Hoas does not offer apartments where an outbreak of either bedbugs or cockroaches is suspected. Such apartments will be kept empty while they are being fumigated.
It is the tenant’s responsibility to notify Hoas of any pests as soon as possible and follow instructions given by the pest control company. Careful treatment is the best way to get rid of the problem. It is important that you follow the instructions in order for the pest control treatment to be successful and to stop the pest from spreading. If the tenant reports the problem as soon as it is detected, the treatment is free of charge to the tenant. Hoas always uses a specialised professional company to carry out pest control.
In the spring and summer, birds nesting close to the property may cause problems. During the nesting period, bird nests are protected, so in most cases there is nothing we can do about the problem.
Insects in the apartment may simply be a harmless insects that came in from outside. All insects do not require pest control, you should try to identify the insect you found. If you are unsure which insect you have found or if you recognise it as a pest requiring pest control measures, please submit a fault report.
Hoas receives the fault report submitted by the tenant and processes it as quickly as possible. Hoas directs your pest report to a partner company specialising in pest control, and that company will contact the tenants and arrange the dates for evaluating the situation. If necessary, Hoas will send instructions to the tenant via email on how to prepare for the pest control measures. When the pest control measures are carried out, the pest control company will keep the tenants up to date about when they will next need to access the apartment and what the tenant needs to do to help make the control measures successful.
Hoas always uses a specialised professional company to carry out inspections and pest control. If there is reason to believe that the problem is more widespread, inspections will be carried out to find out which apartments are affected. Hoas never informs tenants of suspicions of pests (i.e. unconfirmed sightings), as these will often turn out to be false. In such cases, informing the tenants would only cause unnecessary worry.
If the need for larger-scale inspections does arise, these will always be carried out to the extent that they are necessary. Hoas aims to take care of pest problems as efficiently and quickly as possible. If a large-scale inspection is required, Hoas will inform the tenants of this.
Identifying the insect before submitting a fault report will make it much easier for us to start the required treatment. Some pests do not require treatment and some treatments you can carry out yourself.
Pantry and stored food pests
Pantry pests eat stored food items or contaminate them with their faeces. If pantry pests are detected early, it is usually easy to eradicate them. If the pest is only found in one packet and it hasn’t spread outside of it, it may be enough to destroy the affected packet.
Pantry pests do not spread disease (except for the German cockroach, which may spread salmonella) and are not toxic.
If you find pantry pests at home, destroy all affected food items. If you want to be sure about the items that do not seem affected, freeze them in -20 degrees for a week. Empty the cabinets that had pest insects in them and vacuum clean them carefully. Dispose of the vacuum bag after vacuuming. You can try to eliminate the pests with insect pest sprays following the instructions on the product. In the future, store all food items in plastic bags or in glass or plastic containers.
If you cannot remove the problem by yourself, submit a fault report, so that Hoas can call pest control to deal with it. If you suspect you have German cockroaches / any other cockroaches, submit the fault report right away.
Pantry pests include pantry moth, sawtoothed grain beetle, destructive flour beetle and cockroach.
Textile pests consume wool, fur and feathers, among other things. They may make holes in clothes as they look for food. Washing your clothes in 40–60 degrees will destroy all developmental stages of the insects. You can also freeze sensitive materials in -20 degrees for a week.
If you find textile pests in your apartment, clean your apartment thoroughly. Empty any possible hiding places and vacuum them carefully. Dispose of the vacuum bag. Use insect sprays according to their instructions.
Some textile pests also live in the wild and may be carried into the apartment from outside. You can prevent a pest problem by using airtight containers or bags to store any wool and fur items in the basement, the attic or in storage rooms.
If you cannot eradicate the insects yourself or if the problem is widespread, submit a fault report.
Textile pests include two-spotted carpet beetle, common clothes moth, larder beetle and woodroff’s fur beetle.
Rodents may spread disease. They may also damage the structures of the building. Additionally, they may cause power cuts and short circuits.
Rats may find their way to waste collection points if waste is repeatedly left on the floor. This is why it is very important to take waste all the way to the collection points and put it inside the waste containers. Please also make sure that the lid of the waste bin is properly closed. Always submit a fault report if you find rodents inside your apartment.
Parasitic insects might enter your apartment for example on people, clothes, or furniture. Sometimes you may get parasites in the apartment from an infested bird’s nest on the roof. The occurrence of parasitic insects may be increased with insufficient hygiene and untidiness, but it is important to note that a tidy apartment does not guarantee the absence of parasites.
Parasitic insects seen in Finland are e.g. bedbugs, fleas, and lice. If you suspect that there are bedbugs in your apartment, fill in a fault report immediately.
If you suspect bed bugs in your apartment
In addition to bites, you can detect bedbugs by the dark faecal spots commonly found on bed frames. Their faeces looks like small black spots. You may also find small spots or streaks of blood in your sheets. Not everyone reacts to bedbug bites; if you notice these signs in your apartment, check your bed more closely. Usually bedbugs will hide near the bed, roughly within two metres of it. If you suspect you have bedbugs, check your bed and its underside, your bed linen, mattress and any furniture close to the bed, possible holes and cracks as well as pictures and wall mirrors.
If you think you have bedbugs in your apartment, submit a fault report immediately. You can wash all your textiles in 60 degrees (check the washing labels in your clothes – bedbugs also die in the freezer, so the most sensitive textiles could be frozen instead) and vacuum clean the apartment carefully while you wait for pest control. Don’t forget to dispose of the vacuum bag.
Hoas does not use pest control against silverfish, since it is difficult to eradicate them, and they are not harmful to the tenants. If you do find that bees have made a nest right next to the main entrance or if you see a pharaoh ant in your apartment, please send a fault report to Hoas.