When you move home in Finland, you must submit an official change-of-address notification and set up an electricity contract yourself. Water and other extra charges are payable only if your lease explicitly lists them, while most landlords also require you to take out home insurance.
The moving notice — one form for DVV and Posti
You must submit the notification of move at the earliest one month before your moving day and at the latest one week after it. A single submission via the joint online service updates both the Population Information System (väestötietojärjestelmä) kept by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Digi- ja väestötietovirasto, or DVV) and, if you choose, the address records of Posti. You can find official instructions on the DVV moving in Finland page. The same notification can include family members who are moving with you.
To use the joint online service, you need Finnish online banking codes or a mobile certificate (mobiilivarmenne). If you do not have these credentials, you cannot make the notification online or by phone. You must instead pick up a numbered paper form from a Posti outlet or a DVV service point and return it in person to one of those locations with proof of identity; the form cannot be printed from home or sent by post.
Keep the registration timeline in mind:
- Effective date: The new address is never registered before the moving date itself. Check whether the details have updated on Suomi.fi after that date rather than submitting a second notification.
- Processing times: Notifications that require manual handling take about three weeks. Turn-of-the-month periods are slower, particularly December/January, May/June and August/September.
- Foreign citizens: A foreign citizen follows DVV's separate instructions for a foreigner's move to, within and out of Finland. For initial registration details, see our guide to the first steps after moving to Finland.
- Municipality of residence: Registering a municipality of residence (kotikunta) is not done through the moving notification. That requires a separate DVV online form.
Electricity — you must make a contract, and two companies bill you
Moving to a new home means you need a new electricity contract. You must enter into the contract at the latest two weeks before the desired start date. During that 14-day window, your chosen energy supplier cancels your previous agreement and concludes the electricity transmission (network) contract for your new home on your behalf.
The local network operator is fixed by location. There is only one network operator per geographic area, which means you cannot change it. The Energy Authority (Energiavirasto) monitors network distribution pricing.
Your overall electricity cost consists of three parts:
- Energy: about 40% of the total cost.
- Distribution: about 30% of the total cost.
- Taxes: about 30% of the total cost.
All parts of the electricity bill carry VAT at 25.5%. You usually get one bill from the electricity provider and another from the network operator, unless the local provider bills both together.
Choosing an electricity contract — fixed, spot or hybrid
When arranging energy, households can choose fixed-term agreements or contracts valid until further notice. Fixed-term agreements are binding on both the consumer and the provider for a set duration, most commonly one or two years. For contracts valid until further notice, the provider can change prices and contract terms by giving one month's notice. For a broader overview of household utility bills, see our guide on the cost of living in Finland.
Suppliers offer three main pricing models:
- Fixed-price contracts: The unit price remains identical throughout the entire contract period regardless of the time or day of use.
- Spot-priced contracts: The price tracks the power exchange rate directly, which can fluctuate on an hourly and daily basis. This option suits households able to shift electricity use to cheaper hours.
- Hybrid contracts: These combine an agreed fixed base price with an adjustment component that varies according to spot-market consumption.
The Energy Authority maintains a comparison tool at sahkonhinta.fi that lists all available offers in your area by cost. However, the site only provides comparisons; you must sign the actual contract directly with your selected supplier. Small flats typically rely on general (flat-rate) metering. You can change your metering method free of charge once per year by contacting the local network operator.
Water and other charges — only what the lease says
A tenant is obligated to pay only the charges specifically agreed upon in the rental lease. If your lease mentions only the monthly rent, the landlord cannot bill you separately for water or electricity. Where a lease requires separate payments for electricity, water or a parking space, it must state precisely which charges apply, how they are calculated and on what grounds they may be increased. For details on lease terms and rental agreements, consult our guide to tenant rights in Finland.
Specific rules apply to newer residential properties: in buildings with flat-specific water meters whose building permit was applied for on or after 24 October 2020, water must be charged on the basis of measured consumption, and the housing provider must supply monthly consumption information.
Home insurance — usually required by the lease
Most landlords require tenants to take out home insurance (kotivakuutus). This policy covers e.g. damage to your furniture and belongings. Keep it in force for the whole tenancy.
A tenant is liable for damage caused to the flat intentionally or negligently. This liability extends to any damage caused by people staying with the tenant's permission.
Broadband and mobile — the contract, speeds and the 5 Mbps floor
Phone and internet connections operate under a formal subscriber connection agreement. Operators must provide this contract in writing—electronic text satisfies this requirement—clearly setting out delivery times, service quality and technical features. If you are still looking for an apartment, see our guide to finding a flat to rent in Finland.
Contract terms must specify transmission performance:
- Fixed broadband: The agreement must state the minimum speed, normally available speed and maximum speed. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) takes the view that a fixed line's stated minimum speed must be at least 70% of its maximum speed when that maximum is at most 100 Mbit/s.
- Mobile broadband: The contract must state an estimated maximum speed.
Broadband agreements can be fixed-term or open-ended. Subscriptions sold alongside hardware, such as bundled mobile handsets or routers (tie-in sales), are typically fixed for two years.
Under Finnish rules on basic communications services explained by Traficom's consumer guidance, everyone has the right to basic communications services of reasonable quality and at an affordable price at home. Where the open commercial market fails to provide this, Traficom designates a universal service provider. The universal service standard guarantees a broadband connection with a download speed of 5 Mbps. This connection must achieve at least 3.5 Mbit/s as a rule, and 4.5 Mbit/s during 90 percent of each four-hour period. Any speed above 5 Mbps is purely commercial. Under the universal service obligation, the operator selects the underlying network technology; a consumer cannot demand fixed-line broadband over a mobile connection. The universal service obligation does not apply to holiday homes.
Last checks on moving day
Before settling into your new flat, complete these final logistical steps:
- Building manager: In a block of flats or terraced house, also tell the house manager (isännöitsijä) about the move.
- Broadband transfer: Arrange moving your internet connection with the provider well in advance to avoid a gap in service.
- Key records: When taking over a rented flat, make sure the number of keys handed over is documented. You must return the same number, and a lost key can mean paying for new locks.
