Finland to ban smoking in rented homes without landlord permission — YLE News
From October 1, a new housing rental law will take effect in Finland, banning smoking in rented homes, on balconies, in private yards and in shared adjacent areas without separate permission from the landlord. Such permission cannot conflict with other rules, including housing company regulations, YLE News reports.
Smoking will continue to be allowed in specially designated areas on adjacent grounds. Several housing rental companies are already updating their residency rules due to the legislative changes.
Residents’ reaction
Maria Karesti, a resident of a rented townhouse in the Mussalo district of Kotka, criticized the new restrictions. According to her, the housing company plans to set up a smoking area, but this creates difficulties for her because she uses a walker.
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Her neighbor, Sinikka Mäkelä, was also surprised that the new rules would apply to yards next to townhouses. She suggested that she would smoke less because she had previously been able to go out into the backyard in summer.
Setting up smoking areas
Kotkan Asunnot oy adopted new internal rules at the beginning of September and began informing residents. It will install new smoking areas at properties where residents want them. So far, such a request has been received for only one property.
Company representative Anita Heikkinen said that smoking areas would be located at a sufficient distance from building entrances, windows and playgrounds. Lappeenrannan Asuntopalvelut oy noted that it is not possible to designate a safe smoking area at every property. The company has about 150 properties and 4,300 rental apartments; 500 units of housing with care services in its portfolio are already completely smoke-free.
