Tenant can’t pay rent and landlord makes radical decision: “I’m in the living room again”
After 30 years of working, Jaana was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and lost much of her income, forcing her to live in flexible housing.
Access to housing has become a major social issue in many European countries. Both young and old struggle to afford a home, with rents rising every month. In response to this crisis, some individuals have had to adapt to avoid losing their homes.
Such is the case of Jaana, a 50-year-old woman from Helsinki, Finland. She lived in an apartment until Kela, the government agency responsible for administering social benefits, ruled that her home was too expensive and could no longer be subsidized.
Fearing homelessness and aware of the country’s severe housing crisis, Jaana began searching for alternative living arrangements, particularly studio apartments. However, she soon realized she couldn’t afford one. Desperate for a solution, she decided to contact her landlord.
Jaana approached Jyväskylä Rental Housing, the company that owns her apartment, and requested that her unit be converted into flexible housing—a type of modular property that allows living spaces to be adapted to tenants’ needs.
Under this arrangement, her apartment would be divided into two sections, enabling her to pay a lower rent. The company agreed and installed a lock on her bedroom door.
Now, speaking to the Finnish media outlet YLE, Jaana describes her situation as “humiliating.” She explains that she has worked for the past 30 years, but after being diagnosed with osteoarthritis six months ago, she had to reduce her working hours, leading to a decline in income.
“I was a single mother and lived in the living room. When I moved into this apartment, I finally had my own bedroom. But now, I’m back in the living room,” she says.
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Due to her medical condition, Jaana will no longer be able to perform her previous job. She is now searching for new employment that accommodates her health needs and, ultimately, allows her to “unlock the bedroom.”
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