Frequently asked questions about housing
Take a look at residents’ frequently asked questions about housing. You can find more tips and advice on OmaVAV.
Frequently asked questions about housing
Find out about residents’ frequently asked questions regarding housing, apartment maintenance, communal areas and neighbours.
Housing
My family has grown – should I notify VAV?
Congratulations! Yes, please let us know so that we can add the new family member to the tenancy register.
Read more about changes to tenancy details.
I have lost my key. What should I do?
You can order a spare key from our customer service team or, if necessary, have the locks in the apartment rekeyed. The tenant is responsible for the costs.
If you move out of the apartment, please return all keys belonging to the apartment to us. If you do not return the same number of keys as you received from us when you moved in, the locks in the apartment will have to be rekeyed at the tenant’s expense.
How do I get a parking space?
You can enquire about available parking spaces via our customer service. If there are no spaces available at the moment, you can join the waiting list.
What should I do if my apartment is cold?
Place a thermometer in the centre of the apartment, 1.5 metres above the floor. If the temperature is around 20 degrees, everything is fine.
If your apartment is consistently cooler than this, check that the curtains or furniture aren’t covering the thermostat or radiators. If it remains cool, please contact us.
Can I enter into a subletting agreement for my home?
Subletting means that a subtenant lives with you. As the main tenant, you may sublet up to half of the apartment’s floor area. Draw up a subletting agreement with the subtenant – you do not need to send it to us.
Please notify our customer service team of the subtenant’s details. As the main tenant, you are responsible for ensuring the rent is paid and for any disturbances to the peace.
VAV reserves the right to prohibit a subletting arrangement if it causes significant disruption.
Please note that subletting is prohibited. This means that you would be handing over the apartment entirely to someone else. However, temporary transfer of occupancy is permitted.
Apartment repairs
There is a fault in my apartment. Who should I contact?
Submit a non-urgent fault report via OmaVAV. If the fault is urgent, call our 24-hour customer service.
Can I install a dishwasher in my apartment?
If your apartment has a dishwasher connection and the necessary fittings, you can have the machine installed by a professional. Remember to fit a safety tray underneath the machine. As a tenant, you are responsible for the machine and its installation if it causes water damage.
If your apartment does not have a pre-installed connection for a dishwasher, please contact us. Unfortunately, it is not possible to install a dishwasher in all apartments.
I would like to renovate my apartment. Is that possible?
You can refurbish your apartment by painting the walls. We can supply the paint and painting equipment. You can find more information on OmaVAV.
Garden and communal areas
Can I plant flowers in my own garden?
You may plant flowers in your own courtyard. We recommend pot plants, for example.
Can I put up a fence in my terraced house garden?
No additional permanent structures may be erected in the garden.
When is the grit removed from the yards in the spring?
In accordance with the maintenance contract, grit will be removed by the end of April. If spring is late, this deadline may be extended.
There is snow in my parking space. Who is responsible for clearing the snow from the parking space?
Clearing the car park space is the responsibility of the resident renting the space. The maintenance team clears snow from the access routes in the car park, but does not, for example, shovel between or behind the individual parking spaces.
There is snow on my balcony/in the courtyard of my terraced house. Whose responsibility is it to clear the snow?
Clearing snow from the balcony, the courtyard of a terraced house and the area in front of the door to the walkway is the responsibility of the tenant. The maintenance team ensures that the walkway in front of the property remains clear. The area of the terraced house courtyard from the emergency access route to the door is the resident’s responsibility.
Tenants are responsible for clearing snow from their own balconies and the rear gardens of terraced houses. When clearing snow from your balcony, please be mindful of people passing below.
Snow is hanging over the edge of the eaves. What should I do?
If you notice that there is a lot of snow on the roof, and particularly if you see snow hanging over the edge of the eaves, please contact us. Remember to be careful when moving near the eaves, as snow and ice may fall from them.
Neighbours and other residents
Residents in my block are causing a disturbance. What should I do?
We require a written, informal report so that we can take the necessary action. Please describe in it how and when the disturbance occurred. The report will be all the more effective if it includes as many neighbours as possible who have experienced the disturbance. The property manager will then take the matter up with the person causing the disturbance.
You can also find further information about housing disturbances on OmaVAV.
What should I do if a neighbour’s dog is barking?
Talk to your neighbour and explain that the dog’s barking is causing a nuisance. If that doesn’t help, submit a nuisance report to us. You can also find more information on OmaVAV.
What should I do if there is dog fouling in the garden?
Owners are responsible for their pets and must clear up after them. The yard is not a suitable place to walk a dog. If this is an ongoing problem, please contact us.
Check out OmaVAV’s housing tips
You’ll find lots more tips and advice on living in OmaVAV’s housing guide.