Student Housing in Finland 2026: Full Guide

Finland's student housing market is dominated by non-profit student housing foundations — HOAS in Helsinki, TOAS in Tampere, TYS in Turku, KOAS in Jyväskylä — and they are the single best option you have. A HOAS room runs €350–550/month in the capital, while TOAS, TYS, and KOAS rooms drop to €280–450/month in smaller cities. Utilities are usually included, contracts are flexible, and you live with other students. The honest catch: demand massively exceeds supply in Helsinki — apply the moment you accept your offer, and have a backup plan with private rentals via Vuokraovi.com or Oikotie.fi (€500–900/month). This guide walks through every option for 2026.

HOAS, TOAS, TYS, KOAS: The Student Housing Foundations

These are city-specific non-profit foundations that exist solely to house students. Each runs thousands of furnished rooms and studios at below-market rents.

• HOAS (Helsingin seudun opiskelija-asuntosäätiö): Helsinki metropolitan area, ~17,000 units
• TOAS (Tampereen opiskelija-asuntosäätiö): Tampere, ~5,000+ units
• TYS (Turun ylioppilaskyläsäätiö): Turku, ~6,000+ units
• KOAS (Keski-Suomen opiskelija-asuntosäätiö): Jyväskylä, ~4,000+ units
• PSOAS: Oulu — relevant if you're heading north to the University of Oulu

Apply directly on each foundation's website as soon as you have your offer letter. You can usually apply before you formally accept. Have your passport, offer letter, and an estimated arrival date ready.

What You Get

• Studio (yksiö): €450–650/month in Helsinki (HOAS), €380–500 elsewhere — your own kitchen and bathroom
• Shared apartment room (soluasunto): €350–450/month HOAS, €280–380 elsewhere — your own bedroom, shared kitchen and bathroom with one to four flatmates
• Family apartment: available for students with partners or children, longer waiting lists
• Utilities included: water, electricity, heating, and high-speed internet are almost always in the rent
• Furnished or unfurnished: some buildings furnished, most unfurnished — confirm before signing
• Deposit: typically one month's rent, refundable at move-out minus damage

The Waitlist Reality

Helsinki HOAS is the most pressured market in the country. If you apply in late May for a September start, you may still be waiting in October. The realistic strategy:

• Apply immediately after accepting your offer — March or April is ideal for September
• Be flexible on location and apartment type: shared rooms (soluasunto) are far easier to get than studios
• Accept the first reasonable offer: rejecting it sends you back into the queue, often for months
• In Tampere, Turku, Jyväskylä, and Oulu: waitlists are usually weeks rather than months — much easier

Private Rentals: The Backup Plan

If HOAS does not deliver in time, the private market fills the gap. The two main platforms:

• Vuokraovi.com: Finland's largest rental portal — thousands of apartments across all cities, filterable by price, size, and area
• Oikotie.fi/asunnot/vuokrattavat-asunnot: The other major aggregator, equally comprehensive
• Tori.fi: Finnish classifieds — has shared rooms and sublets, often cheaper but less professional
• Facebook groups: Search "Apartments for rent Helsinki", "Vuokra-asunto [city]", or "[University name] housing"

Typical private-market rents:

• Helsinki studio: €700–900/month, €1,000+ in central areas like Punavuori or Kallio
• Helsinki room in shared flat: €500–750/month
• Tampere/Turku studio: €500–700/month
• Jyväskylä/Oulu studio: €450–600/month

See the full cost picture in our cost of studying in Finland guide and model your monthly total with the cost-of-study calculator.

Best Areas to Live in Helsinki

Where you live in Helsinki depends on your campus and your tolerance for commuting on the excellent HSL metro and tram network.

• Otaniemi (Espoo): The heart of Aalto University — purpose-built student town with HOAS housing, lakeside saunas, and the metro to central Helsinki in 12 minutes.
• Kumpula and Arabianranta: Close to the University of Helsinki science campuses and Aalto's arts faculty; calm, leafy, and full of students.
• Kallio: Helsinki's cool district — bars, vintage shops, and a young crowd. Pricier on the private market but excellent quality of life.
• Töölö: Central, near the University of Helsinki city centre campus and the Olympic Stadium. Quiet, residential, well-connected.
• Pasila: Major transport hub with HOAS buildings — fast trains and trams in every direction.

HSL's monthly student transport pass is around €37 for the AB zone, so a 20-minute commute to a cheaper neighbourhood is often the smart trade-off.

What It Costs — and the Deposit

The Finnish deposit standard is set by law: up to three months' rent, but most landlords ask for one to two months. HOAS asks for one month. On a €550/month HOAS studio, that is €550 upfront plus the first month's rent (€1,100 total to move in). On a €750/month private studio, expect €1,500–2,250 deposit plus the first month.

Deposits in Finland are well protected — disputes go through the Consumer Disputes Board (Kuluttajariitalautakunta), and landlords must return the deposit within reasonable time minus documented damage and unpaid bills. Photograph the apartment thoroughly at move-in.

Avoiding Housing Scams

Finland is a low-fraud market by international standards, but scams do exist on Facebook and Tori. The rules:

• Never pay before viewing. A landlord refusing a viewing or asking for the deposit to "secure" the apartment is the classic scam.
• Verify the landlord owns the unit. Ask to see the deed or a recent property tax document. Title information is public via the Finnish Land Registry.
• Use a written tenancy agreement (vuokrasopimus) — the standard form is published by Suomen Vuokranantajat and protects both parties.
• Distrust below-market rent for a great Helsinki studio. €400/month for a Punavuori studio is bait.
• Pay rent to the landlord's bank account, never via cash, gift cards, or crypto. Keep written records.

Furnished or Unfurnished?

Most HOAS and private Finnish apartments are unfurnished — bring or buy a bed, table, and basic kitchen. The Finnish workaround:

• IKEA Espoo covers everything new at the lowest price
• Tori.fi is Finland's eBay — bedrooms, sofas, and kitchen kit go for €20–100 from departing students
• Kierrätyskeskus, the Helsinki recycling centre, sells used furniture cheaply across multiple locations
• Facebook "Free for free" groups in Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku often have furniture given away by people moving out

Furnished apartments exist but cost €100–200/month more. For a one-year stay, unfurnished plus second-hand is usually cheaper.

Your Rights as a Tenant

Finland has strong tenant protection under the Act on Residential Leases (Asuinhuoneiston vuokrauksesta annettu laki):

• The lease is written. A fixed-term contract holds both parties for the agreed period; an open-ended contract requires one month's notice from the tenant.
• Rent increases are regulated. A fixed-term lease cannot raise rent during its term; open-ended leases can only raise rent according to the contract or with three months' notice.
• The deposit is capped at three months' rent by law, and must be returned promptly minus documented damage.
• Repairs are the landlord's responsibility for normal wear and tear. Tenants are liable only for damage they cause.
• Disputes go to the Consumer Disputes Board (Kuluttajariitalautakunta), which is free and binding for landlords.

A Realistic First-Term Strategy

1. Apply to HOAS/TOAS/TYS/KOAS immediately after accepting your offer — ideally in March or April for a September start.
2. Be flexible: accept the first reasonable HOAS offer, even a shared room — you can move to a studio later when the queue rotates.
3. Have a backup: if HOAS is silent by mid-July, start looking on Vuokraovi.com and Oikotie.fi for a private studio.
4. Book temporary housing for arrival: a hostel, Airbnb, or short-term sublet for two to four weeks if your permanent place is not ready.
5. Budget the deposit: have one to two months' rent ready in your account before you commit. HOAS sends a payment request after offering.
6. Bring or buy winter gear immediately: a proper coat and boots before October.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find student housing in Finland?

Apply directly to the student housing foundation in your city: HOAS in Helsinki, TOAS in Tampere, TYS in Turku, KOAS in Jyväskylä, PSOAS in Oulu. They run thousands of below-market units. Backup with private listings on Vuokraovi.com, Oikotie.fi, and Facebook groups.

How much does student accommodation cost in Finland?

HOAS rooms in Helsinki run €350–550/month with utilities included. TOAS/TYS/KOAS in smaller cities run €280–450/month. Private studios run €700–900 in Helsinki and €450–700 in Tampere, Turku, Jyväskylä, and Oulu.

How early should I apply to HOAS?

The moment you accept your offer — ideally March or April for a September start. Helsinki demand vastly exceeds supply, and even early applicants can wait weeks or months. Smaller cities (TOAS, TYS, KOAS) are far easier with shorter queues.

What is the deposit for renting in Finland?

By law, deposits are capped at three months' rent. HOAS typically asks for one month; private landlords often ask one to two. On a €550/month room, that is €550–1,100 plus the first month's rent paid upfront.

How do I avoid housing scams?

Never pay before viewing the apartment in person or by verified video call and signing a written tenancy agreement (vuokrasopimus). Verify the landlord owns the unit via the Finnish Land Registry, pay only to a bank account, and distrust below-market rent on Facebook or Tori.

Are Finnish apartments furnished?

Most HOAS and private Finnish apartments are unfurnished. Bring or buy a bed and basic kitchen — IKEA Espoo, Tori.fi second-hand, the Kierrätyskeskus recycling centres, and Facebook "free for free" groups are the standard student workaround.

Can I arrive without housing sorted?

Possible but stressful in Helsinki. The safer plan is to apply to HOAS early and book temporary accommodation (hostel, Airbnb, or short-term sublet) for the first two to four weeks. In smaller cities, the student foundations usually have offers ready before your arrival.

For the full picture of living and studying in Finland, see Study in Finland and our why study in Finland guide.

Related guides

• Cost of Studying in Finland: Complete Breakdown 2026
• Scholarships for Finland 2026
• How to Apply to Finnish Universities 2026
• Finland Student Visa & Migri Guide 2026
• Study in Finland: Country Guide