> Housing company windows: upkeep, warning signs and… > Lähde: https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-windows/ > Koko sivusto koneluettavana: https://huoneistokierros.fi/llms-full.txt [Knowledge base](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/) # Housing company windows: upkeep, warning signs and responsibility Huoneistokierros · 6 September 2026 · 7 min read ![Bright dining area and a balcony door](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/parvekeovi-ruokailutila.CmxKtRSo_ZAE7Fo.jpg) In this article 1. [Responsibility has moved to the housing company](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-windows/#responsibility-has-moved-to-the-housing-company) 2. [What the symptoms may tell you](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-windows/#what-the-symptoms-may-tell-you) 3. [Checklist](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-windows/#checklist) 4. [The shareholder’s report is the most important source of information](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-windows/#the-shareholders-report-is-the-most-important-source-of-information) 5. [Maintenance or replacement](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-windows/#maintenance-or-replacement) 6. [Questions for the board](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-windows/#questions-for-the-board) 7. [Frequently asked questions](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-windows/#frequently-asked-questions) A window can look intact even when the seals have hardened, the fittings work poorly or the space between the panes mists up. The problem usually first shows as a slight draught, a stiff handle or moisture on the glass. The first cold days of autumn bring it out. ## Responsibility has moved to the housing company An amendment to the Limited Liability Housing Companies Act ([535/2026 (opens in a new tab)](https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/saadoskokoelma/2026/535)) came into force on 1 October 2026. In addition to the structures and insulation of the apartments, the company must now also maintain the windows. Previously, responsibility was divided on the basis of the law’s preparatory works so that the company was responsible for the outer windows and the shareholder for the inner ones. According to the reasoning in the government proposal (HE 34/2026 vp), the company’s responsibility covers the window as a functional and technical whole: the outer and inner panes, sashes, frames, fittings and seals, as well as vent flaps and fixed insect screens that form part of the window structure. The extent of the responsibility is determined by the standard level of fittings the company follows (perustaso). The rule in the Act is a default. If the articles of association already provided otherwise on window maintenance before the amendment, that provision remains in force. The shareholder must still take good care of their apartment, and the cost of repairing a window broken through carelessness may fall to them. The shareholder is not responsible for normal wear and tear. Window alterations the shareholder has made themselves are the shareholder’s responsibility. The details of the amendment, transitional situations and windows replaced by shareholders themselves are covered in the article [the division of responsibility for windows changed on 1 October 2026](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/window-responsibility-change-2026/). You can check your own company’s situation in its articles of association and [division of responsibilities table](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/division-of-responsibilities/). ## What the symptoms may tell you ### Draughts Feeling a draught does not yet tell you the cause. It may be a worn or compressed seal, a sash out of adjustment, a pressure difference caused by the ventilation, an air current created by a cold glass surface or a leak at the joint between the window and the wall. Replacing the seals and adjusting the fittings is often enough. If the draught continues after that, the cause lies elsewhere. Not every gap should be sealed. If the building’s ventilation is designed to take in replacement air through the windows, a window that has become too airtight can weaken the ventilation and raise indoor humidity. Motiva, the Finnish state-owned sustainability agency, recommends taking replacement air into account when sealing and carrying out the sealing centrally, so that all apartments are treated the same way. When the windows are the company’s responsibility, a centralised approach is natural anyway. ### Misting Where the misting appears tells you the most: - **The outer surface** mists up on cool mornings, especially on energy-efficient windows. This is common and does not usually indicate a fault. - Misting **between the panes** suggests that the seal on the inner sash is letting moisture from indoor air into the gap. Moisture visible inside a sealed glazing unit means the unit has lost its seal. - Repeated misting on **the inner surface** is often linked to indoor humidity, ventilation or the window’s poor thermal insulation. So record where the moisture appears, when, and whether it recurs. Replacing the window will not help if the cause is in the ventilation. ### Moisture and rainwater If rainwater gets into the window structure, the consequences appear slowly. A spot that keeps getting wet dries poorly, and damage can develop over years. Darkened wood, flaking paint and damp marks below the window or in the corners are a reason to look more closely, even though they are not a diagnosis. More on this in the article on [moisture problems in a housing company](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/moisture-problems-housing-company/). ## Checklist Depending on the window, go through at least these: - Does the window open and close normally, and does the sash stay in the position you want? - Are the handles, hinges and locks firm, or do they rattle or need unusual force? - Are the seals intact, flexible and attached? - Does the sash catch on the frame or look crooked? - Are there cracks, rot, darkening or flaking paint on the sashes or frames? - Are there cracks in the glass? - Do the flashings direct rainwater away from the structure? - Do the vent flaps work, and are the insect screens intact? - Do the fittings creak or rattle? - Do the balcony doors show the same symptoms? A single observation does not usually mean a serious fault. If the same observations come from several apartments or the same facade, it is probably a matter affecting the whole building. ## The shareholder’s report is the most important source of information A shareholder must notify the company without delay of a fault that the company is responsible for repairing, and this now includes the windows. A broken fitting, a worn seal or a persistent draught is reported to the property manager or maintenance as the company instructs. The report only needs to say what was observed, where and when, with a photo if needed. A neutral description is more useful than a guess: “there is a new dark mark in the bottom corner of the bedroom window” tells you more than an uninvestigated diagnosis. You will find guidance in the article on [fault reporting in a housing company](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/fixing-faults-symptom-or-cause/). Do not replace seals, adjust mechanisms or order a repair yourself on the assumption that the company will pay the bill. The order is report first, then assessment. ## Maintenance or replacement Even an old window does not automatically need replacing. Renewing the seals, adjusting the fittings and maintenance painting can extend its service life considerably if the sashes and frames are technically sound. Widespread deterioration, on the other hand, may favour replacement. More than age, the assessment depends on the condition of the sashes and frames, rot damage, how the fittings work, energy efficiency, sound insulation and repairability. A condition survey is appropriate when problems recur, the windows have not been inspected for a long time or the company is preparing a larger repair. A good survey separates technical problems from cosmetic ones and assesses whether the windows can be repaired and how long they will last. If replacement is due in the next few years, the windows belong in the [maintenance needs report (kunnossapitotarveselvitys)](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/maintenance-needs-report/). When the company is responsible, maintenance and replacement can be planned and tendered for the whole building at once. This requires information on the condition of the windows in every apartment. Huoneistokierros, for example, adjusts and services the windows, exterior doors and [balcony doors](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/balcony-doors/) in every apartment during the same visit. ## Questions for the board - How old are the windows, and have they been replaced in stages? - When was the condition of the windows last assessed, and were the results recorded? - Have residents reported draughts or misting, and do the reports recur in the same part of the building? - Have the seals been renewed and the fittings serviced? - What do the articles of association say about windows, and has the division of responsibilities table been updated since the amendment? Record observations in the same place every year. When you return to the same spots the following autumn, you can see whether the situation has changed. Do not inspect the outside of high windows yourself. ## Frequently asked questions ### Are window seals the housing company’s responsibility? As a rule, yes. According to the law’s preparatory works, the company is responsible for the window as a whole, including the seals, unless the articles of association provide otherwise. ### Do the windows need to be inspected regularly? The law does not set an inspection interval for windows. However, the board must ensure the upkeep of the property is properly organised, and regular inspection is in practice the only way to know the condition of the windows. ### Can a shareholder replace the seals themselves? Notify the company first and agree on it. A repair ordered on your own may not be reimbursed. *Sources: [Act amending the Limited Liability Housing Companies Act 535/2026, Finlex (in Finnish) (opens in a new tab)](https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/saadoskokoelma/2026/535); [HE 34/2026 vp, eduskunta.fi (in Finnish) (opens in a new tab)](https://www.eduskunta.fi/pdf/HE+34/2026); [EV 65/2026 vp (in Finnish) (opens in a new tab)](https://www.eduskunta.fi/pdf/EV+65/2026); [Finnish Real Estate Federation (Kiinteistöliitto): maintenance responsibility 2026 (in Finnish) (opens in a new tab)](https://www.kiinteistoliitto.fi/blogit/lakipahkina/kunnossapitovastuu_2026/).* This article provides general information and does not replace case-specific legal or technical advice. Huoneistokierros · Windows and entrance doors ## What would a round cost your housing company? Window inspection, plus easing and lubricating the windows and apartment entrance doors. Price from €15.90 per door or window, incl. VAT. Calculate a price estimate based on the number of apartments. [Get a price estimate](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/pricing/#hinta-arvio)[Read more: windows and entrance doors](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/windows-and-doors/) Preventive maintenance at a fixed price Every apartment on a single round. [Get a price estimate](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/pricing/#hinta-arvio) Read next ## Related articles - ![Christmas tree glowing in the window of a block of flats](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/ikkuna-joulukuusi.CCNTNGwS_2rvnQ8.jpg) 25 September 2026 · 7 min read ### Responsibility for windows changed on 1 October 2026: who pays now? An amendment moved window maintenance to the housing company on 1 October 2026. See what the company and shareholders now cover and when the articles decide. - ![Sunny room with an old wooden double door](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/aurinkohuone-ovi.C02wJgNx_1xHh3H.jpg) 31 August 2026 · 9 min read ### Hidden defects in a housing company: signs, checks and responsibility A hidden defect often gives small signs before damage occurs. Where to look for them, which warning signs to take seriously and how responsibility is divided. - ![Spiral staircase of an apartment building seen from above](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/kierreportaat.CH6OCPO7_2jmuAl.jpg) 31 July 2026 · 6 min read ### Can a housing company go bankrupt? 7 warning signs for the board A housing company can go bankrupt too. What the law says from 1 October 2026, how bankruptcy affects shareholders and how to spot the warning signs in time. 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)