Is it worth keeping the project accommodation reserved whilst staff are off at the weekend?

It is generally advisable to keep the project accommodation booked for the weekend, as staff will be returning to the same site on Monday. A continuous booking reduces the need to move belongings, minimises the number of new check-ins and eliminates uncertainty about the availability of the accommodation. It is worth considering breaking up the booking periods if there are a lot of weekends; the accommodation can be vacated and accommodation for the following working week is guaranteed.

A project flat during the weekend off saves on arrangements

A long-term booking means that employees’ daily routines remain the same from one week to the next. Work clothes, personal belongings and cooking utensils can be left in the accommodation if this has been agreed in the terms and conditions. On Monday, the team returns to the same address without having to swap keys, unpack their belongings or look for a new place. See also our project accommodation, when planning a longer period of work.

Let’s consider a four-week project in which six employees travel home on three weekends. If the booking is cancelled every Friday, the company will have to arrange three check-outs and three new check-ins. With a continuous booking, the team only needs one arrival at the start of the project and one departure at the end. The difference is particularly noticeable when the Monday shift starts early.

It’s worth making a standing booking if it helps you keep your belongings, timetables and your Monday morning commute under control.

Storage of goods and Monday mornings make a big difference

Terminating a tenancy usually means that the flat is vacated at the agreed time and all belongings are removed. Do not assume that suitcases, work equipment or food can be left in the flat once the tenancy has ended. Check the storage arrangements for your belongings, as well as your departure and arrival times, before making a decision. You can find out more our accommodation terms and conditions and agree on project-specific arrangements with us.

A Monday morning schedule may make a continuous booking the most practical option. If an employee arrives in Oulu on Sunday evening, they will have time to rest before the working day begins. Checking in on Monday morning, on the other hand, may add an extra leg to the journey, as well as collecting keys and unloading luggage, to an already tight schedule.

Project accommodation during the weekend off, or has the booking been cancelled?

A partial booking may be a sensible option when there is a long break between working weeks or the team’s composition changes. The same solution may be suitable for a project where the next week’s work phase begins in a different location. In such cases, keeping an empty flat may not necessarily be in the best interests of the employees’ day-to-day lives. Nevertheless, do ask for a quote for both options before making a decision.

It is advisable to confirm availability in writing. When a booking ends at the weekend, the same accommodation may not necessarily be available the following week. A new venue may affect the length of the business trip, parking arrangements and room allocation. If the team needs the same accommodation on Monday, a continuous booking removes this uncertainty. You can view our furnished flats and let us know the size of the team and the dates of the work period.

Make your decision based on the entire work period

As well as comparing the quotes, compare the working hours required for the arrangements. Work out how many check-outs and check-ins the chosen model will involve, where the belongings will be taken, and at what time staff will be able to access the flat on Sunday or Monday. Also bear in mind whether the same team will need the same room allocation for the duration of the project.

At Northern Apartments Oy, we organise furnished short- and long-term accommodation for companies in Oulu and, depending on the project, elsewhere in Northern Finland. Stays can range from a single night to several months. Once you’ve let us know your working days, weekends off, the number of people and your preferred location, we can suggest a booking model that suits the rhythm of your project.