Compensation for damage from the City of Helsinki

The practices for seeking compensation for damage vary between different divisions of the City of Helsinki. You can also ask about compensation for damage via the city’s feedback form. We will refer you to the right expert.

On this page

Education Division

The City of Helsinki has taken out accident insurance on all schoolchildren enrolled at the city’s schools. 

The insurance policy covers schoolchildren while they are at school, on school trips and during activities taking place outside of school. These out-of-school activities include such things as sports events, trips, study visits and school camps. The insurance policy does not cover schoolchildren’s personal belongings.

The City of Helsinki takes out travel insurance on schoolchildren for the duration of trips related to schools’ international activities. The insurance policy also includes luggage insurance.

Public healthcare services provide treatment for accidental injuries.

Urban Environment Division

You may be entitled to compensation from the City of Helsinki if you had an accident in a place such as:

  • a street, park or other similar public area
  • a property owned by the City of Helsinki (such as the municipality of Helsinki’s daycare centres and schools)

The Urban Environment Division only compensates for damage and injuries caused by negligence or faults in the City of Helsinki’s operations.

The liability for damage varies by area and place of incident

The maintenance of Helsinki’s suburban areas is usually the responsibility of the City of Helsinki. However, properties are responsible for some of the maintenance tasks in the inner city of Helsinki. This determines which party you can contact to seek compensation for damage.

Properties are responsible for tasks such as:

  • preventing slippery conditions on the sidewalk next to the property  
  • preventing slippery conditions at the entrance to the property and on the emergency access road
  • preventing slippery conditions caused by meltwater running to the street from the property and freezing

Exceptions:

  • Metropolitan Area Transport Ltd is responsible for tram tracks and the areas between them
  • Helsinki Region Environmental Services (HSY) is responsible for (sealed) manhole covers
  • Damage and injuries occurring at construction sites are the liability of the party responsible for the work

If your accident occurred in an area not under the City of Helsinki’s maintenance responsibility, we will inform you about this. 

How to claim compensation for damage

Please fill in the damage claim form so that we can find out whether you are entitled to compensation. Pay the costs of the damage or injury first and then claim compensation by delivering the receipts to the City of Helsinki. 

1. It is important to fill in the form carefully:

  • Indicate the exact place of incident on a map.
  • Describe the incident in as much detail as possible, and attach photos of the damage, injuries and place of incident (if you have such photos), as well as other statements and reports about the incident.

Damage claim form (pdf)

Instructions for claiming damages (pdf)

2. Deliver the form and its appendices to the City of Helsinki Registrar's Office.

You can email them to helsinki.kirjaamo@hel.fi or send them by post to the address: PO Box 10, 00099 City of Helsinki. You can also send additional information later about your claim.

3. We process claims for damages in order of arrival. The processing time for claims for damages is 4–6 months. However, the processing time may vary in individual cases.

4. You will receive a reasoned decision regarding your case. We compensate for damage caused by negligence or faults in the City of Helsinki’s operations. In most cases, the City of Helsinki is not liable for damage because it is not at fault.

Culture and Leisure Division

How to claim compensation for damage

1. The injured party should primarily claim compensation from their insurance company.

If the injured party is not covered by an insurance policy or you will not claim compensation from an insurance company for another reason, you can present a claim for damages to the City of Helsinki.

2. Fill in the damage claim form below with information on the damage or injuries. You may also prepare a free-form claim for damages, but we recommend using the form below.

Damage claim form (PDF, in Finnish)

Instructions for filling in the damage claim form (PDF, in Finnish)

 3. Deliver the signed form and its appendices to the City of Helsinki Registrar's Office.

You can email them to helsinki.kirjaamo@hel.fi or send them by post to the address: PO Box 10, 00099 City of Helsinki.

Contact person for further information:
Kirsi Hietanen, kirsi.hietanen@hel.fi, Lawyer, Culture and Leisure Division

Social Services and Health Care Division

If an employee of the City of Helsinki’s health and social services has caused damage or injuries to you or your family member when carrying out their work responsibilities, you can seek compensation from the City of Helsinki. Material damage is the primary type of damage compensated for.

How to claim compensation for damage

1. Fill in the application carefully:

Fill in the damage claim form (PDF, in Finnish)

2. Send the completed form to the City of Helsinki Registrar’s Office as an attachment to an encrypted email:

Send the form to the Registrar’s Office as an attachment to an encrypted email

You can also print out and fill in the form and take it to the City of Helsinki Registrar’s Office.