The Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations (EKYL) The Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations (EKYL)

The Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations (EKYL) is an independent non-profit working across Estonia to support apartment associations and represent their interests at local, national and international levels. The Union has more than 1,400 members (apartment associations) today. The mission is: (1) to support the development of apartment associations in Estonia through the implementation of knowledge-based activities such as training, consulting, advisory services, research, and national and international cooperation projects; (2) to engage apartment associations in energy-efficient renovations, energy poverty alleviation programs and sustainable development commitments; (3) to disseminate best practice case studies and promote the use of EU funds to achieve European and Estonian climate ambition. EKYL actively participates in international projects. One of the latest activities is the opening of a Local Energy Poverty Alleviation Office in Tallinn within the scope of the EU H2020 programme’s POWERPOOR project in February 2022. Today, 96% of apartments have been privatised in Estonia. Apartment associations are the most widespread and generally recognized method of managing residential buildings and cooperating. They are self-financing not-for-profit organisations that manage one multi-apartment building. About 70 % of the Estonian population live in apartment associations. There are 23,000 apartment associations today.