Renting a home in Finland: contracts and payments

Short answer: put the lease in writing, separate rent from additional charges and record the property's condition. A rental deposit may not exceed three months' rent. The agreement date matters for notice rules because some provisions changed on 1 October 2026. Checked on 12 November 2026.

Choose the contract length before signing

Sections 4 and 5 of the Act on Residential Leases distinguish fixed-term and open-ended agreements. An oral residential lease is treated as open-ended.

Put the start date, handover of possession and agreed duration on your own checklist. For a winter move, distinguish a definite three-month stay from a job whose end date is still unknown.

Separate rent, the deposit and usage charges

The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority, KKV, distinguishes advance rent from a security deposit. The deposit is therefore not automatically the final month's rent. Budget the deposit, limited to three months' rent, separately from moving-month expenses.

Ask for the basis of water and other additional charges to be written into the agreement. KKV says that a right to increase the rent must be agreed and its basis must be specific.

For agreements made on or after 1 October 2026, the increase, new rent and effective date must be notified in writing. The increase can take effect no earlier than one month after notification and at the beginning of a new rental payment period.

Match the notice period to the agreement date

These are KKV's notice periods for open-ended leases. A contract cannot extend the tenant's period or shorten the landlord's.

Unless otherwise agreed, the period starts at the end of the calendar month in which notice is served. This table does not cover ending a fixed-term lease early.

Record the condition and arrange your arrival

Suomi.fi recommends a joint inspection and a written condition record before signing. List a broken cupboard door, a wall mark and a missing key as separate observations. Photographs can support the record.

According to KKV, normal wear is not the tenant's responsibility; damage caused deliberately or negligently is. An initial inspection helps distinguish an existing defect from later damage.

If viewings require an overnight stay, compare Helsinki accommodation. For a break between viewings, consult the restaurant directories for Helsinki and Tampere. These are practical address lists for your arrival.

Choose a neighbourhood using the exact address

The City of Helsinki's description of Vuosaari identifies its metro connection and the residential areas of Aurinkolahti, Kallahti and Meri-Rastila. This illustrates why a district name alone is not enough to compare homes.

Give each flat its own line: address, rent, separate charges and route to your daily destination. Search commuting routes using the same arrival time. For example, compare individual Vuosaari addresses before judging the whole district. This keeps the comparison tied to the property's address and your own daily journeys.

Sources

Checked on 12 November 2026.

• Finlex: laki asuinhuoneiston vuokrauksesta, 481/1995, ajantasainen
• KKV: vuokrasopimuksen irtisanominen
• KKV: vakuus vuokrasuhteessa
• KKV: vuokran maksaminen ja korottaminen
• KKV: vuokralaisen velvollisuudet
• Suomi.fi: vuokra-asunnon hankinta
• Helsingin kaupunki: Vuosaari