> 15 things to check in your home every year > Lähde: https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/annual-home-check/ > Koko sivusto koneluettavana: https://huoneistokierros.fi/llms-full.txt [Knowledge base](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/) # 15 things to check in your home every year Huoneistokierros · 21 September 2026 · 7 min read ![Old white double door and herringbone parquet](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/pariovi-asunto.6LiEzKvw_2b547W.jpg) In this article 1. [Why check it yourself](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/annual-home-check/#why-check-it-yourself) 2. [Checklist](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/annual-home-check/#checklist) 3. [When to report](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/annual-home-check/#when-to-report) 4. [Who repairs what](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/annual-home-check/#who-repairs-what) 5. [Frequently asked questions](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/annual-home-check/#frequently-asked-questions) Many changes in a building show up in the apartments first: a small damp mark, a slow-draining sink, a change in the ventilation or a window that no longer closes as it used to. Use this list to go through your home once a year. The aim is not to turn you into a construction professional, but to spot changes in time and report them to the right people. ## Why check it yourself You know your home better than anyone. You know how the shower pressure feels, how the window closes and how quickly the bathroom dries. A professional may miss a small change if they do not visit the apartment regularly. You do not need to work out the technical cause of a change. It is enough to record the observation and report it. If it concerns a part of the building or a system that the company is responsible for, report it according to your housing company’s instructions, for example to the property manager or the maintenance company. The Limited Liability Housing Companies Act (asunto-osakeyhtiölaki) requires shareholders to notify the company without delay of defects and deficiencies that fall within the company’s maintenance responsibility. ## Checklist ### 1. Taps and plumbing fixtures Look at the taps, connections and other visible plumbing fixtures. Is a tap dripping, is there moisture at the joints, or are there marks on the bottom of the cupboard? A small leak does not always cause visible damage straight away. ### 2. Floor drains A floor drain should drain normally and the area around it should stay dry. If water drains more slowly than usual, or the drain smells or overflows, take it seriously. Routine cleaning of the drain is usually the resident’s job, but if the problem persists after cleaning, report it. Read more about [preventing water damage](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/water-damage-prevention/). ### 3. Toilet Check whether there is moisture around the toilet, and listen for water running constantly or the cistern refilling more often than usual. Constant running is a sign of a fault. ### 4. Ventilation Is the air stuffy, or does the airflow feel different from before? Is there dirt in the vent? Do not adjust the vents yourself, as a single change can affect how the whole system works. Clean them according to your housing company’s instructions and report any clear change. ### 5. Windows Open and close the windows. Do they close properly, are the seals intact, and is there moisture between the panes? Under the amendment to the Limited Liability Housing Companies Act that came into force on 1 October 2026, window maintenance is in principle entirely the company’s responsibility, unless the articles of association provide otherwise. So report what you notice before repairing anything yourself. Read more about [the change in responsibility for windows](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/window-responsibility-change-2026/). ### 6. Front door and balcony door A door should open, close and lock normally. If it starts to rub, stays ajar or the seals are damaged, make a note of the change. Do not make major adjustments until you know whether the matter is yours or the housing company’s to deal with. ### 7. Bathroom surfaces Look for new cracks, loose grout or sealant, discolouration or signs of moisture. A single change does not automatically mean moisture damage, but it is worth reporting a suspicious observation and letting the housing company assess whether a closer investigation is needed. ### 8. Damp marks elsewhere Moisture does not always show up as a puddle. Pay attention to ceilings, walls, floors and cupboards. A new discolouration, blistering, swelling or a spot that is repeatedly damp is worth photographing and reporting. ### 9. Electrical panel Do not open the electrical panel yourself. You can, however, check whether it shows any damage and note whether fuses or the residual current device trip more often than usual. If the panel gives off heat, a smell or a noise, report it immediately. Electrical work is always a job for a professional. ### 10. Smoke alarms Test your smoke alarms according to the instructions: testing is recommended, although the law does not require it. Following an amendment to the [Rescue Act (opens in a new tab)](https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/2011/379) (pelastuslaki, in Finnish), the building owner, that is, the housing company, has been responsible for acquiring smoke alarms for the apartments and keeping them in working order since 1 January 2026. The resident’s statutory duty is to report a faulty smoke alarm to the owner without delay. Read more about [fire safety in a housing company](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-fire-safety/). ### 11. Heating Is one room always colder than the others, or is a radiator behaving oddly? Do not cover radiators and thermostats with furniture or curtains. If the problem continues, report it. ### 12. Balcony Are there new cracks or crumbling in the concrete, is the coating coming loose, and are the railings sturdy? You cannot judge the safety of a structure from a single observation, but photograph it and report it. ### 13. Kitchen sink cupboard Open the sink cupboard and look at the pipes, connections and the bottom of the cupboard. Moisture, discolouration or a swollen base panel are signs of a leak. Also keep an eye on the area around the dishwasher and other water connections. ### 14. Drains If water drains slowly, or a drain gurgles or smells, find out why. Recurring problems are a particularly good reason to report. Do not use strong chemicals if you do not know whether they are suitable for the pipes. ### 15. Recording changes This is the most important item on the list. Take a photo and note the date and a short description, for example “New damp mark at the bottom of the window, 21 September 2026” or “Damp patch on the bottom of the kitchen sink cupboard”. A clear observation is worth more than a guess at the cause. And when everything is fine, you get a point of comparison: if the window starts to rub a year later, the change is easy to spot. ## When to report The rule of thumb is simple: if something has clearly changed or gives reasonable cause for suspicion, report it. Do not wait with observations concerning water, moisture, electricity, fire safety or structures. Reporting does not mean the fault is serious: it simply gets the information to the right people. In your report, say what you noticed, where and when, whether it is new or has changed, and whether you have photos. You will find more guidance in the article [reporting a fault in a housing company](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/fixing-faults-symptom-or-cause/). ## Who repairs what Maintenance responsibility is divided between the company and the shareholder on the basis of the Limited Liability Housing Companies Act and the articles of association. A division of responsibilities table helps, but if things are unclear, the safest course is to report the matter and clarify responsibility before any repairs. If you notice moisture, a leak or structural damage, do not start extensive repairs on your own. In an acute leak, however, prevent further damage immediately, for example by turning off the water, and notify the housing company at the same time. Your own check does not cover everything. The condition of floor drain structures, pipe supports or smoke alarms is most reliably established when a professional goes through all the apartments in the housing company in one go. Read more about [the apartment round](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/apartment-round/). ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I need to report every little fault? Ordinary wear and tear does not need a separate report. It is worth reporting a deviation that is new, changing, recurring or potentially damaging. Shareholders have a statutory duty to report faults that are the company’s responsibility. ### Can I adjust a ventilation vent myself? Better not. Adjusting a single vent can affect how the whole system works. Follow your housing company’s instructions and report any problems. ### What if I do not know whether a repair is my responsibility or the housing company’s? Do not guess. Check the division of responsibilities table or ask the property manager before any repairs. A shareholder’s rights and obligations are also covered in the article [being a shareholder in a housing company](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/shareholder-rights/). This article provides general information and does not replace case-specific legal or technical advice. Free assessment ## Know what condition your housing company's apartments are in On a preventive apartment round we go through every apartment in a single visit at a fixed price and record our findings in an electronic report. The assessment is free of charge. [Book a free assessment](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/contact/#kartoitus)[Get a price estimate](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/pricing/#hinta-arvio) Preventive maintenance at a fixed price Every apartment on a single round. [Book a free assessment](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/contact/#kartoitus) Read next ## Related articles - ![Blossoming tree in warm light in the courtyard of a block of flats](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/sisapiha-kukkiva-puu.B40cAg3P_ZsGeVf.jpg) 2 June 2026 · 4 min read ### The summer building check: ten things worth looking at Bright, snow-free months are the best time to check the roof, facade, balconies, rainwater drainage and yard. A checklist for the summer round. - ![Older couple reading documents together at home](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/seniorit-lomake.DCcl4zr5_1s2H1v.jpg) 1 October 2026 · 6 min read ### Housing company documents: 10 every shareholder should know The articles of association, financial statements, maintenance needs report and minutes show what you own. See what to read in them and what you can request. - ![Red front door of a stairwell under a canopy](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/rappu-punainen-ovi.CcN3FXAX_Z1NtgBG.jpg) 14 September 2026 · 7 min read ### The apartment round: what to check inside the apartments An apartment round shows the board the apartments it would otherwise never see. What to look at, what the law says and how to record what you find. Free assessment ## Let's plan the right round for your housing company Call us or send a contact request. The assessment and advice are free of charge. We can visit the property if needed. 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