📬 How to enter the rental market in Finland in 2026 without a local history
The Finnish rental market through the eyes of a newcomer
Imagine: you've just moved to Finland. Fresh air, trams, lakes, quiet courtyards. You open a classifieds website, send out dozens of applications — and in response, either silence or a polite "unfortunately, we've chosen someone else".
The landlord sees: a foreign passport, no Finnish credit history, no local references. Their fear is understandable: will this person be able to pay the rent consistently if I know nothing about them?
The Finnish system is formally neutral: by law, you can rent to anyone, but in practice, most landlords want to see income, the right to reside, at least a minimal "trace" of financial history, and a clean debt record.
In this article, you will learn:
● how to create a lively yet professional self-presentation that addresses the owner's fears before the first meeting;
● what to put in your tenant package: offer, statements, references, guarantees — and how to present them at a glance;
● how to behave during viewings and in correspondence to leave the impression of a calm, predictable person;
● why the choice of neighbourhood and housing format directly affects the chance of a response and how to select neighbourhoods for living in Finland that suit your rhythm;
● What mistakes are most often made by newcomers without a local history and how to carefully avoid them.
In short: you cannot "pretend" that you already have 10 years of Finnish life behind you, but you can put together an application that will be difficult for the owner to say "no" to simply because you have done everything for them — you have eliminated the risks, presented the facts and explained who you are in a human way.
"Tenant package": self-presentation and proof of reliability
A short letter instead of "Hello, is this still relevant?"
The first contact with the owner is almost like a cover letter for a CV. Instead of a dry "Is the flat available?", a structure of 5-7 sentences works better:
- Who you are: your name, age, what you do (work/study/family).
- Why are you in Finland (work, study, family residence permit, etc.).
- Income: permanent contract, scholarship, savings, guarantor.
- How you live: do you smoke/have pets, attitude to noise, parties.
- Date of arrival and how long you plan to stay.
- Link to your "adult life folder": PDF with documents or a clear list that you can send on request.
A lively but accurate self-presentation is the first step in answering the question of how to rent a flat in Finland if you are still a "nobody" to the local credit system.
- Subject: Vuokra-asuntohakemus / Apartment inquiry – [your name]
- Body of the letter (example): "Moi! Olen [Name], [age] v, tulen Suomeen töihin/opiskelemaan [company/university]. Minulla on vakituinen työsopimus / opiskelupaikka ja riittävät säästöt. En tupakoi, ei lemmikkejä / yksi sisäkissa. I would like to rent an apartment for at least one year starting on [date]. Attached is a brief introduction and proof of income. Best regards, [Name]."
You can write in English, but even a couple of lines in Finnish at the beginning are often perceived as a sign of respect and effort.
Documents that "sell" your reliability
Finnish landlords (especially large companies) usually look at three things:
● Identity and right to live in the country: passport, residence permit or EU registration, Finnish ID (if you already have one).
● Income: employment contract/offer, payslips, benefit decision, scholarship letter.
● Payment history: no records of defaults (in local databases), sometimes a statement or letter from your previous landlord.
If you do not yet have a local history, you can strengthen other aspects:
● show a stable contract from a Finnish company — this is very important;
● provide a statement from a foreign account with a "safety cushion" for several months of rent;
● attach a letter of recommendation from your previous landlord (even from another country) or employer, stating that you paid on time and took good care of the flat;
● if available, a letter from a future employer willing to act as a guarantor.
The tenant's "adult life folder"
It is convenient to collect everything in one neat PDF or cloud folder (accessible via a link), where:
● the first page is a one-page "business card": who you are, what you do, your contact details;
● followed by: passport + residence permit, employment contract/offer, letter from the university, bank statement, references.
This way, you turn scattered files into a structured tenant package for Finland, which the owner can use to make a decision in just a couple of minutes.
Viewing, application and correspondence: how to behave so that they trust you
The viewing is a mini-interview
In many cities, dozens of applicants come to view a single flat. A viewing is not a tour, but a short casting for the role of "the person I won't have to worry about".
A few simple rules:
● arrive on time (preferably 5 minutes early);
● dress neutrally, without a "party" mood;
● everyone says hello: even if there are many of you, you can briefly introduce yourself to the owner;
● Ask relevant questions: about the terms, included services, house rules.
A good approach is not to try to please at any cost, but to create a sense of calm and predictability.
Application: speed and completeness
After the viewing, many owners ask you to fill out an online form or send a short application by email. Two things are important here:
● speed — if the flat is good, applications will pour in immediately after the viewing;
● completeness — do not leave important fields blank with the intention of filling them in later.
Almost always, they ask:
● who will be living in the flat (single person/couple/family);
● whether there are any pets;
● what you do (work/study);
● your approximate income;
● desired move-in date and lease term.
Answer honestly, but in a positive way:
"A 10-year-old dog, calm, used to living in an apartment, not left alone for long periods" sounds better than simply "I have a dog".
Correspondence: brief, businesslike, no drama
Finns greatly appreciate short, structured letters. If you need to clarify something, write:
- Who you are writing to and which flat (address/ad ID).
- What you want to clarify.
- What decision you are ready to make (viewing, sending documents, moving).
Long, emotional stories about "how difficult it is to find accommodation" are touching, but they do not help in making a decision.
"My first letters were half a page long and lacked specifics. Then I switched to a format that included who I am, why this apartment is right for me, and what I have already done. I received significantly more responses, even though the content of the documents did not change."
Where the chances of a response are higher: areas, housing formats and strategies
The centre versus the "belt": the realities of demand
The capital region and large cities follow a logical pattern:
● central areas, trendy neighbourhoods, new buildings — high demand, high competition;
● suburbs with good transport links, older houses and quiet residential areas — less hype and more opportunities for newcomers;
If this is your first year in the country, a sensible strategy is to seek a balance between affordability and the chance of a response:
● don't limit yourself to one 'trendiest' area;
● consider neighbouring cities (e.g. living in Vantaa or Espoo and working/studying in Helsinki);
● Be open to different types of homes: 70s, 80s, not just new residential complexes.
Housing format: studio, room, "two-room flat with a friend"
There are queues for studio flats in large student cities (especially Helsinki) both in housing funds and on the open market. Student funds state explicitly that you can wait up to a year for a separate studio, but a room in a shared flat or small family accommodation becomes available more quickly.
This leads to several strategies:
● a room or shared flat for the first year → cheaper and easier to get;
● the "ideal" studio — later, when you have a local history and recommendations;
● the option of "friends renting a two- or three-room flat together" also often works better than each person looking for a studio separately.
Areas that suit your lifestyle
When looking at areas to live in Finland, it is useful to ask yourself three questions:
- Transport: are you willing to spend 15–20 minutes on the train/metro if the area is quieter and cheaper?
- Noise and density: is your reality night shifts, small children or, conversely, a busy city life?
- Infrastructure: do you need a sports club, parks, schools and shops nearby, or are you happy to travel for these things?
The more honest you are with yourself, the easier it will be to explain this in a letter to the owner:
"I work in the city centre, but I want to live in a quieter area, so I am considering your neighbourhood, where there is a forest and good schools."
This immediately gives the impression that you are making a conscious choice, rather than "grabbing whatever you can get."
Common mistakes without local history and how to avoid them
Now — about the pitfalls that are especially common among those who are just entering the market and don't yet "feel" Finnish rent.
No information about you, no reason to choose you specifically.
In a competitive environment, this letter simply gets lost among dozens of others. Even a short self-presentation with facts about your status and income immediately puts you on a different list.
Not mentioning your lack of Finnish history, temporary contract or past moves.
The Finnish system values honesty. It is better to explain briefly in advance: "I don't have a Finnish credit history yet, so I have attached a statement and recommendations from my previous apartment." This removes the question instead of creating it.
It is important to give your eyes a rest between "stickers" — don't let mistakes look like a wall of anxiety.
Searching only on the free market and wondering why it's so difficult.
For many newcomers, student funds and ARA housing are their first home: there, the priority is need and income, not a good credit history. Yes, there are queues, yes, there are rules, but the chance of "getting in" without a local past is often higher there.
The next classic mistake is "all or nothing" by district.
And then saying "it's impossible to find housing in Finland".
If you are looking for your first home, it is wiser to draw a zone based on transport accessibility rather than on the name of a single neighbourhood. This way, you will have a better chance of finding something and it will be easier on your budget.
And finally, the tone.
"Why aren't you responding?", "This is discrimination", "I've already sent ten applications!"
Understanding emotions does not negate the fact that, for the owner, you are a potential partner for years to come. A calm, respectful tone, even if you are tired of searching, is the best way to show what kind of neighbour you will be.
Home as trust: how to feel like you belong without a history
Renting in Finland is not about "getting the keys and forgetting about it," but about trust. You come to a new country without a local history, but with a real life behind you — education, work, families, housing histories in other cities. It is important to learn how to translate this life into the language of the Finnish rental market.
A good application is not a perfect Instagram, but an honest, structured portrait: who you are, what you live on, how you feel about your home and neighbours. When this coincides with an adequate choice of neighbourhood and housing format, the chances of "entering" the market even without a local history increase dramatically.
If this guide has helped you see Finnish renting as a system you can play consciously rather than randomly, save it, send it to those who are just about to move, and share your stories in the comments: which letters got the most replies, which formats worked, which areas became home. Real-life experience is the best GPS for those who follow.
❓ FAQ
Yes, it is possible, especially if you can show a stable income, a "safety net" and recommendations from other countries. It is important to compensate for the lack of local history with a strong set of documents and a neat self-presentation. It is a little more difficult with small private landlords, but easier with large companies and the student/municipal sector.
At a minimum, a passport and residence permit/registration, employment contract or offer, proof of income or scholarship, bank statement and, if possible, a recommendation from a previous landlord. It is convenient to collect all of this in a single PDF or cloud folder and provide a link or attach it to the letter.
If your Finnish is still at the level of a couple of phrases, a short greeting in Finnish and the main text in English will suffice. The main thing is that the letter is structured and polite. Large companies often have English-speaking employees, but private landlords sometimes feel more comfortable seeing at least basic Finnish.
Sometimes flats are rented remotely, but for a newcomer without a local history, a personal viewing is a big plus: the owner sees you, hears how you communicate, and asks questions. This helps to build trust, which is not always possible through correspondence.
It is usually a little easier in areas outside the city centre and in neighbouring towns: for example, living in Vantaa or Espoo and commuting to Helsinki. Newcomers often find their first homes there and then move to their "dream neighbourhood". In the student housing market, need and income are more important than status in the country.
If your budget is limited and you don't have a local history, a room or shared flat is often more realistic: studios are in higher demand, the queues are longer and the competition is tougher. In a year or two, when you have Finnish references and a stable income, you can aim for a separate studio or a larger flat.
No, 5-7 clear sentences are enough: who you are, why you moved, where the money for the rent comes from, and how you feel about the house. Long emotional stories may elicit sympathy, but they are no substitute for facts: employer, income, bank statements, references.
Yes, especially if the guarantor is a Finnish employer or a person with a local history and income. This is not always a prerequisite, but it provides additional protection for the landlord: if something goes wrong, there is another solvent party involved.
In large cities, it is best to start looking 1-2 months before moving: listings often appear a few weeks before move-in. If you start too early, landlords may not want to "hold" the flat; if you start too late, you will have to take the first option that comes along.
It makes sense to send out many applications, but it is better to tailor your letters to the specific flat and area: a couple of sentences on why this particular area/format suits your lifestyle will make you stand out from other applicants.
Review your strategy: your letter, the structure of your documents, the areas and types of accommodation. Perhaps you should add recommendations, show more financial evidence or expand your search geography. The idea is not to send hundreds of identical letters, but to make a few significantly stronger applications.
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