Resident selection changes to enter into force in week 43
Changes to resident selection
In accordance with the ARA model, applications are processed based on categories of urgency. In general, the need for housing, wealth and income are equal criteria when determining the priority of applicants. Resident selection must prioritise those in the most urgent need of housing and to applicants with the most limited means.
The most obvious change for applicants is the discontinuation of various additional scores. Also, it is no longer possible to restore an application after a housing offer. As of 1 Sept, applicants can no longer see their position in a queue, as the resident selection of ARA housing cannot be based on queuing.
In addition, applicants can no longer have multiple applications. Please note that you can only have one application alone, with your family or with your friend, i.e. the maximum of 3 valid applications at the same time per application type.
What will happen to current applications?
Housing applications already in Domo will be transferred to the new category model on 25 Oct. After the transfer, the applicant will see the category where the application is located in Domo. Resident selection categories are presented in this announcement.
Applicants are advised to ensure that the application previously submitted remains in the system.
If something surprising happens in the transfer of applications, due to which all applications should be renewed, AYY will inform applicants separately. Please follow AYY communications regarding the matter. If you need to make additions to your application, please submit a new application.
Changes to housing application
The housing application has also been modified to support the new resident selection. AYY needs sufficient information about the applicant’s situation in order to select residents on correct grounds. Unlike the former application, applicants are now clearly asked why they need housing. The applicant’s explanation of their own situation is also requested both in the additional information field and with separate appendices.
If the application does not include adequate information for resident selection, AYY will ask the applicant for necessary additional information and appendices for processing the application. We are not able to make a housing offer without sufficient information.
Resident selection criteria
In general, student union members who are studying full-time have the right of residence in housing owned and/or managed directly or indirectly by the Student Union. Within this framework, AYY implements ARA’s resident selection by primarily electing AYY members and full-time students as residents.
However, with about 14,000 members and less than 2,600 apartments, there will never be enough housing for everyone. When making the decision on the new housing regulations in the autumn of 2022, the Representative Council decided that resident selection will favour new students who are moving to the metropolitan area to study. This policy is also in line with ARA guidelines.
In practice, the reform means that AYY will process applications in a new way, which also takes more time, as resident selection is now based on means testing.
This is why our resident selection may temporarily be delayed. We kindly ask applicants to be patient. We are striving to handle the situation as smoothly and quickly as possible to avoid unreasonable inconvenience to applicants.
Below are the categories of urgency used in AYY’s resident selection. Changes to the Domo system have been made accordingly.
Resident selection categories
| Housing need category | Explanation |
| Category 1 – Homelessness |
Applications in which applicants are homeless. Homelessness must be proven. In applications submitted by more than one person, all applicants must be homeless. The category is valid only until the first housing offer or until the urgency of the application has expired. If the applicant rejects the offer or allows the offer to expire, the application is automatically dropped into the general category (4). However, if the offer could not be answered for a serious reason independent of the applicant, the person may be returned to Category 1. When applying as a homeless person, apartments cannot be excluded from the application without a valid reason. The level of urgency may be reduced or refused if the applicant excludes apartments from the application without an acceptable explanation of the reasons for the exclusion. |
| Category 2 – Very urgent |
Applications in which applicants have a very urgent need for housing. The resident selection guide of ARA and the guidelines for monitoring the resident selection in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area are applied when determining the need for housing. A very urgent need for housing must be proven. With applications from several persons, the situation of all applicants is considered when determining the need for housing. The category is valid only until the first housing offer or until the urgency of the application has expired. If the applicant rejects the offer or allows the offer to expire, the application is automatically dropped into the general category (4). However, if the offer could not be answered for a serious reason independent of the applicant, the person may be returned to Category 2. Applications for two-room apartments by a single applicant are not considered very urgent. When applying for a very urgent housing, the applicant cannot exclude apartments from the application without a valid reason. The level of urgency may be reduced or refused if the applicant excludes apartments from the application without an acceptable explanation of the reasons for the exclusion. |
| Category 3 – Urgent |
Applications in which applicants have an urgent need for housing. The resident selection guide of ARA and the guidelines for monitoring the resident selection in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area are applied when determining the need for housing. The category also includes those who wish to transfer their apartment at AYY, if there is a justified and proven reason for the transfer. The urgent need for housing must be proven. With applications from several persons, the situation of all applicants is considered when determining the need for housing. The category is valid only until the first housing offer or until the urgency of the application has expired. If the applicant rejects the offer or allows the offer to expire, the application is automatically dropped into the non-urgent category (4). However, if the offer could not be answered for a serious reason independent of the applicant, the person may be returned to Category 3. Applications for two-room apartments by a single applicant are not considered urgent. When applying for urgency, it is not possible to unreasonably exclude apartments from the application without good reason, and the number and variety of the applied apartments are considered when granting them. The level of urgency may be reduced or refused if the applicant excludes apartments from their application without an acceptable explanation of the reasons for the exclusion. Applicants applying for apartment transfer must submit a certificate or a report on the reasons. For those who have lived in their current apartment for less than 2 years, the reasons for apartment transfer must be weighty. |
| Category 4 - General | Default category, general need for housing |
| Category 5 - No right of residence | Applicants have a membership but no valid right of residence, for example when the original right of residence has expired or if the applicant is a doctoral student. The applicant’s children, parents or (common-law) spouses are not counted for meeting the criteria. |
More detailed application instructions and resident selection criteria will be updated on AYY’s website when the change comes into force.
Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to separate inquiries on the matter at this stage, but we will update current information on AYY’s website on a regular basis. We are also unable to respond to individual inquiries about the position of application or to estimate the time or probability of a housing offer.
If your situation changes during the transition period, which requires you to submit additional clarification for AYY’s resident selection, please submit a new application with appendices.
Housing offers are submitted via email and SMS, which is why it is very important to keep your contact information up to date on Domo and check your email on a regular basis.
Please report any technical problems by email to [email protected] with the subject ”technical problem on Domo”.
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