The last remaining Kopli Lines dwellers reluctant to leave home

Uwe Gnadenteich
, reporter
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Photo: Sander Ilvest

A resident of Kopli Lines for 21 long years, Aleksander Veskilt is yet to get a fitting replacement apartment from Tallinn city government. He says there are always those in deeper trouble still. 

And also, the replacement apartments offered have been too lousy. He said a version was a room with no floor in a hostel infested with drug addicts, the other was a bed in a social housing unit. Last week, the officials handed Mr Veskilt a document demanding that he be gone from the Sepa ST 27 house by the end of this week.

Curiously, the Tallinn city officials find themselves in dire straits with the self-made rentee due to having been lenient towards and even helping the man at earlier times. According to Mr Veskilt’s legal representative Diana Rints, an oral rental contract is in effect between Mr Veskilt and North-Tallinn city district government. The latter claims that Mr Veskilt dwells there illegally.

«The claim is in court and, and the selfsame administrative act handed to Mr Veskilt last week, whereby they wish to evict him, has been contested,» said Ms Rints. «As the oral rental contract is currently valid and the city claims that this is nonexistent, we have filed a civil action to determine the existence of rental relationship. The court will review the issue, pass its assessment, and then we will see from there,» she explained.

Ms Rints says the city has accepted Mr Veskilt as tenant. «At the beginning of this century already, the officials asked him if anything needed to be done in the house. Mr Veskilt complained that the roof leaked and the water was dripping into his room through the ceiling. Thereafter, the city fixed it, pursuant to Law of Obligations Act,» she said citing an example of owner fulfilling contractual duties.

Mr Veskilt claims the city district government has actually never demanded that he move out of his residence. «When I have been to the city officials and asked what do we do now, they say live on. The whole time I have been writing applications for vacant apartments. The last time I wrote an application for a 35 square metre flat at Erika St. Soon there is supposed to be the apartment committee where this will be reviewed. But they usually say there are those in deeper trouble so the others get the apartment,» said Mr Veskilt.

Already, the city district government has rented a large maritime container to put the man’s stuff while he is moving, but for the time being they will not apply force to get him out.

North-Tallinn government press rep Raivo Lott said Harju County Court yesterday refused to process claim by Mr Veskilt against the city of Tallinn to determine the rental relation and reconnection of water and electricity. The decision is yet to enter into force, as 15 days are allowed to contest. On top of that, Mr Veskilt’s representative has filed the court a challenge in order to halt the procedure initiated last week.

«On Thursday, there will be a counselling at deputy mayor Eha Võrk where next steps by the city will be determined. By the city, Mr Veskilt has been offered a residence which he is yet to accept. Hopefully, an agreement will still be reached and Kopli Lines will be transferred to Fund Ehitus [a building company – edit] will transpire in a timely manner,» said Mr Lott. To Postimees’ knowledge, the deadline id November 28th.

Yesterday, right on the street, a woman dwelling in the house next to Mr Veskilt wrote an application for Mr Rints to represent herself. Hearing about the arrival of a lawyer, the working men sent by city district government to close up doors and windows of empty houses for the time being refrained from covering the woman’s front door with veneer.

However, they did cover the windows to the room containing the roaring electricity generator of Mr Veskilt.

Years ago, water and electricity were shut off for the house. Mr Veskilt hauls the water by car, and electricity is from the generator on ground floor. The power being insufficient for an electric stove, he has a small one working on bottled gas.

The generator room had bars at the windows which were open, so the exhaust gases went outside. Now, with veneer covering the windows, the generator can no longer be used.

Yesterday afternoon, relatives came to the aid of Mr Veskilt, helping to carry the heavy generator to the second floor.

Before the night fell, however, another remarkable player appeared on the scene. Namely, a small van was making rounds, the driver of which was screwing number plates off the houses. He said North-Tallinn city district government ordered the job.

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