Espoo is a safe and attractive city to live in. Espoo boasts five urban centres, good services and public transport connections. Over half of Espoo residents live in blocks of flats. Most of them live in homes they own.
Rental home
The City of Espoo and many private persons and companies rent out homes all over Espoo. You should reserve enough time to search for an apartment and look into the different options available.
Prices of rental homes vary widely in Espoo. The price is affected by the location, size and condition of the home.
Private rental housing
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 flats .
You can search for private rental flats 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 flat from Espoon Alkuasunnot Oy or the Nuorisosäätiö foundation.
linkkiNAL apartments:
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 housing
City-owned rental apartments 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 homes.
City-owned rental apartments are managed by Espoon Asunnot Oy. If you wish to apply for a rental flat, please fill in the application form on the Espoon Asunnot Oy website. The form can also be sent to your home address.
Your need for an apartment, finances and income will determine whether you will be granted a apartment.
In order to apply for a city-owned rental apartment, 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 3544 5000
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 | English
Buying a home
Advertisements for available dwellings can be found online. Apartment prices in Espoo are quite high.
Read more about buying an apartment on InfoFinland page Buying a home.
Right-of-occupancy home
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.
linkkiCity of Espoo:
Right-of-occupancy housingFinnish | Swedish | English
Temporary housing
Espoo boasts a variety of hotels where you can obtain temporary accommodation.
linkkiVisitEspoo.fi:
HotelsFinnish | Swedish | English | Russian
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).
Tel. 09 816 33 333
E-mail: nestori(at)espoo.fi
linkkiCity of Espoo:
Guidance for elderly citizensFinnish | Swedish | English
linkkiCity of Espoo:
Information about home care support servicesFinnish | Swedish
linkkiCity of Espoo:
Information about living in service homesFinnish
Waste and recycling
Read more about sorting waste on InfoFinland page Waste and recycling.
linkkiHelsinki Region Environmental Services Authority:
Waste and recyclingFinnish | Swedish | English
Homelessness
You can ask for help with all problem situations connected to housing from the City of Espoo’s housing counselling.
linkkiCity of Espoo:
Housing counsellingFinnish | Swedish | English
In urgent situations, you can also contact Western Uusimaa Social and Crisis Emergency Services (Länsi-Uudenmaan sosiaali- ja kriisipäivystys).
Western Uusimaa Social and Crisis Emergency Services
Vitikka 1 C
02630 Espoo
Tel. (09) 816 42439
linkkiCity of Espoo:
Western Uusimaa Social and Crisis Emergency ServicesFinnish | Swedish | English
Read more: Housing problems and Homelessness