Proposed smoking ban in rental homes could create inequality between tenants and homeowners

A proposed government ban on smoking in rental apartments could create unequal treatment between tenants and homeowners in housing associations, the Finnish Real Estate Management Association has warned.

The association told public broadcaster Yle that the ban, which would prohibit smoking inside apartments, on balconies, and in other indoor or outdoor areas linked to the unit, does not apply to owner-occupiers. The current draft amendment to the Housing Companies Act does not include a similar restriction for shareholder-residents.

“This leads, in our view, to unequal treatment of residents,” said Kristel Pynnönen Andersson, senior legal expert at the association.

The organisation argues that smoking in all residential units should be banned uniformly and has called for an update to tobacco legislation to align restrictions across housing communities.