My harem in Bangkok takes all my time. Two-room flat in Lahti must go, Lahti

Why I’m selling

Let’s be honest: I’m not selling this flat because anything is wrong with it. I’m selling because I’ve settled permanently in Bangkok and my life here takes all my time. Let’s call it by its name: a harem. There are five of us, me and four women under the same roof, and it’s a full‑time job. To keep things from spinning out of control, it’s important that no one feels left out. Otherwise peace won’t last. A three‑day diplomatic crisis can be started by one gift that’s slightly bigger than the others.

When the previous tenant moved out, plenty of new applicants appeared straight away. But from Bangkok I can no longer easily get to Finland to manage the flat in person. There is nothing wrong with the flat—in fact quite the opposite. I simply no longer have the time to own it.

And since you’re not here to read my Bangkok updates but to assess an investment, let’s get straight to the point.

The flat and the situation

This is a 45.5 m² two‑room flat (2 rooms + kitchenette) on the second floor of a building with a lift in Tonttila, Lahti. The flat is currently vacant and available immediately. The housing company is As. Oy Riihitarhankulma, and I’ll explain exactly why it’s one of Tonttila’s best housing companies for investors.

Why this housing company stands out for investors

When you buy an apartment from the 1970s, the most important thing is not the flat itself but the condition and finances of the housing company. Those determine whether the new owner faces tens of thousands of euros in renovation bills as capital charges or not. The two most expensive works are a pipe renovation and the façade, and in this company both have already been done:

- Full pipe renovation including bathrooms 2019

- Façade project 2012 (windows, balcony doors and additional insulation)

- Full roof replacement 2023

Note the pipe renovation in particular. This was a proper, full‑scale pipe renovation where water and sewer lines were fully replaced and the bathrooms renovated at the same time. Many housing companies only do pipe lining, a cheaper temporary solution. Here it was done properly, which means the pipes and bathrooms are in good condition for decades and the new owner will not need a bathroom renovation.

In comparable housing companies in Tonttila from the same era, these major structural renovations are typically still pending and their cost will fall on the future buyer. Here the big money has already been spent, so you don’t have to pay it.

Practically speaking, you are not buying renovation debt for the coming years. A façade typically lasts 30–40 years and a pipe renovation 40–50 years, so the next big job is not due until roughly 15–20 years from now, and for pipes not until the 2060s.

One detail easy to overlook but significant: the housing company owns its plot. This is not a leasehold plot company. On leasehold plots the ground rent can be raised many times when a contract is renewed, and that kind of surprise cost can wreck an investment’s return. There is no such risk here.

Energy rating C, and what it proves

As part of the 2019 renovation the building was fitted with ground‑source heat with heat recovery. As a result the housing company’s energy rating is C (E‑number 121), which is a good result for a building of this age. The effect is clear numerically: before ground‑source heating the building’s rating was E (E‑number 192). Ground‑source heating lowered the figure from 192 to 121, or by about a third. Practical consequence for the owner: low and stable heating costs, which are reflected directly in the service charge.

The service charge has fallen and remained stable for five years

In most 1970s housing companies the maintenance charge rises year after year. Here the opposite has happened. The maintenance charge was €4.25/m² in 2020 and has been €3.50/m² since autumn 2021. The maintenance charge has remained the same for nearly five years. The reduction is largely due to the ground‑source heating. For an investor a stable or falling charge is an advantage because it means predictable operating costs.

The company’s finances are on a solid footing

The housing company’s operating balance is in surplus, the audit is clean and the debt level is moderate (about €465/m²). So you are not buying a problem company with shaky finances but a well‑managed company with buffers and proper accounting.

The flat’s condition and equipment

The flat itself is tidy and ready to rent.

- Bathroom renewed during the company’s pipe renovation in 2019, with washing machine connections

- Kitchen spruced up, dishwasher installed

- Laminate flooring in the living room and bedroom, neat wallpaper on some walls

Rental demand

When I advertised the flat for rent, I received to date around 17 enquiries from prospective tenants (status last updated 7 July 2026). The rent has been €560/month. Tonttila has steady rental demand: the area is calm, services are nearby and the Karisma shopping centre is a short drive away, with good connections to Lahti city centre and the railway station.

Monthly costs and yield

The monthly housing company charge is a total of €345.80: maintenance charge €159.25 (€3.50/m²) and capital charge €186.55 (€4.10/m²). With a rent of €560/month the property produces positive cash flow of about €214/month before taxes from day one.

One thing many overlook: the capital charge is not wasted money. It repays the housing company’s loan for the pipe and bathroom renovation, so it increases your equity each month. At current interest rates only about €58 of the €186.55 is interest — a real expense — and the remaining roughly €129 reduces the loan directly to your benefit.

Another important benefit for investors: in the housing company’s latest financial statements capital charges have been accounted for as income. Practically this means the capital charge is tax‑deductible from rental income, which improves your after‑tax return.

The housing company also has a separate carport and outdoor parking spaces, some of which have electric car charging points installed.

Documents and next step

All essential documents are available: manager’s statement, energy certificate, the latest financial statements and budget, articles of association and maintenance needs report. I encourage you to review them, because the numbers for this property withstand scrutiny.