Helsinki wants to raise sidewalk maintenance fees
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The City of Helsinki is planning a significant increase in the fees it charges owners of buildings for the winter maintenance of pedestrian areas and cleaning of streets. The issue is to be brought before the municipal Public Works Board on Thursday this week.
The proposal calls for an increase of 147% in the fees for the central district of Etu-Töölö, and 98% for suburban areas.
This means that a detached house in the suburbs of Helsinki with 120 square metres of floor space on a plot of land covering 1,000 square metres would see its annual fee rise from EUR 39 to EUR 77.5.
In the centre of the city the fee is affected by the surface area of the property, and the total area of the floor space of the buildings in question.
Property owners’ associations in the Uusimaa area are opposed to the hikes.
The Building Department of the City of Helsinki had previously indicated that there were no plans to raise the fees.
In addition, property owners have criticised the quality of the work either performed by the city, or subcontracted to private companies. Some say that they have had to complete work performed inadequately by the city at their own expense.
The City is responsible for snow removal and winter maintenance of streets, public squares, parks, and pedestrian and bicycle paths.
Property owners are responsible for keeping pedestrian sidewalks adjacent to their property cleared of snow, if the area does not fall under the responsibility ofthe city.
Property owners are also responsible for the removal of snow cleared from the street and heaped onto the edge of the pavement.
Helsingin Sanomat
