Renting an apartment in Finland: how to get a seamless start for student life 

Moving into a student apartment in Finland is usually a smooth and straightforward experience. A few practical things are worth checking before you move in. This guide covers the key things to take care of at the start, so you can settle into your Hoas home more easily from day one.

One of the most important differences in Finland compared to many other countries is how early your rental agreement becomes binding. 

Once you sign the tenancy agreement, it is legally valid, even if your lease hasn’t started yet. 

In practice, this means: 

Some students make the mistake of accepting an apartment “just in case” while still waiting for other options. 

With Hoas, the terms are clearly defined in your agreement. If you are unsure about anything, check the terms or contact customer service before accepting the offer.  

Once your contract period begins, you can review your agreement details in MyHoas. 

Read more: InfoFinland: Tenancy agreement

In shared apartments, electricity is included in the rent. In most other apartment types, it isn’t. You can always check what applies to your apartment in the apartment offer or in your tenancy agreement. 

If electricity is not included, you need to: 

Without this, your apartment may not have electricity when you arrive. This is an easy thing to miss, especially if you assume it is handled automatically. 

Home insurance is not required by law, but it may be required in your rental agreement and is strongly recommended to cover at least: 

Small everyday incidents, like water leaks, broken surfaces, damaged fixtures, can lead to costs that are difficult to manage without home insurance. In practice, home insurance helps cover unexpected situations and can protect both your belongings and the apartment. 

– Home insurance really helps you if something unexpected happens, so it’s definitely worth getting, says Housing Advisor Riikka. 

Read more about home insurance at Hoas and why it’s a good idea to get home insurance for students. Also, check other general terms and rules.  

Strong identification is widely used in Finland and makes accessing services easier, although some services can also be used with limited access without it. For example, with Hoas you can sign your tenancy agreement even without a Finnish personal identity code or strong identification. However, once you have local identifiers in place, managing things with Hoas is much easier.

You will often need digital identification to handle official matters with your lessor, school, or authorities. 

Getting strong digital identification set up typically requires: 

If you don’t have one yet, getting it should be one of your first priorities after arriving in Finland. It is needed for many everyday services in Finland.  Remenber: If you get a Finnish personal identity code or change your phone number after signing your tenancy agreement, inform Hoas. 

In Finland, everyone conducts matters on their own behalf and acting as a family unit is not possible. Even spouses often manage services separately. For instance, when renting an apartment for yourself and your partner, both must sign the tenancy agreement, and if you wish to terminate the contract, approval from both parties is required. Similarly, banking credentials and mobile certificates used for handling affairs are always personal and cannot be shared.

The Finnish personal identity code (henkilötunnus) is essential for everyday life. 

You will need it for: 

Without it, many things either don’t work or require temporary workarounds. 

If you don’t have one yet, getting it should be one of your first priorities after arriving in Finland. It is the foundation that everything else builds on. Many students receive their personal identity code already with their residence permit decision.

InfoFinland: Registering as a resident

 Digital and Population Data Services Agency: Registration of a foreigner 

A Finnish phone number is often needed for authentication and communication with services. 

You will need it for: 

Once you have a Finnish number, make sure your contact details are updated in MyHoas. Keeping your information up to date ensures you receive important messages related to your housing. 

MyHoas is your main tool for managing your housing with Hoas: 

– Reporting faults is your responsability. When you report an issue, we will fix it free of charge. If you don’t report it, you may end up paying later, notes Housing Advisor Riikka.

Once you’ve taken care of a few practical steps, settling in becomes much easier.