Maria Aspala, the CEO of Heka, has made it clear that the city's rental apartments should not be used for short-term accommodation, responding to rising concerns over unauthorized subletting. The issue was highlighted by Helsinki city councillor Otto Meri in an interview with Iltalehti, drawing attention to the unauthorized re-letting of apartments owned by the city. Heka's mission is to provide affordable housing for Helsinki residents, stating that each illegally sublet apartment takes away housing from someone in need.

Heka, which owns over 55,400 homes and provides housing for approximately 100,000 residents in Helsinki, is actively managing the problem. Aspala noted that the pervasive issue of unauthorized subletting is understandable but still needs to be addressed promptly, as it undermines the availability of affordable housing in the city. She emphasized that every apartment is built and financed for the purpose of offering affordable living conditions to residents, rather than for short-term rental income.

Despite the concerns raised, Heka believes that the scale of unauthorized re-letting is limited. However, they are committed to taking immediate action if these violations come to light. This indicates a proactive approach to ensuring that rental resources in Helsinki are utilized effectively to meet the needs of its residents, stressing the significant implications for housing access and affordability in the city.