> Monitoring the building's condition and reading the reports > Lähde: https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/condition-monitoring-and-reports/ > Koko sivusto koneluettavana: https://huoneistokierros.fi/llms-full.txt [Knowledge base](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/) # Monitoring the building's condition and reading the reports Huoneistokierros · 24 August 2026 · 8 min read ![Hand holding a house-shaped keyring in front of an open door](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/avain-ovi-auki.C8PnqZW6_Z1gOzVp.jpg) In this article 1. [What the law requires](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/condition-monitoring-and-reports/#what-the-law-requires) 2. [A condition assessment is a snapshot](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/condition-monitoring-and-reports/#a-condition-assessment-is-a-snapshot) 3. [How to read a report](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/condition-monitoring-and-reports/#how-to-read-a-report) 4. [Monitoring in practice](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/condition-monitoring-and-reports/#monitoring-in-practice) 5. [Signs that monitoring needs to improve](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/condition-monitoring-and-reports/#signs-that-monitoring-needs-to-improve) 6. [Frequently asked questions](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/condition-monitoring-and-reports/#frequently-asked-questions) A board may have a condition assessment from 2022 and a condition survey from 2023. The reports may have been carefully prepared, but they describe the situation at the time of the survey, and only as far as the matter was investigated. The building has been in use every day since then. The board therefore needs to be able to do two things: keep its information on the building’s condition up to date, and read reports in a way that brings out their limits and uncertainties. ## What the law requires The law does not require a general annual condition inspection or any particular monitoring system. The obligations come from several provisions. Under section 140 of the [Building Act (rakentamislaki, 751/2023) (opens in a new tab)](https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/2023/751), the owner of a building must keep the building and its surroundings in such a condition that it continuously meets the requirements for health, safety and usability. The owner must also monitor the condition of the structures that are essential for load-bearing capacity. This is a direct monitoring obligation, even though it does not require structures to be opened up or measured continuously. Under the [Limited Liability Housing Companies Act (opens in a new tab)](https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/2009/1599) (asunto-osakeyhtiölaki, 1599/2009), the company maintains the structures, insulation and core systems and, following the amendment that came into force on 1 October 2026, explicitly also the windows, unless the articles of association provide otherwise. The board does not have to carry out technical investigations itself, but decisions must be prepared on the basis of sufficient information. Receiving an expert’s report does not transfer responsibility for the decision to the author of the report. At the annual general meeting, the board presents a written report on the maintenance needed over the next five years that will significantly affect living in the building, the maintenance charge or other housing costs, and on significant maintenance and alteration work that has been carried out (chapter 6, section 3). The review period is still five years: [the amendments that came into force on 1 October 2026 (535/2026) (opens in a new tab)](https://finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/saadoskokoelma/2026/535) did not change this provision. The [maintenance needs report (kunnossapitotarveselvitys)](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/maintenance-needs-report/) is not a decision on repairs and does not replace continuous monitoring. ## A condition assessment is a snapshot “We have a condition assessment” is a good start, but an assessment does not stop the building from ageing. An example: in 2023 the roof is found to be in good condition in the parts inspected. In 2024 there is a severe storm, in 2025 a resident on the top floor reports a damp patch, and in 2026 the caretaker notices an anomaly next to a roof penetration. The 2023 information does not become wrong, but for decision-making purposes the situation is different. Information on the building’s condition comes from many sources, and each has its limits: - **A condition assessment** gives an overview within the agreed scope and an estimate of future repair needs. If there have since been two water damage incidents and a pump failure, the old report alone does not describe the current situation. - **A condition survey** is a more detailed investigation of a particular structure or system. A facade survey tells you nothing about the roof, and a moisture measurement in one apartment tells you nothing about the whole building. - **Fault reports** are valuable, but many problems are in places residents cannot see: on the roof, in technical spaces or inside structures. An absence of reports only tells you that no reports have been made. - **The repair history** tells you when something was repaired. Good monitoring also asks whether the problem went away for good and whether anything has been observed during the warranty period. - **Financial reports** tell you where the money went. But a €4,000 maintenance cost does not tell you whether it came from four faults, the same recurring fault or a single incident of damage. ## How to read a report Imagine a 40-page condition survey full of photos, measurement results and repair recommendations. Before deciding anything on the basis of it, find out five things: what was investigated, what was left out, what the conclusions are based on, what remained uncertain and what should be done next. Limitations do not make a report bad, but they define what it can be used for. A report may state that structures were not opened, a particular space could not be accessed, measurements were taken at only a few points or old drawings were not available. ### Fact, observation, assessment and recommendation Not all the text in a report is information of equal weight: - Fact: “The outer diameter of the pipe was measured at 28 millimetres.” - Observation: “Corrosion was observed on the surface of the pipe.” - Assessment: “The corrosion may be linked to long-term moisture stress.” - Recommendation: “A more detailed investigation is recommended.” When these are separated, the board can see what has been verified and what is the expert’s assessment. A recommendation is input for a decision, not the board’s decision. ### Is an old report still good enough? A report has no expiry date, and there is no number of years that suits every case. “No immediate need for repair” five years ago does not mean the same thing today. Assess the age and scope of the report, the age of the building component, subsequent faults and repairs, and whether the expert recommended follow-up monitoring. ## Monitoring in practice The following are practical recommendations, not legal requirements. ### A date and location for every observation “The roof is in good condition” does not tell you when this was established. “No visual anomalies were observed in the inspected parts of the roof on 12 June 2026” tells you much more. Likewise, “damp patch on the north wall of the basement next to the technical room door, observed on 12 September 2026” is more useful than “damp patch in the basement”. ### Change matters more than a single fault Is a crack growing, does a damp patch keep returning, has the same device been repaired several times? If a crack in the plinth looks the same in 2026 and 2027 but has clearly grown by 2028, it should be assessed by an expert. ### A timeline and combining information An example: 2022 condition survey of the pipework, 2023 two local leaks, 2024 repairs in two apartments, 2025 a new leak in the same riser, 2026 the need for a new survey is assessed. Put on a timeline, the events look quite different from a set of separate invoices. The same applies to different sources. Condition survey 2024: “No significant moisture found in the basement.” Fault report 2025: “Water on the basement floor after heavy rain.” Building walk-through 2026: “Unusual marks on the plinth.” None of these alone proves the cause, but together they are grounds for a more detailed investigation. See also [the housing company’s fault history](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-fault-history/). ### A “what we don’t know yet” section Add a section to the board’s summary for gaps in information: the internal condition of the pipework has not been investigated, structures have not been opened, or the cause of a fault has not been confirmed. This makes the information more honest, not weaker. A concise summary for meetings is described in the article on [the housing company’s situation overview](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-status-overview/). ### A regular round A documented [building walk-through](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/building-walk-through/) produces observations on the facades, plinths, rainwater drainage, and shared and technical spaces. A round does not give a technical diagnosis: it records “a dark mark was observed on the wall”, not “there is moisture damage in the structure”. Building components inside the apartments, such as floor drains and pipe supports, often go unseen in general inspections, and the only way to get information on them is to visit the apartments. ## Signs that monitoring needs to improve - The most important condition information is years old, and nobody has assessed what has changed. - People on the board say “that was investigated at some point”, but nobody knows when or what. - An old report is used as if it described the present. - A recommendation is automatically treated as a decision. - The same faults keep recurring but are handled as separate cases. - The board knows what the repairs cost but not what caused them. The purpose of condition monitoring is not to interpret every mark as damage. Good information helps distinguish what is known, what is being monitored, what needs to be investigated and what there is no reason to do right now. This avoids both reacting too late and overreacting needlessly. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is a condition assessment mandatory? The Limited Liability Housing Companies Act does not require a condition assessment at set intervals. However, the board must present a maintenance needs report every year, and preparing it requires information on the building’s condition. ### How often should the condition be checked? There is no single interval that suits everyone. The need depends on the building’s age, structures, systems, repair history, earlier observations and experts’ recommendations. ### Can the board rely on an expert report? A report is an important source for decision-making, but it is worth understanding its scope, baseline data and uncertainties. Using a report does not transfer the board’s decision-making power or responsibility to its author. 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 - ![Spiral staircase and an arched window in a bright space](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/porraskaytava-kaari.Em9X4YPF_Z1pxDTK.jpg) 12 September 2026 · 5 min read ### What the basement tells you about the building's condition The basement often reveals moisture, ventilation problems and pipe leaks before they show in the apartments. What to look for and who is responsible for it. - ![Stairwell with green walls](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/porraskaytava-vihrea.yEkqQPNX_1GKniJ.jpg) 2 August 2026 · 6 min read ### The building walk-through: how the board inspects the building A building walk-through shows the board the building's real condition: what to check on the roof, in the basement, yard and stairwells, and how to record it. - ![Snowy courtyard of a block of flats](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/sisapiha-talvi.DuGBVOJZ_Z2ljWMw.jpg) 10 September 2026 · 5 min read ### Housing company gutters: do they carry water away from the building? A blocked gutter or badly placed downpipe soaks the facade and plinth. How a housing company checks its gutters and rainwater drainage before winter. 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. [Send a contact request](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/contact/#kartoitus)[Call +358 10 666 9988](tel:+358106669988)