Finding somewhere to live is usually the first real problem after you arrive, and it comes before most of the others: a bank account, a tax card and a Kela decision all go more smoothly with an address. The good news is that the Finnish rental market is orderly. The bad news, in the Helsinki region, is that it is also busy.
Where the flats are listed
Printed classifieds used to be the main route. Today, almost everything is online on two national listing sites:
- Vuokraovi (vuokraovi.com), which has an English interface
- Oikotie (asunnot.oikotie.fi/vuokra-asunnot)
Between them, they list flats from private owners, estate agents and the large rental companies that own entire buildings. Local newspapers still carry some adverts, particularly in smaller towns. Some banks work with letting agencies or own rental stock of their own, but the listing sites are where you should start.
A rental advert gives the monthly rent, the size in square metres and usually the room count in Finnish shorthand: 1h+kk is one room and a kitchenette, 2h+k is two rooms and a kitchen, and s means the flat has its own sauna. Check the advert to see what the rent includes: water and electricity are often separate, and it is worth asking about this before a viewing.
City and state-subsidised rental housing
Cities and non-profit landlords run state-subsidised rental homes, which are usually cheaper than those on the private market. They do not operate on a first-come, first-served basis: tenants are chosen based on income, assets and how urgently they need housing.
To apply, you need Finnish citizenship, a registered EU right of residence, or a residence permit — specifically, a residence permit card, a permit valid for at least 12 months, or a student's residence permit. Applications are made online and are usually confirmed using Finnish online banking credentials or a mobile certificate.
In Helsinki, the city's own housing company is Heka. You fill in one application, the city offers you a flat that matches it, and the application remains valid for three months unless you update it. There are income and wealth limits. In Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, there are many more applicants than flats; many smaller towns have empty ones.
Between renting and owning
Two forms of tenure sit between renting and owning a flat:
- Right-of-occupancy (asumisoikeus). You make a one-off right-of-occupancy payment of roughly 15 per cent of the home's price, followed by a monthly charge. Before applying, you need a queue number from the Centre for State-Subsidised Housing Construction. These homes are mostly found in larger towns.
- Part-ownership (osaomistus). You pay 10–20 per cent of the price upfront, then pay rent for typically 5–12 years, after which you can buy the remaining share and the flat becomes an ordinary owner-occupied home.
If you want to buy outright, see buying property in Finland and getting a mortgage in Finland.
The lease
Always sign a written lease, and do not pay the deposit until you have one. Leases come in two forms:
- Open-ended, which either party can end by giving notice.
- Fixed-term, which binds both parties for the entire term and ends automatically on the agreed date. You cannot simply give notice during this period.
The security deposit is usually two months' rent and can be a maximum of three. You pay it by the date specified in the lease and normally receive the keys once it has cleared. It is returned at the end of the tenancy if the flat is in good condition and the rent is paid; it cannot be used to cover your final months' rent.
Unless the lease states otherwise, rent is due on the second day of each month. The landlord cannot raise the rent on a whim: an increase requires an adjustment clause in the lease stating its basis, such as an index, or a new agreement between you.
Notice periods
| Who gives notice | Notice period |
|---|---|
| Tenant | One month, and a lease cannot lengthen it |
| Landlord, lease signed on or after 1 October 2026, tenancy under two years | Three months |
| Landlord, lease signed on or after 1 October 2026, tenancy of two years or more | Four months |
| Landlord, lease signed before 1 October 2026, tenancy under a year | Three months |
| Landlord, lease signed before 1 October 2026, tenancy of a year or more | Six months |
Notice runs from the last day of the calendar month in which it is given, and it must be provided in writing, with proof of delivery. An email that you cannot prove was received leaves you in a weak position.
Help with the rent
Kela's general housing allowance can cover up to 70 per cent of reasonable housing costs for a low-income household, with limits depending on the municipality. It is paid to the household as a whole, so everyone's income and assets are taken into account. You generally need to live in Finland permanently, and a year of living here is Kela's usual rule of thumb; people working in Finland from the EU or EEA can also qualify. Students are covered by a different scheme, described in student housing in Finland. The wider picture is explained in Kela benefits.
Before you sign
- View the flat, or have someone you trust view it. A landlord who wants the deposit before a viewing and before a lease is signed is a classic rental scam.
- Take dated photos of every room when you move in.
- Ask whether the landlord expects you to have home insurance, and check the lease for this requirement.
- Once you move, sort out your address registration — see first steps after moving to Finland.
If you end up owning a flat and letting it out yourself, the landlord's perspective is covered in renting out your property. Everything else about settling in is collected on the living in Finland page, and if you are moving north in autumn, how much daylight Helsinki gets is worth a look before you choose between a north- and a south-facing flat.
