Plumber in Helsinki

Stone buildings and suburbs – age matters

Most Helsinki homes are flats in buildings of all ages. Töölö, Kallio and Ullanlinna have many stone buildings from the early 1900s, while Pihlajamäki, Kontula and many other suburbs date from the 1960s and 1970s. Mention the building's age when you book, if you know it – it tells us what valves and connections to expect.

The key question is whether the building has had a pipe renovation (linjasaneeraus or putkiremontti). After one, the risers (vertical supply pipes) are new and each flat usually has its own shut-off valves. In an unrenovated building, old angle valves may be seized or start leaking when turned, so it often pays to replace them along with the tap (faucet) or toilet.

The drains tell the same story. Older buildings often have cast-iron waste pipes, and the joint at the trap or floor drain may be brittle. We check the joints before fitting the new fixture and tell you first if anything is worth fixing at the same time.

Water shut-offs are arranged with the maintenance company

If your flat has no working shut-off valves, the water is turned off for the whole riser. That affects the neighbours too, so the time is agreed in advance with the maintenance company (huoltoyhtiö) or property manager (isännöitsijä), and residents are notified. In some buildings only the caretaker may close the valves, and the housing company may charge for this.

Work that may affect the structure or shared pipes – such as moving bathroom fixtures or replacing radiators – must first be reported to the housing company with a renovation notice (muutostyöilmoitus). In apartment buildings, radiators are usually the company's responsibility, so radiator installation is always agreed with the company in advance.

For newcomers: the building is owned by the housing company, and each flat owner holds shares in it. HSY (Helsinki Region Environmental Services) runs the public water network, while the shared pipes inside the building belong to the company. Responsibility for your flat's fixtures is split between the company and the shareholder – see, for example, the responsibility table of the Finnish Real Estate Federation (Kiinteistöliitto), a recommendation that the articles of association can override. If you rent, agree any work with your landlord first.

Book the shut-off for a weekday if possible, when the maintenance company is easiest to reach, and say what is being installed: for a tap or toilet the water is usually off for only part of the job, but replacing old valves takes longer.

The most common installations in a flat

For a new appliance or kitchen renovation, dishwasher installation and connection costs €125.50 and washing machine installation €78.44. Replacing a tap costs €125.50 and replacing a toilet €235.31. Prices include 25.5% VAT (ALV); extra fittings and hoses are charged separately. All prices are in our price list.

When a dishwasher is replaced, the old one is disconnected first. A disconnection on its own, for example during a kitchen renovation, costs €47.06. Replacing a sink costs €156.88–235.31, depending on the scope. In older kitchens the appliance valve can be awkwardly placed and need extra fittings, so measure the cabinet depth and hose route before buying a new machine.

Bathrooms in old stone buildings are often small, so the washing machine may be in the kitchen or hallway. It belongs in a room with a floor drain; otherwise it needs a leak tray and ideally a water leak alarm. Many insurers also require one under a dishwasher, so check your home insurance terms. See our guide to dishwasher leak trays.

In the city centre, plan access in advance

In the inner city there isn't always parking outside, and tools may have to be carried some distance. When you book, give us the door code and floor, and tell us whether there is a lift and any courtyard or visitor parking.

Stairwells in old stone buildings are often narrow and old lifts small. If you order a new toilet, sink or appliance with home delivery, ask for delivery into the flat, so nobody has to carry boxes up from the street.

You can buy the fixture or appliance yourself – just have it in the flat on installation day, with the manufacturer's instructions. Labour for installing fixtures in your own home can qualify for the household tax credit (kotitalousvähennys), unless the work is the housing company's responsibility; installing an appliance on its own does not qualify. Check the current terms at vero.fi.