As of 1 October, smoking is prohibited in all Heka apartments, on balconies, in shared spaces and in yards areas

Before now, smoking policies varied across Heka properties: some were already smoke-free, while others had various smoking restrictions in place.

Following the entry into force of the Act, all Heka properties are smoke-free; in other words, smoking is prohibited in all Heka apartments, on balconies, in apartment yards, in shared spaces and in yard areas.

Read more about the reform of the Act on Residential Leases

Frequently asked questions about the smoking ban

Does the ban also apply to my current lease agreement, even though it does not contain a smoking ban?

Yes, the smoking ban applies to both new and existing lease agreements.

The smoking ban applies to all Heka tenants, regardless of whether the ban is mentioned in the lease agreement.

Which products are covered by the smoking ban?

In addition to conventional tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, roll-your-own tobacco, pipes), the smoking ban also applies to e-cigarettes and plant-based products intended for smoking, such as herbal cigarettes, herbal blends used in water pipes and narcotic roll-ups.

The smoking ban specifically applies to the burning, heating and vaping of tobacco products.

The smoking ban does not apply to snus or nicotine pouches.

Which spaces are covered by the smoking ban?

The smoking ban applies to apartments and outdoor spaces belonging to apartments, such as balconies, terraces and apartment yards.

Restrictions on smoking are also included in the building rules of conduct of Heka.

According to the building rules of conduct, smoking is prohibited in the stairwells, lifts and other shared indoor areas, shared balconies, access decks, the property’s outdoor areas (incl. near the entrances and air intakes, as well as children’s play areas) and car park. 

Is smoking allowed in the designated smoking area of the property?

Smoking is allowed in the yard or plot only in a smoking area designated by Heka. 

Where can a tenant smoke if there is no designated smoking area on the property?

Designating a smoking area is not possible in the yards or on the plots of some properties.

Placing a designated smoking area on a plot may not be possible due to the type or size of the plot. Cigarette smoke must not be allowed to enter apartments, balconies or shared lounge areas, e.g. through air intake vents.

Any queries regarding smoking areas can be directed to the property manager of your building.

If there is no smoking area designated by Heka on the property, smoking is not permitted in the building, the yard area or the parking area. This means that smokers must go outside the boundaries of the plot to smoke, e.g. on the street. 

Does the smoking ban apply to other residents of the apartment and visitors?

Yes. Tenants must ensure that their guests comply with the smoking ban.

Tenants must remind their guests of the smoking ban and instruct them to smoke in the designated smoking area, if there is one on the property, or outside the boundaries of the plot.

The smoking ban also applies to Heka staff.

What can I do if my neighbour smokes despite the smoking ban?

You can report smoking via OmaHeka as a service request by using the dedicated form. The property manager will investigate the matter.

Please remember that you are not allowed to photograph or film a neighbour smoking in their apartment, on their balcony, on their terrace or in their apartment yard, as these areas are protected by the right to privacy. In such cases, taking photographs constitutes voyeurism, which is a criminal offence.

If you are gathering evidence for the property manager about your neighbour’s smoking, make a note of the dates, times, locations and your observations.

Photography is permitted in the shared yard of the property, but please do not publish any photographs on social media, for example.

How does Heka supervise compliance with the smoking ban?

Heka supervises compliance with the smoking ban on the basis of reports submitted by neighbours and observations made by the property manager or the property maintenance team.

Heka may carry out an apartment visit on the basis of any observations made or reports submitted. Heka always gives advance notice of any apartment visits.

Who pays for damage caused by smoking? Will the tenant have to pay, even if smoking was previously permitted?

The tenant must pay any costs for cleaning and repairs resulting from smoking after 1 October 2026. Odours and stains caused by smoking are not regarded as normal wear in an apartment. The tenant may therefore be charged for the cleaning and repair costs incurred in removing them, in accordance with Heka’s damage price list.

Heka assesses the need for cleaning and repairs when a tenant moves out. When the lease agreement was entered into and whether smoking was permitted prior to the smoking ban introduced by the Act on Residential Leases are taken into account in the assessment.

The new smoking ban does not retroactively render previously permitted smoking a breach of agreement. If smoking was permitted in the apartment before 1 October 2026, Heka will not, as a general rule, require the tenant to pay for the costs of cleaning or repairs necessitated by odours or damage due to smoking. However, liability for damages may need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the general provisions of the Act on Residential Leases concerning compensation for damages and the obligation to take due care of the apartment.

Is it possible to obtain special permission to smoke due to reasons such as impaired mobility?

Going forward, the smoking ban will be based directly on the Act on Residential Leases.

Heka does not grant special permission to smoke, nor does it make exceptions to the smoking ban for individual tenants. Heka is also under no obligation to allow smoking in an apartment.

Smoking is one of the main causes of friction between neighbours in everyday life. Going forward, the smoking ban will be the same for all tenants, ensuring that everyone is treated equally and making it easier to supervise adherence to the ban.

What are the consequences of violating the smoking ban?

If a tenant smokes inside their apartment, in the outdoor facilities of the apartment or elsewhere on a Heka property other than in a designated smoking area, violating the smoking ban may result in a warning and, if repeated, termination or cancellation of the lease agreement.