Residents’ democracy - active neighbour relations
In resident activities, you have the opportunity to influence the comfort and sense of community in your living environment.
Apply to become a Castle Warden or a member of the Resident council
At AYY, residents have many ways to influence their own living comfort and develop housing. Residents can have influence as castle wardens, in house meetings, resident councils and the housing cooperative. Active residents are chosen at house meetings in November and December. Follow your building’s notice board to see the time of your meeting.
Castle wardens and house meetings
Each AYY property has its own castle warden. A castle warden is a trustee elected by the residents who acts as a contact person between the residents and the Student Union. The duties of the castle warden include observing the condition of the building and answering residents’ questions about the building.
Castle wardens are chosen at annual house meetings in November and December. The term of office is a calendar year. We regularly organise meetings and recreational events for castle wardens and provide training at the start of their term. A monthly fee of EUR 90 is paid for the assignment and they can use a castle warden’s ribbon and badge as an academic symbol.
House meetings are held every year and all residents of the building are welcome. The agenda is distributed on the notice board of the building and as a bulletin to each apartment. A castle warden and a resident council are elected at the meeting. In addition, current housing development areas can be discussed.
Resident council
House meetings can also appoint a resident council that can make proposals on living comfort, develop facilities and organise a variety of activities for residents. You can also forward development proposals to AYY and receive help for implementing the proposals. Resident councils receive funding from the Student Union for joint furniture purchases and social evenings, for example. We can implement a variety of ideas, such as decorating communal areas, arranging social evenings for residents and having influence on common sauna shifts in the building.
The resident council may include 3-8 people and is chaired by the castle warden of the building.
Housing Cooperative ASY
The purpose of the housing cooperative is to develop AYY’s housing as a whole. The members of the cooperative develop the activities of castle wardens and they can influence the housing regulations if they wish to do so. In addition, the cooperative appoints its representatives to the Housing Committee and the Financial Committee.
In January, 6-10 castle wardens and 2-3 student union representatives will be elected to the housing cooperative.
AYY cares about its residents and wants to develop housing based on students' opinions and ideas. You can ask AYY's Housing Advisors or your Castle Warden for more information about these tasks. You are always welcome to share your ideas for improvement!
Campus Section
The Campus Section, the vibrant core of Otaniemi, develops, fosters, and activates the Otaniemi campus. Its purpose is to make Otaniemi an even more enjoyable place to live and study by creating the prerequisites for student culture, community spirit, and wellbeing.
Read more news
Ecological sustainability policy has been updated – AYY transitions to a plant-based policy
Aalto University Student Union (AYY) has updated its ecological sustainability policy, which supports AYY’s daily operations. The new document directs AYY to serve plant-based food and drinks at its events. In the future, food waste will be minimised, and 30 percent of air and ship travel costs will be offset towards environmental activities.
AYY is taking steps to improve equity in its operations – new equity plan approved by RepCo
Aalto University Student Union has an equity plan, first in AYY’s history, that was approved in the Representative Council meeting on 21.11.2024. Equity plan will guide AYY towards more accessible and inclusive ways for our students to participate in AYY’s events and operations.
Good news for residents in shared apartments: Here’s how you can receive your own housing allowance while living in a friends’ apartment!
A joint liability rental agreement may affect the housing allowance, as Kela typically grants only one housing allowance for a shared household, which is influenced by the income of both residents. However, residents in friends’ apartments may receive separate housing allowances if Kela reviews them as separate households. This requires tenants with a joint liability rental agreement to draft a mutual possession agreement for the apartment and submit it as an appendix with their housing allowance application to Kela. Tenants draft the possession agreement by themselves.