Information on applying for an apartment

We follow ARA’s tenant selection guidelines. See the required attachments.

Tenant Selection

Our apartments are interest-subsidized rental apartments, for which tenants are selected based on applicants’ housing needs and application criteria, not on a waiting list principle. In tenant selection, we follow the tenant selection guidelines of Vark (formerly ARA). Available apartments are offered to the applicant with the greatest need. Priority is given to applicants with the most urgent housing needs, the lowest income, and the fewest assets. The urgency of housing need is divided into three categories:

Applicants with a very urgent housing need

Homeless applicants: Those staying outdoors, in temporary accommodation, care or nursing homes, crisis housing, or with relatives/acquaintances.
Threat of homelessness without fault: E.g., termination, demolition, forced sale of an apartment, or an apartment deemed uninhabitable by official decision.
Essential and permanent need for an accessible apartment: The current apartment is not accessible.
Living in extremely cramped conditions: More than three people per room or a maximum of 10 m² per person.
Moving to a new place of work or study without an apartment.

Applicants with an urgent housing need

The applicant has unreasonable housing costs relative to their income; the household spends more than 40% of its gross income on rent and other housing costs for the current apartment.
The applicant has a fixed-term lease that cannot be extended, or the applicant has been evicted from their current apartment.
The applicant is 18 years of age or older and lives with their parents in the municipality where they are applying for an apartment.
Living in cramped conditions (more than 2 people per room, excluding the kitchen, or a maximum of 15 m2 per person).
One’s own or a family member’s permanent illness or disability requires a healthier or more suitable apartment.
The lack of an apartment prevents a married or cohabiting couple from moving apart.

In need of an apartment

Desire to move, e.g., due to dissatisfaction with the location or standard of equipment of the current apartment.

Income Limits

We adhere to the maximum income limits confirmed by the Government, which came into force on January 1, 2025. The income of the applicant household must not exceed the maximum limits defined in the decree.

The order of priority for tenant selection does not change; apartments will continue to be allocated to homeless and other applicants with urgent housing needs, low income, and few assets. The income limits apply to both the selection of new tenants and apartment exchanges.

The monthly income of a single-person household must not exceed 3540 euros.
If the household includes more than one adult aged 18 or over, the income limit is increased by 2480 euros for each additional adult.
If the household includes children under 18, the income limit is increased by 650 euros for the first child and 600 euros for each subsequent child.

Age is calculated according to the end of the calendar year in which the application for tenancy is made.

Examples of income limits from January 1, 2025

Persons in household	Income Limit
1 adult	3 540 €
2 adults	6 020 €
1 adult and 1 child	4 190 €
2 adults and 1 child	6 670 €
2 adults and 2 children	7 270 €
2 adults and 3 children	7 870 €

What is considered income
When defining income, the permanent gross monthly income of persons belonging to the household is taken into account. The income of working young people living at home is combined with their parents’ income.

Exceptions
Income limits do not apply to 55+ apartments and other rental apartments intended for special groups.

Asset Limits

Helsinki from January 1, 2025

Number of persons	1	2	3	4	5
Asset Limit	89 000	126 000	204 000	209 000	214 000

If the household includes more than 5 persons, the asset limit is increased by €5,000 per person.

Espoo from January 1, 2025

Number of persons	1	2	3	4	5
Asset Limit	75 000	94 000	125 000	135 000	145 000

If the household includes more than 5 persons, the asset limit is increased by €10,000 per person.

Vantaa from January 1, 2025

Number of persons	1	2	3	4	5
Asset Limit	53 000	66 000	88 000	98 000	108 000

If the household includes more than 5 persons, the asset limit is increased by €10,000 per person.

Hyvinkää from January 1, 2025

Number of persons	1	2	3	4
Asset Limit	60,500	77,000	99,000	121,000

If the household includes more than 4 persons, the asset limit is increased by €5,500 per person.

Tampere from July 1, 2024

Number of persons	1	2	3
Asset Limit	57,000	73,000	98,000

If the household includes 4 or more persons, the asset limit is increased by €10,000 per person.

Turku from January 1, 2025

Number of persons	1	2	3	4	5
Asset Limit	44 000	66 000	88 000	98 000	108 000

If the household includes more than 5 persons, the asset limit is increased by €10,000 per person.

Joensuu from January 1, 2024

Number of persons	1	2	3	4	5
Asset Limit	35 000	52 000	69 000	74 000	79 000

If the household includes more than 5 persons, the asset limit is increased by €5,000 per person.

We adhere to the asset limits confirmed by the Government. Assets are calculated according to their fair value. Fair value refers to the probable selling price of the property. Debts are deducted from the amount of assets.

Attachments

Attachments include, for example:

Proof of income

Income Register extract, you can get it here: www.vero.fi/tulorekisteri

Assets

Pre-filled tax return (for those aged 18 or over)
Proof of asset value (e.g., housing shares, real estate and holiday homes, and securities), property tax bill for real estate
Proof of loans related to the applicant household’s assets (e.g., mortgage)

Other necessary attachments depending on the reason for housing need

Proof of threat of moving or obligation to move, sale of apartment, or renovation
For students, a valid student certificate or decision on acceptance to a study place, if you are moving to another locality for studies
Employment contract, if you are moving to another locality for work
Latest lease agreement and rent payment receipt, notice of termination of lease agreement
Residence permit or registration certificate
Pregnancy certificate
Medical certificate, if illness or disability requires a healthier or more suitable apartment
Receipt for paid rent debts (if the applicant had unpaid rent)

In case of cohabitation/divorce

Certificate of pending divorce or divorce decree
Agreement on child custody and residence (for children under 15)
Ex-spouse’s pre-filled tax return (if you are divorcing or it has been no more than 2 years since the divorce)

Once you receive an apartment offer, please submit the attachments as scanned PDFs to info@setlementtiasunnot.fi.

Be prepared to provide the necessary attachments for your application. You may attach them when submitting the apartment application if you wish. If any attachments are missing, we will request them when making a potential apartment offer.

Attachments are required to verify the information provided in the application. Please note that the required attachments vary on a case-by-case basis.

Frequently Asked Questions about Applying for an Apartment