Finding a home in Central Finland
There is a wide range of options for housing available in Central Finland. You can rent or buy an apartment or a house, and you do not need to worry about the climate - Finnish houses are well protected against the cold. If peace and quiet, nature and a child-friendly environment are important to you, look no further!
Housing types
The most common type of housing in Finnish urban areas is blocks of apartments and terraced houses. Detached houses are mostly built in rural areas, though there are some in suburbs as well. Buildings are kept in good shape and the housing stock is relatively new. Thanks to double or triple glazing, good insulation and efficient central heating, apartments are comfortably warm also in wintertime. Regardless of the housing type, there will probably also be a sauna - one out of the 2 million saunas in Finland...
Buying & partial ownership
The rate of occupant ownership in housing is high in Finland, and there are plenty of homes in the market. The process of buying a house or a apartment is relatively easy and hassle-free in Finland. The parties involved are normally the seller, the buyer, the real estate agent and the bank manager. There are also tax incentives for first-home buyers and for persons taking a home loan. For example the following real estate agencies market services in English:
Besides owning, there is the possibility of right-of-occupancy or other types of partial ownership. For these types of housing you need a queuing number issued by the local town or municipality. Read more…
Companies that sell right-of occupancy and other types of partial ownership housing include:
Avara CompanySATO CompanyVVO Housing Services Company
Renting
Big employers often have their own apartments to rent to their foreign employees or they can otherwise help in the process of finding temporary or long-term accommodation. Cities, municipalities, and some large real estate companies also have their own rental apartments. To rent from the open market, browse the Internet and the local newspapers, and/or place your own ad. In growth areas such as Jyväskylä finding a suitable place may take a while, so taking early action is recommended. For example the following websites operate also in English:
Vuokraovi.comUniversity of Jyväskylä web marketplaceVVO Housing Services CompanyAvara CompanySato QualityHomeCentral Finland Student Housing Foundation KOAS
Housing allowance
Low-income households in Finland are entitled to support with housing costs in the form of general housing allowance. For details and forms, consult the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA)
Good to know about rental contracts in Finland:
- landlords often prefer fixed-term rental contracts over open-ended ones
- one month's advance payment and/or two months' deposit usually required
- also unfurnished apartments will have fridges and ovens, and often freezers
- unfurnished apartments will not have curtains, mats, carpets or light fittings
- water is often included in the rent, and no separate contract is needed
- electricity and Internet connection contracts need to be made by the tenant and the costs are usually not included in the rent
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Housing in Finland |
