Student Housing: Finding & Applying in Finland
Students seeking housing in Finland have two main options; a 'student apartment' arranged by SOA, or the private market. SOA apartments always have easy access to schools and universities, and housing costs are reasonable. Availability can be an issue and leases are usually for at least a year. The private market offers greater freedom of choice in type, location, and length of stay.
Flatta: Alternative to SOA Apartments
Student apartments through SOA student housing organisations (see below) can be hard to find, or offered on terms unsuitable for some exchange students. In June 2024, three friends studying at Aalto University and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences founded Flatta, a platform with the purpose of making student housing in the Helsinki region more flexible.
Flatta has been featured in Yle (Finland's national media company) and is growing quickly, partnering with major universities in the Helsinki area.
Flatta
Flatta offers students the opportunity of short- to medium-term housing without the standard one-year minimum commitment.
Whether you're an exchange student, a remote worker, a project-based professional or anyone in need of flexible accommodation, you can settle in with Flatta. Cosy, cost-effective solutions from compact furnished studios to multi-bedroom apartments, available across the Helsinki area.
SOA Student Apartments
The central organisation for student housing in Finland is SOA, the Finnish Association of Student Housing Organisations. Approximately a third of Finnish students live in SOA apartments. Housing costs are reasonable - perhaps 200€ - 400€ a month for a room in a shared apartment - and the application process is simple. You can apply for a housing allowance from Kela if you're covered by Finnish social security.
To qualify for a student apartment the applicant needs to be enrolled as a full-time student in a post-comprehensive educational institution in Finland, and ongoing eligibility requires sufficient course progress.
Availability of SOA student apartments can be limited, particularly at the beginning of the autumn semester. SOA apartments are always either within walking distance of schools and universities, or easily reached by public transport. Furnishing an apartment is simple, too!
There are student housing organisations in over 20 localities; in some localities exchange students have specific quotas for allotted housing, and in others exchange students take precedence for available apartments.
This page is about student housing in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Hämeenlinna, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kotka, Kuopio, Lahti, Lappeenranta, Mikkeli, Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Riihimäki, Rovaniemi, Savonlinna, Seinäjoki, Tampere, Turku, Vaasa
Lease, Deposit etc
SOA student apartment lease contracts fall under The Act on Residental Leases, which governs all housing rental contracts in Finland. A minimum commitment of a year is normal. See Renting Accommodation for further information.
Types of SOA Student Housing
SOA housing is available in several forms, and if your situation changes during your student years you can apply for a different type of housing.
- Shared apartment: A good choice for single students, usually shared by 2-4 students. Each tenant has his/her own lockable room, and the kitchen and bathroom are shared. Some have a shared living room. Basic furniture, such as a bed and desk in the tenants´ rooms, is usually included. Kitchens are usually furnished with basic appliances.
- Studio apartment: Also good for single students, but more expensive and not always easy to obtain. The number of studio apartments is limited, so you may have to queue.
- Group apartment: If you want to live with a group of your friends, you can rent an entire apartment together. In addition to individual bedrooms and the kitchen, most group apartments have a shared living room.
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Family apartment: Family apartments usually have 2-3 rooms and a kitchen or kitchenette. These apartments are intended for couples and families with children, and are usually located near services such as playgrounds and kindergartens.
Facilities
Student apartments generally have shared facilities such as saunas, laundry rooms with washing machines and tumble dryers, club rooms etcetera. They are equipped with telephone lines, enabling internet access, and an increasing amount of student apartments are linked to a computer network in a college/university.
Finding & Applying for SOA Housing
To apply for a SOA student apartment, you must be registered as a full-time student in a post-comprehensive educational institution. All undergraduate students can apply for student apartments. Family apartments can be applied for by couples and families if one of the partners is a student.
To find an apartment:
Head to the Finnish Association of Student Housing Organisations, SOA.
Scroll down to "Find your new home here!" and from the map or the list you can find each of the 20+ regional student housing organisations Finland-wide.
- Visit the site for the region in which you will be studying
- Search the available apartments / accommodation. If you find something suitable,
- Housing application procedures and application forms are included at each of the sites
The sites also include tips for both foreign and Finnish students, cultural information, and rules and guidelines for living in student housing.
Furnishing your Apartment
So you've found your student apartment - now you have to fill it! If you don't want to buy a whole apartment full of furnishings, you can rent appliances and furniture from a furniture rental service and take care of everything at once, quickly and easily.
Furent
Furent can fully furnish any apartment you wish, anywhere in Finland. Specify the furnishings and appliances you require, and Furent will arrange them for you. Furent's service includes delivery and assembly, and pick-up when the rental period ends. Furniture rentals are available to private and corporate customers, short or long-term. All services are fully tailored to your needs and budget. Prices are calculated case-by-case according to location, amount of furniture, and length of rental.
Furent also provides an Apartment Search service. If you don’t know where to look or you just don’t have the time, Furent can find the apartment you'd like! Once you've accepted the proposal, Furent will conduct the negotiations on your behalf and prepare the contract for you - you just sign the contract, and you´re set!
Related Links
Links to other sites are direct to the relevant page, where possible
