A Puma drone of the US Marine Corps flies over the Gulf of Finland during a media event organized by the Finnish Navy at the Coastal Brigade in Upinniemi, Kirkkonummi, Finland, on March 31, 2025. Photo: Markku Ulander / Lehtikuva
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Dozens of civilian tenants living inside the Upinniemi garrison in Kirkkonummi have been told they will have to leave their homes following a property sale. State-owned company Kruunuasunnot has acquired all residential buildings in the area from Defence Properties Finland.
The move affects all non-military residents inside the garrison’s secured perimeter. The new owner confirmed the apartments will be allocated for the exclusive use of the Finnish Defence Forces and its vetted partners.
Mika Karlsson, CEO of Kruunuasunnot, stated that the company aims to terminate civilian leases based on security requirements. “We plan to remove private tenants from the Upinniemi garrison area for safety-related reasons,” Karlsson wrote in an email to Yle.
Tenants were notified of the ownership change last Thursday. While no formal termination notices have yet been issued, residents were informed of the planned repurposing of the housing stock.
The affected properties are located within a military-controlled area that also houses the navy’s diver training school. In total, around 400 apartments were included in the sale, covering sites in both Upinniemi and Santahamina. The latter has long been restricted to Defence Forces personnel and partners only.
Tenants in Upinniemi will be given a statutory six-month notice period, which means the earliest leases could end by January 2026. Kruunuasunnot has said it will not require tenants to give one month’s notice when vacating, as stipulated under Finland’s tenancy laws, allowing for more flexibility.
A public information session will be held on 16 July. Representatives from the municipality of Kirkkonummi and the local housing company Kirkkonummen Vuokra-asunnot Oy are expected to attend. They will present alternative housing options and provide relocation support.
While residents are not yet being asked to move immediately, the message is clear: the apartments will no longer be available to the general public.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
