Antti Kuusiniemi has just started as a resident representative on the board of Setlementtiasunnot. We interviewed him on an autumn day in the resident common room of his building.
Antti lives in a student apartment in Verkkosaari, provided by Setlementtiasunnot. He is in his fourth year of studying law.
“I moved here at the beginning of the year,” he says.
“I have really enjoyed my time at Setlementtiasunnot. I like the building and the common areas. The saunas and the gym – everything is really nice.”
Meeting neighbors in the sauna
For Antti, the most important aspect of living is safety – feeling secure when moving around his own building. He also mentions that it’s great that the common areas have been well-maintained, with no damage or mess.
“Mostly, I chat with other residents in the communal sauna. That’s where you run into people,” Antti explains.
“I’ve gradually started to recognize my neighbors and we’ve had conversations. Which is really nice.”
Opportunity to influence
So why did Antti run for the Setlementtiasunnot board? He finds it interesting to observe board work with a strong resident-centric approach, while still seeing the bigger picture.
“The residents’ interest is also the company’s interest. And Setlementtiasunnot’s long-term plans clearly show how much they value resident satisfaction and low turnover,” Antti nods.
“I’m generally interested in community activities, influencing, and seeing operations up close. I’m very involved in associations. Association work will probably also be the topic of my thesis,” Antti says.
