Pests
On this page, we provide information about pests such as rats and bed bugs. If you suspect that there are bed bugs in your home, report it to the maintenance company immediately. Also report to the maintenance company if you see rats or signs of them on the property. It is important to start pest control as soon as possible.
If you notice bed bugs in your home or rats on the property, report the issue to the maintenance company right away. The earlier pest control begins, the more effective it is.
If you find insects in your home that you do not recognise or if you need advice related to pests, you can contact Espoo Region Environmental Health Services (page is in Finnish).
Photos and information on pests can be found on the City of Helsinki website.
Not all bugs found at home are harmful, and you can get rid of some of them yourself.
You can get rid of silverfish, for example, by doing the following:
- Clean your home regularly.
- Keep the spaces dry.
- Clean floor drains regularly.
More information on pests and their control can also be found on the Martha Organization’s website (in Finnish).
Bed bugs
Bed bugs cannot be eliminated with home remedies. Professional treatment is essential, as bed bugs and their eggs can be hidden throughout the home – even in places where no signs have been seen.
Check out Anticimex’s advice (in Finnish) on how to identify bed bugs and their bite marks.
If you notice or suspect that there are bed bugs in your home, report the issue immediately.
After you report the issue, a representative from the maintenance company or the pest control company will contact you. Be sure to follow the instructions they provide carefully.
Please keep the following in mind:
- Do not attempt to get rid of furniture or other items infested with bed bugs on your own.
- Follow the pest control company’s instructions when disposing of items that have been contaminated by bed bugs.
- Wrap any furniture in plastic. Otherwise, bed bugs will spread to other parts of the building while you carry items through shared areas like stairwells.
- Do not take bed bug-infested furniture to the waste collection area. No furniture should be taken there, as there will be extra costs to remove it. There is also a risk that someone might take the bed bug-infested furniture and unknowingly bring bed bugs into their own home.
Espoon Asunnot is responsible for the costs of pest control in its properties. However, if you do not follow the pest control company’s instructions and as a result delay or prevent the treatment, you may be required to cover any related costs.
If you need to dispose of furniture because of a bed bug problem, we will not cover the cost of buying new furniture.
Rats
If you notice rats or their tracks in the yard, please report the issue.
Rats can chew through almost anything and cause significant damage. They can also spread diseases.
How to prevent a rat problem:
- Do not pour food down the drain. Rats live in the sewer system, and food waste poured down the drain can attract them to the area around the building.
- Do not leave food out for rats. If food is left outside, it can attract rats to the yard. For this reason, feeding birds and other wild animals is not allowed in the shared yard areas of our properties. Feeding is also prohibited in apartmet yards, on balconies, and on windowsills.
- Keep the waste collection areas tidy. Rats will find food if rubbish bags are left outside the waste containers, if organic waste has fallen on the ground or if the container is so full that the lid cannot be closed.
- If you have berry bushes or fruit trees in your apartment yard, collect any spoiled berries and fruit and place them in the waste container. If left to rot on the ground, they can attract rats and other pests.
- Do not plant dense shrubs or leave piles of leaves in your yard. In addition to food, rats seek shelter and nesting sites.