Rental dwelling
Rents in Espoo and the Helsinki Metropolitan Area are higher than elsewhere in Finland. Finding an affordable apartment might be difficult. You should reserve enough time to search for an apartment and look into the different options available.
Private rental dwellings
It might be quicker to find an apartment from the private rental market, but the rent can be higher than in a city-owned rental dwelling.
You can search for private rental dwellings in Espoo through housing websites:
linkkiOikotie.fi:
Search for rental dwellingsFinnish
linkkiVuokraovi.com:
Search for rental dwellingsFinnish | English
If you are under 30 years of age, you can also apply for a rental dwelling from Espoon Alkuasunnot Oy or the Nuorisosäätiö foundation.
linkkiAlkuasunnot:
Rental housing for young peopleFinnish | English
linkkiNuorisosäätiö:
Rental housing for young peopleFinnish | English
If you are a student, you can obtain a student flat in Espoo. Student flats are provided by HOAS, the Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region, and AYY, the Aalto University Student Union.
linkkiHOAS:
Rental housing for studentsFinnish | Swedish | English
linkkiAalto University Student Union:
Rental housing for studentsFinnish | Swedish | English
City-owned rental dwellings
City-owned rental dwellings are usually cheaper than housing let by companies and private individuals. However, the waiting period may be long, and only a fraction of all applicants get an apartment. There is an especially high demand for small apartments.
City-owned rental dwellings are managed by Espoon Asunnot Oy. If you wish to apply for a rental dwelling, please fill in the application form on the Espoon Asunnot Oy website. You can fill in a paper application form at the Espoon Asunnot Oy office. The form can also be sent to your home address.
Your need for a dwelling, finances and income will determine whether you will be granted a dwelling.
In order to apply for a city-owned rental dwelling, you need to have a residence permit that is valid for at least one year.
Espoon Asunnot Oy
Upseerinkatu 3 B
02600 Espoo
Tel. (09) 816 5800
The application will be valid for 3 months. If you are still searching for an apartment after 3 months, you need to fill in a new application.
Read more: Rental dwelling
linkkiEspoon Asunnot Oy:
Applying for city-owned rental housingFinnish | English
linkkiCity of Espoo:
City-owned rented housingFinnish | Swedish | English
linkkiCity of Espoo:
Senior housingFinnish | Swedish
Owner-occupied housing
Advertisements for available dwellings can be found online Apartment prices in Espoo are quite high.
Read more about buying an apartment on InfoFinland page Owner-occupied housing.
Right-of-occupancy dwelling
If you want to apply for a right-of-occupancy dwelling, you need to get a queue number from the City of Espoo or Helsinki.
Read more: Right-of-occupancy housing
linkkiCity of Espoo:
Right-of-occupancy housingFinnish | Swedish | English
Part-ownership dwelling
The Asuntosäätiö foundation offers part-ownership dwellings (osaomistusasunto) in Espoo. More information is available on the website of the Asuntosäätiö foundation.
Read more: Part-ownership dwelling
linkkiAsuntosäätiö:
Part-ownership housingFinnish
Temporary housing
Espoo boasts a variety of hotels where you can obtain temporary accommodation.
Read more: Temporary housing
linkkiVisitEspoo.fi:
HotelsFinnish | Swedish | English | Russian | Chinese
Accomodation in a crisis situation
Fire or water damage
If your dwelling has been damaged as a result of a fire or water damage, for example, home insurance can, in some cases, cover a part of the additional living expenses. Contact your insurance company immediately after the damage has occurred.
Domestic violence
If a member of your family is acting violently or threatens to use violence, contact the Omatila service. If necessary, Omatila will organise accommodation for you and your children. You can call the service at any hour, and you do not have to give your name when calling. You can also stop by and discuss your situation without an appointment Mon–Fri from 9 am to 11am and Wed from 4 pm to 8 pm.
Omatila service
Family Matters Unit
Kamreerintie 6 A, 4th floor
Tel. 043 825 0535
E-mail: omatila(at)espoo.fi
linkkiCity of Espoo:
Help for victims of domestic violenceFinnish | Swedish | English
Young people’s problems
If you are young and have problems at home, you can contact a youth emergency shelter of the Finnish Red Cross. The shelter is located in Leppävaara.
Youth Emergency Shelter
Läkkisepänkuja 2 A 14
Tel. (09) 8195 5360
E-mail: turvatalo.espoo(at)redcross.fi.
linkkiThe Finnish Red Cross:
Youth sheltersFinnish | Swedish | English
Read more: Accommodation in a crisis situation
Supported and service housing
Some people, such as the elderly and the disabled, have difficulties in dealing with everyday tasks without assistance. People whose municipality of residence is Espoo can receive home care support services, such as meal and transport services, from the City of Espoo. These services help people to cope better with living at home.
Elderly or disabled persons who are unable to live independently can reside in service homes or nursing homes.
Read more: Supported and service housing
If you have questions regarding support services for the disabled, please contact Espoo Disability Services (Espoon vammaispalvelut).
Espoo Disability Services
Kamreerintie 2 A, Espoon keskus
Telephone service: (09) 816 45285
linkkiCity of Espoo:
Disability support servicesFinnish | Swedish | English
If you have questions regarding support services for the elderly, please contact Espoo Guidance for Elderly Citizens Services (Espoon seniorineuvonta).
Guidance for Elderly Citizens
Nelikkokuja 3, Mereo Matinkylä
Tel. (09) 816 33333
E-mail: seniorineuvonta(at)espoo.fi
linkkiCity of Espoo:
Elderly servicesFinnish | Swedish | English
linkkiCity of Espoo:
Information about home care support servicesFinnish | Swedish
linkkiCity of Espoo:
Information about living in service homesFinnish | Swedish
Homelessness
If you find yourself homeless, please contact one of the adult social work offices (aikuissosiaalityön toimipiste) of the City of Espoo.
linkkiCity of Espoo:
Contact information for adult social work servicesFinnish | Swedish | English
In urgent situations, you can also contact Espoo Social and Crisis Emergency Services (Espoon sosiaali- ja kriisipäivystys).
Social and Crisis Emergency Services
Jorvi Hospital
Turuntie 150
Tel. (09) 816 42439
linkkiCity of Espoo:
Social and crisis emergency supportFinnish | Swedish | English
Read more: Homelessness
Waste management and recycling
Read more about sorting waste on InfoFinland page Waste management and recycling.
linkkiHelsinki Region Environmental Services Authority:
Sorting instructionsFinnish | Swedish | English
linkkiHelsinki Region Environmental Services Authority :
Waste collection pointsFinnish | Swedish | English