An element for ventilating a housing containing an electrical, mechanical, electromechanical or similar member includes a rigid body having an outer cylindrical wall, closed at a first end by a closure part, the cylindrical wall being open at a second end coupled to the housing, the body containing an internal member of at least partly yieldable material having a first end close to the closure part of the rigid body and carrying a filtering membrane, and an open second end facing the housing. From the closure part an internal cylindrical portion projects containing the member and couples to this latter by interference so as to retain it within the body.