Municipality of Pirkkala fines Global Mobility for unlawful short-term rentals

The municipality of Pirkkala, located near Tampere, is taking action against what it deems unlawful accommodation services operating in a residential apartment building. According to local authorities, the relatively new residential building in Solja has been used for short-term rentals, which violates the current zoning plan and granted building permits. The investigation was initiated following feedback from residents, who reported disturbances related to the activities in the building.

The municipality’s community board has imposed a €50,000 fine on the company responsible for the operations if the short-term rentals do not cease by the end of this year. After that, a monthly penalty of €10,000 will come into effect.

The apartments in the building have been leased to Global Mobility, which subsequently rents them out. The company’s CEO, Micke Kontinen, a former tennis player from Tampere, has not commented on the situation despite multiple attempts by media outlets. Kontinen and another individual manage several hotels across Finland, including in Raisio, Kangasala, and Järvenpää.

Global Mobility asserts that the accommodation practices in Pirkkala do not significantly deviate from the current zoning or building permits and claim that none of the apartments in the building have registered residents at this time. The company emphasizes that most tenants stay for at least two months, with an average occupancy exceeding six months, thus contesting the characterization of their rentals as short-term.

Local authorities sent a notice nearly a year ago instructing the property owner to cease these accommodation activities, but compliance has not occurred. Each party involved has denied any unlawful operations and does not support the imposition of penalties. There remains the option to appeal the community board’s enforcement measures.