The Student Union of the University of Helsinki has accepted the offer of the public sector pension insurer Keva to buy its central properties. The Representative Council decided on this at its meeting on 12/11/2025.
The real estate company Ylva, owned by the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY), organised a tender for the sale of its properties at the beginning of the year, which was won by the pension insurer Keva. The property complex includes the Old Student House, Kaivotalo, Citytalo, and the Grand Hansa complex, including the New Student House. The purchase price will not be disclosed to the public.
Under Keva’s leadership, the properties will have a stable, domestic owner. Keva’s co-investors in the project are Mrec Investment Management Oy and HGR Property Partners Oy, who will be responsible for the property management and development of the property after the transaction.
This is a major real estate complex right in the heart of the capital.
‘Keva is committed to the active development of the Helsinki city centre. In the long term, we believe in the attractiveness and value development of Helsinki, the capital of Finland,’ says Carl-Henrik Roselius, Real Estate Investment Director at Keva.
‘The properties being bought now have a lot of potential for development, for example to make them more attractive and improve accessibility. Together with our partners, we are developing commercially viable facilities for all. For example, we want to build bright, safe, and easily accessible internal corridors for the citizens throughout the central block.
Bringing Helsinki city centre to life needs action. We believe we have the courage, skills, and resources to make the Kaivopiha area a welcoming and inclusive neighbourhood. Keva will implement this once the arrangements for the transaction have been finalised.’
Keva’s investment activities are designed to ensure the financing of the pensions of municipal and welfare region staff now and in the future. To do this, investment returns are needed, and owning and renting real estate is one way of doing this.
The old student house is part of the property to be purchased.
‘Keva understands the cultural and historical significance and value of the Old Student House. We have started to explore the possibility of selling the culturally and historically valuable parts of the Old Student House to, for example, a group that the University of Helsinki has been putting together.’