Housing in Finland
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How to rent a home in Finland: steps for newcomers
- 1Pick your search tools: set alerts on Vuokraovi and Oikotie, and check each city guide below for local options such as student housing and city-owned homes.
- 2Prepare your documents: proof of income (an employment contract and payslips), a copy of your passport or residence permit, and a short introduction. Landlords often decide quickly.
- 3Apply fast and view in person: in Helsinki, good listings draw many applicants. Never pay a deposit before you have seen the home and received a written lease.
- 4Check the lease: the deposit can be at most three months' rent. A tenant on an open-ended lease gives one calendar month's notice; a landlord must give three or six months.
- 5Register and set up: report your new address to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), arrange electricity and home insurance, and apply for Kela housing allowance if your income is low.
Housing guides by city
Help with housing costs and affordable homes
Kela housing allowance
General housing allowance is paid to low-income households who live permanently in Finland. Kela usually treats you as permanent after about one year, but EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who move to work may qualify sooner. Students generally get the student housing supplement instead. Apply in OmaKela or on paper. Kela guidance
Heka homes in Helsinki
Heka rents city-owned homes. You apply through the City of Helsinki, income and wealth limits apply, and demand is far higher than supply. City of Helsinki instructions
Your rights as a tenant
Deposit: at most three months' rent. Notice: one calendar month for a tenant on an open-ended lease, three or six months for a landlord depending on how long the lease has run. InfoFinland
What rents are doing
Statistics Finland reported that non-subsidised rents rose 0.1 percent year on year in April to June 2026 (nationwide). Local rents differ widely, so check current listings. Statistics Finland
Housing in Finland: frequently asked questions
How do I find housing in Finland as a newcomer?
Most newcomers rent privately through portals such as Vuokraovi and Oikotie. Set up search alerts, reply to new listings quickly and attach proof of income and ID. Students usually apply to a student housing foundation, and low-income applicants can apply for city-owned homes such as Heka in Helsinki.
How much deposit can a Finnish landlord ask for?
A rental deposit can be at most three months' rent under Finnish law. Ask the landlord for the exact amount before you sign.
How much notice do I need to give to end a lease?
For a tenant on an open-ended lease the notice period is one calendar month, normally counted from the end of the month in which you give notice. A landlord must give three months if the lease has run under a year and six months if it has run longer. A fixed-term lease ends on its end date and cannot normally be ended earlier.
Can I get housing allowance in Finland?
Kela pays general housing allowance to low-income households living permanently in Finland. Kela usually treats you as living in Finland permanently after about one year, but EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who move to Finland to work may qualify sooner. As a rule students cannot get it and receive the student housing supplement instead. Check your own situation with Kela before relying on it.
What is Heka and who can apply?
Heka is the City of Helsinki's rental housing company. You apply through the City of Helsinki's online application. Your income and wealth must be under the set limits, and homes go to the applicants with the greatest housing need, so waiting lists can be long.
Where can I see how rents are changing in Finland?
Statistics Finland publishes its rents of dwellings statistics every quarter. For April to June 2026 it reported that non-subsidised rents were up 0.1 percent on a year earlier nationwide. Rents vary a lot by city and neighbourhood, so use current listings for the area you want.