situations:
“We always want our residents to be able to pay their rent and continue living at Heka,” Pajari says.
Contact Heka immediately if you have trouble paying your rent
Many people only take action when their rental debt is already being processed by the district court. Pajari advises residents to contact Heka immediately if they are unable to pay rent or other housing fees on time.
“People may feel embarrassed about not having enough money, which is why they avoid dealing with the situation,” Pajari says.
There are solutions, as long as the resident is proactive and ready to put their affairs in order.
“If the resident does not contact us, we cannot know what is going on. We value resident proactivity in managing the matter. There are many ways to contact us. If you do not feel comfortable calling us, you can contact us electronically through our Resident Portal, for example. Our electronic channels are available at any time of the day,” Pajari says.
It is never too late to address rental debt. If you have already been evicted due to rental debt, you should nevertheless try to pay the debt off to remove your payment default entry in the credit information register. A payment default entry due to rental debt may make it difficult for you to find a new place to live.
Compared to many other fixed expenses, rent is a relatively large monthly sum, and even one month’s rent will be a lot to handle. Rental debt is also collected if the rent is paid repeatedly late or only part of it is paid.
However, rental debt cannot be accumulated unexpectedly. Heka will send a collection letter to the resident soon after the due date if they fail to pay rent. The letter contains information on rental debt and ways of paying it. The letter also provides advice on what to do if the rental debt cannot be paid immediately. If a tenant has already accumulated several months’ rental debt, Heka will send the tenant a collection letter informing them that they will be taken to court and that Heka is going to petition for the cancellation of their tenancy and eviction. However, it is possible at this point to pay the debt and make a payment agreement, in which event the tenancy can continue normally.
You can always check your rent payment status in the Resident Portal and by calling Heka customer service. Heka has also introduced text message reminders in October, reminding tenants of unpaid rent even before the collection letter is sent.
We offer counselling and the opportunity to make a payment agreement
Even if money is tight, it is advisable to prioritise rent payment, because your home is essential for your daily life.
“If rental debt escalates to eviction and the resident loses their home, it is difficult to manage everyday life, which easily leads to other problems. That is why it is good to always pay rent first, followed by other less important expenses,” Pajari says.
A payment agreement is one solution to temporary rental payment problems. It means that the resident and Heka agree that the rent is paid in instalments. A payment agreement is a good solution e.g. when, due to irregular income, rent cannot be paid right now, but it will be possible to pay unpaid rent in the coming months.
The maximum duration of a payment agreement is 12 months. The resident signs the agreement electronically.
“The payment agreement is binding. If the resident is unable to comply with the agreement for some reason, they must contact Heka immediately, and we can resolve the situation with the resident,” Pajari says.
What can I do if I know that I will not have the money to pay rent in the future? Pajari recommends that you contact the housing consultation service. Housing consultants can help you determine whether social services could be able to provide you with money for rent. Housing consultations are free of charge for tenants.
Read more about housing consultation
The Guarantee Foundation, Financial and debt counselling and Ohjaamo One-Stop Guidance Centre, intended for people below the age of 30, also provide advice. All of the above services are free of charge.
Heka will hold a webinar on difficulties paying rent (Vuokranmaksuvaikeudet ja niistä selviäminen) on Tuesday 5 November 2024 at 17.00–19.00. In the webinar, collection and debt consultation experts provide practical advice on what to do if you have issues with rent payment.