A guide to good living

Transcription

1 A guide to good living

2 A guide to good living Welcome home! 3 BATHROOM 7 HALLWAY 5 KITCHEN 11 BEDROOMS 15 LIVING ROOM 13 BALCONY AND COURTYARD 17 Outside your own home 19 Rescue instructions 20

3 Welcome home! In moving into a new home, there are lots of things to remember. Here is a checklist to help you with the move: Notification of change of address It is advisable to submit an official notification of your change of address as soon as possible. One of the reasons for this is to make sure that the post office will be able to find you after the move. The easiest way is to submit the notification online: Remember to also inform the building maintenance office responsible for your new home, so that the caretaker can add your name to the door. Home insurance Home insurance is a smart choice for people living in rental housing as well. Espoon Asunnot s real estate insurance only pays for sudden and unforeseen damage to the property. For the furnishings, home insurance need to be taken out. Remember the electricity The electrical contract should be made in good time before moving, so that you don t have to move in to a dark home. As real estate electricity we use electricity supplies that have been given the EKOenergy eco-friendly marking. We recommend this to you also. Smoke detector A smoke detector is a mandatory piece of equipment in the apartment, but it is also a very affordable lifeguard. If your new home does not have a fixed fire smoke detector that is connected to the mains, you should install one smoke detector for every 60 square metres. Further instructions can be found on the website of the Rescue Services: pelastustoimi.fi Reporting the condition of the premises When signing a lease agreement, you were given a form for indicating the condition of the premises. Please fill this in and return it to us within two weeks of moving in. Fill in this form carefully to avoid any possible confusion or other difficulties with insurance policies when you eventually move out. If you notice any defects or faults in the premises, please report them immediately to the maintenance Elisa s basic broadband subscription is included in the rent. Contact Elisa to get internet access set up. Espoon Asunnot A guide to good living 3

4 The feeling of moving out, and the joy of homecoming. Hallway Doors and locks If your home has an interior door, keep it closed to reduce the amount of noise from or to the stairwell. Security locks and a spyhole are not part of the basic furnishings of homes. However, they can be installed at the tenants own expense, as long as the installation is done by a professional. Contact your service representative before installation. The security lock is always rekeyed to match the other keys for the house. Please note that security locks may only be used when there is nobody in the apartment. It must be able to exit by the front door without needing a key. Floors Floors are always exposed to wear, but you can take steps to minimise this. Leave shoes in the hallway when you come in, and put felt strips on the feet of furniture so as to avoid scratching floors. Weekly cleaning In most dwellings, the cleaning cabinet is in the hallway. Regular cleaning will help keep your home in good condition and pleasant to live in. You can find great cleaning tips on the internet, for example on the website of the Martha Organization, which promotes wellbeing and quality of life in the home. If you lose your key or want additional keys, contact the maintenance services. Espoon Asunnot A guide to good living 5

5 Keep bad smells at bay through regular cleaning, and prevent water damage. These and similar measures make the bathroom a more pleasant place to be. Bathroom No more leaks If you find that the toilet bowl or a tap is leaking, report it to the maintenance company immediately. In the worst case, leaks can cause water damage. Correcting the leak is also an eco-friendly thing to do, since it can save thousands of litres of water. Sensible water use Water is easy to save with many small steps, for example by taking shorter showers and using the washing machine only with a full load. If you have a dishwasher, avoid unnecessary rinsing of dishes. If you wash dishes by hand, use a plug in the sink. Sensible use of water also helps to keep the rent down. DRAIN-TRAP CLEANING 1 2 To unscrew the drain-trap, turn it anticlockwise. Keep hold of the pipe with your other hand. Clean off the accumulated dirt. Cleaning the drain-trap of the hand wash basin A bad smell from the drain, and a slowly emptying sink, are signs that the drain-trap needs cleaning. Drain-traps can become easily blocked by hairs going down the drain, for example. There are different types of drain-trap, but most of them open by twisting. Have a bucket at hand, since the tube may leak water. 3 Screw the drain-trap back in place, and run the tap for a moment to check the drain-trap doesn t leak. Espoon Asunnot A guide to good living 7

6 CLEANING VENTILATION DUCTS CLEANING FLOOR DRAINS Rotate the outer ring anticlockwise. Pull the valve out. Clean the valve with water containing detergent, and wipe dry. Also clean any foam plastic sound damping. A vacuum cleaner is the handiest tool for this! Replace the valve by rotating the outer ring clockwise. Pull the grille off of the floor drain. To do this you can use a pen or screwdriver, for example. Clean hair and other solids and grime from the drain. Rinse the drain with warm water. Wash the floor drain and its parts with warm water and detergent. An old washingup brush, for example, is a good help here. Remember! All the bathroom walls are waterproofed. Therefore, no holes of any size should be made in the bathroom walls. Ventilation ducts The ventilation ducts are usually in the bathroom and kitchen. For the ventilation to work at its best, the exhaust air vents need cleaning regularly. Do not rotate the central adjustment part during cleaning, since this would affect the amount of air flow. The toilet bowl is not for rubbish! Although it may seem that toilet bowls can swallow just about anything that is put into them, over time garbage that sewage pipes are not designed to take build up and can block the piping. So dispose of all rubbish where it properly belongs, not in the toilet bowl. Food waste, for example, should be disposed of in biowaste containers. Cooking fat that is poured down drains or flushed down the toilet accumulate on the sewer walls and piping over time. Floor drain Cleaning the floor drain prevents bacteria from making their way from the drain across the bathroom floor. The recommended cleaning interval is once a month. Filters are also available to make cleaning easier. For example, they collect hairs before they reach the drain. Use rubber gloves when cleaning the floor drain. Washing machine Installing the washing machine should be done by a professional in order to ensure that the connections are pressure-resistant. To prevent leakage, the water tap must be closed whenever the machine is not in use. Don t leave the washing machine running when you go out. 8 A guide to good living Espoon Asunnot Espoon Asunnot A guide to good living 9

7 They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. No matter what your level of culinary skills, cooking is more fun when the kitchen is kept in good condition. Kitchen Fridge and freezer Did you know that the buildup of frost in a freezer increases electricity consumption? For this reason, freezers should be defrosted at least twice a year. When doing this, make sure that no thawing water pours onto the floor. Clean the dust from the rear of the fridge-freezer and from the grille on the back a couple of times a year. Also check the fridge coolant pipe. If it gets clogged, water can accumulate on the bottom of the fridge. Stove top and oven Regularly clean the wall behind the stove top and base of the cooker. It is advisable to wipe the hotplates after cooking so that dirt does not get burned on to them. Cooker hood Most of our apartments have a cooker hood. Did you know that you can reduce risk of fire by keeping the cooker hood grease filter clean? Depending on the amount of use, the cooker hood filter should be cleaned 3 6 times a year. See the user manual on how to remove the filters. Installing the dishwasher The dishwasher should be installed by a professional. When installing the dishwasher, it s a very good idea to put a drip tray underneath it. The dishwasher, like other home appliances, is the responsibility of the resident. Take particular care in checking waterpipe and drainpipe connections for possible leaks. The water supply must always be closed off after use. Don t leave the washing machine running when you go out. CLEANING THE COOKER HOOD FAN Remove the grease filter. Soak the filter in hot water. Use dish soap to remove the accumulated fat. Most filters can also be washed in a dishwasher. Dry the filter after washing, and reinsert it. Espoon Asunnot A guide to good living 11

8 How about a board game, or a movie? The most relaxing moments of the day are spent in the living room. Living room Coexistence and neighbors Rules and Regulations include the common rules of the inhabitants of the house. Following these rules ensures that all residents can enjoy peace and quiet. The quiet time starts at 22:00. After that time, unnecessary noise must be avoided. So leave furniture rearranging and drum practice to daytime hours! If one of your neighbours makes a lot of noise, the easiest way to handle the situation is by the ringing the doorbell and pointing out the problem in a friendly way. If this doesn t solve the problem, you can report it to the building manager by filling out an announcement of housing interference which you ll find on our website. Remember! Self-repairing the apartment requires a written permission from Espoon Asunnot. Espoon Asunnot A guide to good living 13

9 The bedroom is a place of calm where the day begins and ends. Bedrooms Room temperature The target room temperature is 21 C. However, for the best night s sleep it s good to have the bedroom temperature slightly cooler than that, no higher than 19 C. The temperature can be changed by adjusting from the radiator control valve. The thermostats of the radiators cannot work properly if they are covered by a curtain or large furniture. For this reason, plan your interior design solutions in such a way that the thermostat has enough room to work properly. Ugh, bugs! Unfortunately, bugs occur in Espoo from time to time. If you notice unwelcome guests of this kind, report the problem immediately to the maintenance company. Pest control is more effective the sooner it is started. Sealing the windows If the windows feel draughty, contact the maintenance services. Sealing the windows reduces heat loss. The supply air valves on the frames of the windows must always be open. Clean the supply air valves twice a year. A tip! For the best night s sleep, the bedroom temperature should be no higher than 19 C. Espoon Asunnot A guide to good living 15

10 Balconies and courtyards are a pleasant extension to the apartment, especially in the summer. So get stuck into the soil, or focus on enjoying the fresh outdoor air. Balcony and courtyard No rubbish or storage of goods The balcony and yard are for spending time, not for storage. For example, in the event of a fire the balcony or yard may have to be used as an emergency exit, so the passageway should be kept clear. Buildings, flower boxes etc. It is prohibited to install or build any fixed constructions, such as fences or patios, in the yard or on the balcony. Similarly, playhouses and trampolines are not permitted in courtyards. Any flower boxes on balconies must not extend beyond the balcony, otherwise there may be a risk of them falling down and away from the balcony. Plantings Small shrubs, low-growing perennials and other low-growing settings are welcome additions to courtyards. However, if you feel like a spot of gardening then keep in mind that the appropriate planting distance from the wall is metres, depending on the variety of plant. With sufficient planting distance from walls, there is less risk of plant roots or shoots damaging the structure of the building. Barbecuing It is forbidden to barbecue on balconies or in apartment yards. In addition to being an annoyance to neighbours, it is a fire safety risk. In the residential areas of terraced houses barbecuing is allowed, as long as the distance from the building is at least four metres. When barbecuing in the evenings, it is important to keep in mind that the quiet time starts at 22:00. Smoking Smoking is prohibited in all public areas. In premises that have been completed or refurbished after 2010, smoking is permitted only in specially designated and marked areas. Check what has been written in the lease for your apartment in this regard. Feeding animals is forbidden Feeding of wild animals in the property area is prohibited. Bird droppings make a mess, and can spread infectious diseases such as salmonella. Food left in the area also attracts rats. Espoon Asunnot A guide to good living 17

11 Outside your own home Laundry room and drying room A laundry room is available for residents use during the day. The laundry room can be booked either with the book in the laundry room or online. In the drying room, the laundry dries quickly and is preferable because it helps prevent the accumulation of moisture in apartments. For this reason we highly recommend using the drying room. More detailed instructions can be found on the wall of the laundry room. Be considerate towards other laundry users clean up after you before leaving. Waste disposal In order to keep waste handling fees as low as possible, waste must be sorted into the containers designated for each type of waste. Do not leave hazardous materials, furniture, or other junk in the waste disposal area. The right place for such materials are the Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority HSY s Sortti waste sorting stations, and the garbage collection skips that come to the courtyards in the spring. Information on these services can be found on HSY s website: Many charities will also collect usable furniture for free. Every year we educate environmental experts appointed by the council of residents to advise residents of their own unit on waste sorting and other matters. Parking Parking spots must be reserved through Espoon Asunnot s customer services. Badly parked cars can obstruct maintenance or rescue operations, for example in the event of a fire. So do not leave your vehicle wherever there must be free passage at all times. Guest parking spots are intended only for short-term use by guests of residents. Parking in guest parking spots is allowed for a maximum of four hours, using a parking disc. For longerterm guest parking permits, contact the service company. Storage facilities Most houses have their own storage space for sports and outdoor equipment, and also have storage facilities. To ensure fire safety, it is forbidden to store goods in the corridors of stairways and communal spaces. Recreation rooms Recreation rooms are intended as common gathering places for residents. For more information, contact the residents committee or the maintenance company. Espoon Asunnot A guide to good living 19

12 Rescue instructions Apartment fires The primary way of escaping in the event of fire is through the stairway. If necessary, leave the apartment on all fours, since there is less smoke and heat closer to the floor. Close the apartment door behind you. This prevents the spread of noxious fumes from the fire. Fire in stairwells or in the rest of the building Keep the apartment door closed. Burning materials can emit lethally poisonous gases into the air, even if the flames are not visible. For this reason, it is safest to stay in your own apartment. If smoke gets into the apartment, go to the balcony if necessary to wait for the rescuers. Close the balcony door behind you. Once you are in a safe place, call the emergency services number 112. Guide the fire brigade to the scene.

13 Table of maintenance and repair responsibilities The table of maintenance and repair responsibilities indicates key tasks related to apartment maintenance. The table indicates whether a task belongs to the maintenance company, Espoon Asunnot Oy or the resident. You can also check where repair costs are covered by the resident or Espoon Asunnot. The table of maintenance and repair responsibilities applies to defects resulting from regular wear and tear inside an apartment. The resident is always responsible for repair costs arising from defects caused by the resident and for their own equipment.! Please notify the maintenance company of any defects or faults in your apartment, public areas or the outdoor area. Task Performance responsibility Cost responsibility KEYS AND LOCKS Lock maintenance MAINTENANCE EA Procurement of additional keys MAINTENANCE RESIDENT Re-keying MAINTENANCE EA Procurement, installation and maintenance of a security lock* RESIDENT RESIDENT Procurement, installation and maintenance of a security door chain* RESIDENT RESIDENT WINDOWS AND DOORS Hinge and lock lubrication RESIDENT RESIDENT Installation and replacement of door and window seals MAINTENANCE EA Repair of fittings and equipment MAINTENANCE EA Procurement, installation and maintenance of a peephole* RESIDENT RESIDENT Procurement and installation of hinge pins and security guard plates* RESIDENT RESIDENT Repair of a broken window or door (including balcony glazing) MAINTENANCE EA Painting doors and windows** EA EA WALL, CEILING AND FLOOR SURFACES Painting wall and ceiling surfaces** EA EA Repair and replacement of sauna panels** EA EA Repair and replacement of flooring** EA EA Checking the condition of floors and walls in wet rooms MAINTENANCE EA BALCONIES Care and maintenance of wooden balcony decking RESIDENT RESIDENT Balcony cleaning and clearing snow from the balcony RESIDENT RESIDENT Clearing balcony drainage holes RESIDENT RESIDENT Washing balcony glazing RESIDENT RESIDENT FIXTURES Repair of fixtures MAINTENANCE EA Replacement of fixtures** EA EA Replacement of the kitchen drawer fronts MAINTENANCE EA Repair of the countertop MAINTENANCE EA Refitting the dishwasher cabinet MAINTENANCE EA Replacement of the drying cabinet rack MAINTENANCE EA Replacement of the pull-out trash can MAINTENANCE EA Repair or replacement of apartment-specific sauna benches MAINTENANCE EA HEATING Radiator bleeding MAINTENANCE EA Basic adjustment of radiators MAINTENANCE EA Repair and maintenance of radiator valves MAINTENANCE EA Cleaning radiators RESIDENT RESIDENT VENTILATION Cleaning exhaust outlets MAINTENANCE EA Adjustment and repair of exhaust outlets MAINTENANCE EA Cleaning replacement air outlets RESIDENT RESIDENT Cleaning ventilation ducts** EA EA Cleaning or replacement of replacement air outlets and filters MAINTENANCE EA Procurement of new filters for replacement air outlets MAINTENANCE EA Cleaning the cooker hood grease filter RESIDENT RESIDENT Procurement of a new cooker hood filter MAINTENANCE EA Repair of the cooker hood fan MAINTENANCE EA Cleaning or replacement of apartment-specific air supply unit filters MAINTENANCE EA Procurement of new filters for apartment-specific air supply units MAINTENANCE EA Repair and maintenance of apartment-specific air supply units MAINTENANCE EA Task Performance responsibility Cost responsibility WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS Cleaning tap aerators RESIDENT RESIDENT Basic adjustment of tap flows MAINTENANCE EA Replacement of shower hoses RESIDENT RESIDENT Repair of taps and HVAC equipment MAINTENANCE EA Connecting washing machines and plugging connections* RESIDENT RESIDENT Installation and removal of washing machines, and plugging connections* RESIDENT RESIDENT Cleaning drain traps and floor drains RESIDENT RESIDENT Repair of drain traps and floor drains MAINTENANCE EA Unclogging sewers MAINTENANCE EA Procurement of sink plugs RESIDENT RESIDENT Replacement of radiator thermostats MAINTENANCE EA Replacement of toilet seat covers RESIDENT RESIDENT Giving notification of leaking taps and toilet seats to the maintenance company RESIDENT EA ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Procurement and replacement of light bulbs, fluorescent tubes and starters RESIDENT RESIDENT Procurement and replacement of refrigerator, oven and range hood lamps RESIDENT RESIDENT Repair of lighting fixtures and their covers MAINTENANCE EA Procurement and replacement of fuses RESIDENT RESIDENT Repair of sockets and switches MAINTENANCE EA Installation of decorative lights RESIDENT RESIDENT Procurement and repair of the antenna cable RESIDENT RESIDENT Installation of an additional antenna** EA RESIDENT Installation of additional telephone cables** EA RESIDENT Procurement and replacement of doorbell batteries RESIDENT RESIDENT Refitting ceiling boxes/covers RESIDENT RESIDENT MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT Procurement and maintenance of smoke detectors RESIDENT RESIDENT Procurement and replacement of fuses RESIDENT RESIDENT Repair and maintenance of an apartment-specific sauna stove** EA EA Procurement and replacement of apartment-specific sauna stones RESIDENT RESIDENT Cleaning condensers of refrigeration equipment RESIDENT RESIDENT Cleaning refrigerator drain tubes RESIDENT RESIDENT Repair and maintenance of cookers and refrigerators MAINTENANCE EA Repair and maintenance of central vacuum systems MAINTENANCE EA OTHER Clearing snow from parking spaces and anti-slip measures*** RESIDENT RESIDENT Keeping the front of the apartment door clean and anti-slip measures RESIDENT RESIDENT in areas controlled by the resident*** OUTLINED APARTMENT-SPECIFIC OUTDOOR AREA Taking care of the walkway and anti-slip measures RESIDENT RESIDENT BALCONY ACCESS BLOCKS Cleaning the balcony access and clearing snow MAINTENANCE MAINTENANCE * To be ordered from a specialist. To be left in the apartment without any separate compensation when moving out. ** Contact the building manager. *** The maintenance company will deliver sand to the property.

14 Espoon Asunnot Oy Upseerinkatu 3 B, Espoo Tel asiakaspalvelu@espoonasunnot.fi