As people spend a lot of time in their homes, the quality of the indoor environment is important for their daily wellbeing and health. Indoor environmental conditions that can impact health and wellbeing include temperature, humidity and air quality, which are influenced by e.g. the functioning of ventilation.
If you notice a condition in your home that you think is affecting your health, contact the representative of the housing company or property owner and tell them about your findings. If you are renting in a housing company, you should also inform the shareholder.
As a rule, the maintenance of building structures and building services engineering is the responsibility of the property owner, who is also responsible for ensuring that the conditions of the apartment meet housing health requirements. It is the task of the property owner to investigate the matter, if necessary, and assess whether there is a need for further action.
If the property owner does not view the condition as a health hazard or the matter is not otherwise addressed, the resident or shareholder can contact the Environmental Health Unit.
Conditions causing health hazards
If there is a recurring abnormal odour in your home, contact maintenance or the property manager. The first thing to do is to check that the ventilation is working properly. Inadequate ventilation can cause odours to travel abnormally through structures or drains, for example.
Sources of odours can include microbial damage to structures, impregnation materials in structures or interior materials. Abnormal odours can also enter the apartment from elsewhere, such as from neighbouring apartments through structural leaks or ventilation. Sometimes the smell can also come from the outside air.
All tobacco and nicotine products are harmful to your health.
The indoor air of the home must not contain recognisable tobacco smoke that has been introduced indoors from outside or elsewhere in the building on repeated instances.
What should I do if tobacco smoke enters my home repeatedly?
First contact the property manager or maintenance of your housing company about the situation. Often, the housing company will check the functioning of the ventilation system and the possible routes for smoke contamination first. Ventilation and sealing repairs can prevent smoke from entering the home.
If you repeatedly find tobacco smoke in your home and your housing company does not investigate, you can request an apartment inspection and health hazard assessment from the Environmental Health Unit.
How are health hazards assessed?
The introduction of tobacco smoke into indoor air is determined by sensory observations with the doors and windows of the apartment closed, but with the outdoor air vents open. An olfactory observation means a detection of odour by a health protection officer. Residents' notes on the timing of smoke nuisance (a smoke nuisance logbook) can also be used to assess recurrence.
Why are there smoking bans in housing companies?
Smoking bans and restrictions are designed to protect the public from the harmful effects of environmental tobacco smoke.
Is smoking allowed in the common areas of a housing company?
Smoking is always prohibited in the common and public indoor areas of the building. Such spaces may include storage rooms, club rooms, laundry rooms, saunas and stairwells.
Can I smoke in the communal outdoor area of my building?
In principle, smoking is allowed in the communal outdoor areas managed by the housing company. However, the housing company itself can ban smoking in the areas it controls. Such areas may include e.g. the common yard area belonging to the housing company, parking lots, barbecue areas, and the areas in front of stairwells and windows.
No smoking on balconies, terraces and courtyards of apartments
The housing company can apply for a smoking ban on outdoor areas of the apartments, such as balconies, French balconies, terraces and courtyards, from the municipality. A smoking ban may also be included in the lease agreement or the articles of association of the housing company.
Read more about applying for a smoking ban on the City of Helsinki website.
Smoking ban in the living quarters of apartments
The housing association can also apply for a smoking ban for the interior of the living quarters from the municipality. This prohibition can only be granted if it is not possible to prevent the smoke contamination at a reasonable cost by repairing the structures and ventilation. In addition, the occupant of the dwelling must be given the opportunity to take measures to prevent smoke from being transported before a ban is imposed.
What can I do if I suffer from tobacco smoke and the housing company refuses to apply for a smoking ban?
The first and most preferable way to deal with such a situation is negotiation between the parties. If this does not resolve the issue, you can contact the Housing health advisory service. The service will assess whether the situation is such that the measures specified in the Health Protection Act could be employed to take the matter further.
What products are covered by the smoking ban?
The smoking ban applies to the use of tobacco products intended to be smoked or otherwise heated, herbal products intended to be smoked and electronic cigarettes. The ban on smoking in the living quarters of the dwelling does not apply to the use of electronic cigarettes.
Who enforces smoking bans imposed by the authorities?
In Helsinki, smoking bans are enforced by the Environmental Health Unit.
Read more: Smoking bans in housing communities.
What is moisture and microbial damage?
Moisture damage is the exceeding of the moisture absorption capacity of a building material due to moisture, or a change in properties such that the structure or part of the structure must be repaired.
In the case of microbial damage, the growth is present in such a quantity or location that it impairs the technical properties of the material or may cause odours or harmful emissions to indoor air.
Minor surface microbial growth on silicone or tile seams in the bathroom is not considered a health hazard.
Where do microbes that enter indoor air come from?
Microbes are introduced into indoor air from the outdoors, animals, people, food and buildings. Microbes are present in all indoor environments in all seasons.This is why indoor microbial measurements are unreliable.
How do I identify moisture and microbial damage?
The home may have moisture and microbial damage, if there is
- a mouldy or earthy smell
- visible microbial growth
- moisture and dripping marks on surfaces
- peeling, swelling or discolouration of surface materials.
Often the damage is inside the structure. This can cause a hazard if there is air access from the damaged structure to the dwelling. The Environmental Health Unit's apartment inspections are carried out using non-destructive methods.
What should I do if I suspect damp and microbial damage in my home?
In the event of acute water damage, it is important to act quickly. If there is water on the floor, limit the damage and prevent further damage. If the dishwasher is leaking, turn off the machine and turn off the water supply. Contact the property manager or the maintenance company on duty. Drying and repair of water damage must be started without delay to prevent microbial damage from occurring.
If you suspect damp and microbial damage in your home, contact your property manager. The extent and cause of moisture and microbial damage should first be determined. For more extensive repairs, it is recommended to commission a repair plan. If the housing company does not agree to the inspections and repairs, you can contact the Housing health advisory service.
How does an environmental inspector investigate moisture and microbial damage?
During the apartment inspection, we investigate moisture and microbial damage mainly by sensory inspection and measuring surface moisture levels. We observe microbial odour, visible moisture damage and microbial growth by using our senses. We can also ask the housing company for reports for health hazard assessment, if we find damage during the inspection.
Noise can enter your home from a variety of sources, such as neighbouring homes, building services, traffic or other external sound sources. Noise is part of living in an urban environment, but continuous or intense noise can reduce the quality of life and cause sleep disturbance, stress or health problems.
The disruption is affected by the frequency of the noise, the intensity of the sound and how it occurs. Noise is often most disturbing at night, as it interferes with rest and falling asleep. However, the volume may not be at its highest at night. The action limits concerning noise are set out in the housing health decree(Link leads to external service) .
What can I do if I experience noise pollution in my home?
First, contact your property manager or property maintenance company. Describe the noise clearly, and how often and at what time of day it bothers you. It is also a good idea to keep a noise diary, where you record the dates and times when noise occurs. The housing company has the primary responsibility to determine the cause of the noise nuisance and, if necessary, to remove the nuisance if it is caused by a technical building appliance or other structure belonging to the housing company. If you know who is responsible for the noise nuisance, a polite conversation can help resolve the issue.
If you repeatedly hear a louder than normal noise in your home and your housing company does not investigate, you can contact the Environmental Health Unit. We deal with cases of noise nuisance caused by e.g.
- technical installations or structures belonging to the housing company
- commercial premises in the same building.
Disorder and noise made by neighbours
Disruptive noises of a disorderly nature caused by neighbours are in principle a matter for the housing company to resolve within the framework of the rules and regulations. Ultimately, disorders can be dealt with by the police. In the event of aggravated noise issues caused by neighbours, you can ask for help from e.g. Asumisrauhan keskus (the centre for peaceful housing, content in Finnish)(Link leads to external service) .
Sound insulation
The Environmental Health Unit does not measure the sound insulation of structures. The housing company can determine the sound insulation of a structure by measuring or through sensory observation. If the neighbours' speech can be clearly heard in the other dwelling when spoken at a normal volume, there is reason to suspect that there is insufficient air and sound proofing between the dwelling and the neighbour.
The occasional sounds of normal living are part of apartment living. Occasional louder noises, even at night, are acceptable for normal living. Older buildings cannot be required to meet the sound insulation level of current building regulations.
Assessment of health hazards caused by noise
During the apartment inspection, we carry out a sound level measurement and a sensory assessment of the noise. The health impact of noise is affected by its frequency, duration and whether it occurs during the day (7:00–22:00) or night (22:00–7:00).
Good ventilation is a prerequisite for good indoor air quality. It removes contamitants, moisture and odours and brings fresh air into the home. Stale or humid indoor air can indicate a ventilation problem.
If the ventilation is not working properly, contact the housing company’s maintenance department or the property manager. They can check the ventilation system and give advice on how to remedy the situation.
What are the different types of ventilation solutions?
Mechanical ventilation of incoming and outgoing air brings fresh air into the various rooms of the dwelling through supply air vents and removes dirty and humid air through exhaust air vents.
In mechanical outgoing air ventilation, air is exhausted from the dwelling through exhaust air vents and fresh air flows into the dwelling through replacement air vents (fresh air vents) due to the negative pressure created in the dwelling. Replacement vents are usually found on top of windows (e.g. frame vents) and on the outside wall. Replacement air vents should always be kept open, but they may have different adjustment options, such as summer and winter positions.
Natural ventilation is based on the pressure difference caused by wind and the difference between the outdoor and indoor air temperature. It is also crucial for natural ventilation to keep the replacement air vents open.
Checking and cleaning ventilation valves
Regularly clean the ventilation valves and the grease filter of the cooker hood to remove dust and dirt, which can impair the ventilation in your home. Do not change the settings or adjustments of the exhaust air vents. Also, do not close or cover air vents. The tenant should find out who is responsible for replacing the filters in the replacement air vents.
How can I check that my ventilation is working properly?
Use your hand to see if there is any air coming into the home from the replacement vents or supply vents.
Place a piece of toilet paper over the exhaust air vent. If the paper stays in place, the exhaust air vent is sucking air in the right direction.
The action limits for indoor air temperatures in the dwelling are
- + 18 °C to + 26 °C during the heating season
- + 18 °C to + 32 °C outside the heating season.
Temperatures are measured in the living areas of bedrooms and living rooms of the dwelling at a height of about 1.1 m and at least 0.60 m from the floor and wall surfaces. Windows, floors, walls and ceilings can be cooler. For more information on temperatures in your home and the associated action limits and measurements, please see Guidelines for the application of the housing health decree, Part 1: housing health decree § 1–10: General provisions and physical conditions (in Finnish) (PDF)(Link leads to external service) .
Cold
Before measuring the temperature, make sure that the thermostats or control valves of the radiators in the dwelling are at their maximum position and that there is no furniture or curtains in front of the radiators and their thermostats that could obstruct the flow of warm air in the dwelling. Also make sure that the replacement and supply air vents for the ventilation in the dwelling are open. They must not be covered, even if cold air flows into the dwelling. A meter placed against an outside wall or on the floor of the dwelling does not indicate the temperature of the living areas.
Heat
During warm seasons, make sure you ventilate your home at the right time in the evening or at night and protect it from excessive sunshine with curtains or blinds. Avoid using heat-generating electrical appliances (oven, washing machine, sauna).
When are cold checks carried out?
If the housing company will not investigate a health hazard related to the cold, you can contact the Housing health advisory service. We usually carry out cold inspections during the cold season, when temperatures have been below zero in the previous days, as well. As required by the decree, the measurement results are calculated to correspond to the standard condition (-5 °C) by means of a so-called index review. We aim to carry out apartment inspections concerning cold temperatures during the winter season.
It is normal to find insects in dwellings from time to time. Often, especially when the weather turns cold, insects seek shelter in warm indoor environments. Not all insects are indoor pests or vermin. Under the Health Protection Act, only bedbugs and cockroaches found indoors are considered a health hazard.
What should I do if I suspect a pest problem in my home?
Please contact your housing company's property management or property maintenance department. If you have observed bedbugs or cockroaches in your home, the housing company must initiate professional pest control without delay. The instructions issued by pest control must be strictly followed.
If the housing company does not take immediate action after a bedbug or cockroach observation, you can contact the Environmental Health Unit.
For more information on indoor pests, visit Household pests.
If you suspect chemical contamitants in the indoor air of your home, contact the housing company in the first instance. If the matter is not resolved by the company, you can contact the Housing health advisory service.
Chemical contamitants in indoor air include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde and carbon monoxide.
Common sources of VOCs include detergents, cosmetics, building and interior materials, textiles, humans, pets and moisture damage.In new buildings and after renovation, VOC levels in indoor air are often elevated.
PAHs can be present in old building materials, such as coal tar and creosote, building plaster and coal pitch. Coal pitch has been used in the past as a waterproofing material in structures.
Styrene may be present in indoor air if the components of the polyester resin used in the building material have not fully reacted with each other. Polyester resin is used in e.g. composite materials, window and door frames and interior upholstery materials.
Common sources of formaldehyde include moisture damage to chipboard and other materials, furnishing products, textiles and detergents.
Common sources of carbon monoxide are fireplaces and traffic.
How can I identify chemical contamitants in indoor air?
The smell of vinyl floor can be a sign of vinyl floor degradation and the resulting VOC emissions. If the surface of the vinyl floor is discoloured and bubbling, i.e. it has come loose from its substrate, it is possible that the vinyl floor and adhesive have started to break down.
PAHs are characterised by a tarry smell. Coal pitch can look like a black surface, e.g. on wall and floor structures against the ground.
Styrene and formaldehyde are characterised by a pungent odour. Carbon monoxide is odourless.
How can the housing health team help?
We make sensory observations during the apartment inspection. If the findings indicate chemical contaminants, we may ask the housing company to carry out indoor air tests, find the source of the contamination or remove the hazard.
How are chemical contamitants in indoor air tested in a dwelling?
Chemical contaminants can usually be tested by taking a sample of indoor air to a laboratory for analysis. The result can usually be used for health risk assessment if the sample has been taken by a certified expert (RTA) and analysed by an accredited laboratory. VOCs and PAHs can also be determined in material samples.These analyses must also be carried out by an accredited laboratory.
If you suspect a health hazard related to dust or asbestos fibres in your home, ask the property manager whether the housing company has carried out the surveys for which it is responsible (e.g. an asbestos and hazardous substances survey).
Conventional house dust consists of skin cells, textile fibres and pollen, among other things. Indoor air can also contain building dust, fine particles from outdoor air or microbial spores. Construction dust can occur after renovation or surface grinding if protection or final cleaning measures have not been properly implemented. Construction dust or other contamitants can also enter the home through ventilation ducts, for example, if the ducts are not properly cleaned.
Asbestos may be present mainly in buildings completed before 1994 and these should be subject to an asbestos survey before renovation. We recommend ordering a survey from a certified expert (AHA or RTA) and having the analysis carried out by an accredited laboratory.
The presence of asbestos or dust in indoor air or on surfaces can be detected, for example, by taking a wipe sample from the premises. If asbestos is found in the wipe sample, a further indoor air sample must be taken. The housing health decree sets a limit value for asbestos fibres in indoor air.
Radon is most likely to be present if the dwelling has a ground-supported slab or crawl space. If there is a basement or other floors below the dwelling, radon is less likely to be present.
Radon is an odourless, invisible radioactive gas that can migrate from the soil into indoor air in homes. Radon levels in dwellings can only be determined by measurement. The measurement should be retaken at least if the building undergoesmajor façade or base floor renovations or changes in ventilation type. Radon measuring cans and their analysis can be ordered from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland.
If necessary, the Environmental Health Unit will assess whether the action limit value is exceeded on the basis of the measurement results.
For more information, please contact the website of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland(Link leads to external service) .
Burning clean and dry wood in an appropriate fireplace is allowed in Finland. According to legislation on neighbourly relationships (Naapuruussuhdelaki), the party suffering from odour nuisance has a duty of tolerance, and it is therefore not possible for the authority to intervene in all the smoke detected. The authority can intervene in cases of smoke nuisance in the neighbourhood at the stage where the smoke nuisance can be considered an unreasonable burden.
You can also take action to reduce your exposure to smoke. Avoid ventilation when smoke nuisance is most likely to occur. Stay in the parts of the home where the smell of smoke is most strongly transmitted as little as possible.
Outdoors, smoke nuisance is generally interpreted as a nuisance to amenity and the competent authority is usually the environmental protection authority.
When is smoke damage significant?
The significance of smoke nuisance is assessed according to guidance issued by the Ministry of the Environment (PDF, content in Finnish)(Link leads to external service) . If the nuisance occurs once a week for about an hour, it is not considered to be a health hazard indoors. The hazard becomes significant when the frequency is 2–3 times a week for more than an hour at a time.
What should I do if I suffer from significant smoke nuisance?
If the source of the smoke nuisance can be identified, first contact the party causing the nuisance directly to resolve the issue. Processing the matter further with the authorities is largely a public matter and relevant material is available on request.
Isolated findings do not yet warrant further action, but you should keep a smoke nuisance logbook drafted by the Ministry of the Environment (PDF, content in Finnish)(Link leads to external service) on repeated odours for about a month. You can also find more information on the website of environmental supervision .
If the source of the smoke nuisance cannot be identified and the smoke nuisance occurs over a wide area, we will not be able to target it with control measures. In Helsinki, air quality is monitored by the Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY(Link leads to external service) , whose website contains monitoring data on air quality, among other things.
Uncontrolled accumulation of organic waste in the dwelling and the resulting odour nuisance in the stairwell and for neighbours is considered to be untidiness that is harmful to health.
What should I do if I suspect my building is untidy?
In the first instance, contact the property manager, who should report the matter to the senior social worker in the area. It has been agreed with social services that they will look into these cases first. More information on the social counselling website .
Any large amount of goods or fire load in the dwelling must be reported to the emergency services. The Helsinki City Rescue Department has a form on its website that you can use to report an obvious fire hazard or other accident risk in a home: Notification of an obvious risk of a fire or other accident(Link leads to external service) .
In the case of domestic animals causing a mess or odour nuisance, please report it to the Environmental Services' supervising veterinarian by sending an email to kymp.elainsuojelu@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program) .
You can contact the Housing health advisory service if the housing company or the owner of the property has already taken measures to remedy the situation (e.g. issued a warning or a cleaning notice with deadlines, or contacted the social and rescue authorities), but the measures taken have not remedied the situation and the dwelling is considered to be causing serious health damage to the residents of neighbouring dwellings.
The temperature requirements for domestic water are specifically designed to preventthe growth of Legionella bacteria . Temperature requirements must be met in all parts of the water pipe. The following requirements are set for the temperature of domestic water, measured at the end point of the water system:
- The temperature of the water in the cold water system should be below 20 °C after one minute of running the water.
- The hot water must reach a temperature of at least 50 °C after at least one minute of running, measured from the water tank.
In addition to the temperature requirements, it is a good idea to run domestic water from time to time. Water left standing for a long time in a fixture or other part of the water system can allow Legionella bacteria to multiply in domestic water. If deficient temperatures are detected, the representative of the property owner should be informed immediately so that the necessary corrective measures can be taken promptly.
The city is full of different types of lights, some of which are perceived as harmful because of their glare, conspicuousness or flickering.
Who is responsible for light pollution?
Advertising lights are authorised by Building Control Services.
Worksites are responsible for the orientation of worksite lights and the site supervisor is responsible for monitoring them.
The housing company is responsible for the yard lights.
On the City's website, you can report faults in outdoor lighting maintained by the City.
What can I do myself?
Our advice to residents is to use blackout curtains and blinds.
What can the Environmental Health Unit do?
If the issue is not resolved through the responsible parties, we can, if necessary, instruct the parties to limit the nuisance.There are no health-based guidelines in the legislation for measuring the amount of hazardous light or assessing whether the action limit has been exceeded.
Who can I contact for other matters?
If you observe noise in your home from outdoor events or industry, please contact the City of Helsinki Environmental Services’ control and monitoring unit by sending an email to kymp.ymparistovalvonta@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program) .
If you observe traffic noise in your home, please contact the City of Helsinki Environmental Services’ control and monitoring unit .
If you observe noise in your home from a technical device or structure located in another building, you should first contact the City of Helsinki Building Control Services at rakennusvalvonta@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program) . If you live in a new building that was built less than two years ago, you should contact the Building Control Services.
If the noise is caused by neighbours, it is a disorderly conduct problem, which should be dealt with in accordance with the housing company's rules and regulations in the first instance. The supervising authority in the event of serious disturbances is the police(Link leads to external service) .
If you observe rats in your home or in outdoor areas belonging to the housing company, report your observation to the company. For more information, please contact rat control .
Apartment inspection
If the property owner is of the view that the issue is not a health hazard or the issue is not otherwise being addressed, the resident or shareholder can contact the Housing health advisory service. We will assess whether there is a need for an apartment inspection. The apartment inspection does not usually involve structural excavations or sampling. An apartment inspection is not the same as a condition assessment or survey. The apartment inspection will not be carried out while repairs are in progress, unless serious harm is caused by the repairs.
There is a queue for apartment inspections. When your turn comes, we will contact you to arrange an inspection. We will notify the property manager, the resident and the landlord or shareholder of the inspection date in advance. We usually carry out the first apartment inspection during office hours and it takes about an hour.
The first apartment inspection is free of charge. Subsequent sound-level measurements and possible samples are subject to a fee on a case-by-case basis. We collect the fees from the person responsible for the hazard.
The aim of the apartment inspection is to find out whether there is a condition in the home that is harmful to health. The inspection is based on the conditions of the home, not the health of the resident.
Depending on the problem, an inspection can include
- sensory observations
- indoor temperature and relative humidity measurements
- checking the functionality of ventilation and measuring air volumes
- pressure differential measurements
- examination of air leaks
- surface humidity measurements
- sound-level measurements.
We will draft an inspection report on the inspection and send it to all parties involved. The party responsible for the repair is responsible for the repair planning, the choice of the repair method, the execution of the measures and supervision during the work.
If we identify a condition in the home that is causing a health hazard, we will ask the party responsible for the issue to take action to remove the hazard. Determining the health hazard may require more than one inspection or sampling, which the responsible party orders. If we do not find a health hazard in the dwelling, the request for action will be closed.
If the request is not complied with, we will issue a correction order, which we can reinforce with a penalty payment. You can request an appealable decision concerning our decision, against which you can lodge an appeal with the Environment and Permits Sub-committee.
The inspection reports are public.
Housing health advisory service
How to contact us
If you have reported an issue to the housing company in the last month, but the company has not started to investigate it or has not done so properly, you can contact the Housing health advisory service. Describe your issue clearly and comprehensively. This will expedite the process and help the authority assess the situation.
If you wish, you can copy the questions below into your email, as your message should mention the following:
- What is the issue (e.g. mould, smell, noise, pests)?
- Where does the problem occur? In which room of the apartment does the problem occur?
- Is the issue persistent or does it occur only intermittently? Please provide specific times.
- How does the issue impact your living comfort? Do not include health information or the impact of the issue on your health or the health of other residents.
- Measures and contacts
- What is the position of the property manager or the housing company, and have they taken any action? First inform the owner of the property.
- Additional information
- The exact address of the dwelling and the name of the housing company.
- Contact information for the building manager Find out the direct email address of the property manager instead of the customer service email of the property management company.
- Your own contact details.
Documents sent to the authority, including emails, are public documents.
Which matters can the Environmental Health Unit not help you with?
- Liability matters, leases and guarantees
- Settlement of claims for compensation for household items
- Looking for a new home or a replacement home
- Problems other than those related to the health of the dwelling