Student Housing in Finland: HOAS, TOAS, PSOAS and Other Foundations
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Most students in Finland rent from a student housing foundation, a non-profit organisation that rents rooms and flats only to students. Universities do not usually allocate rooms themselves, so you apply to the foundation in your city. Start as soon as your admission is confirmed.
Who rents to students
Every university city has at least one student housing foundation or company. The best known are:
| City | Organisation |
|---|---|
| Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa | HOAS; AYY for Aalto students |
| Tampere | TOAS, POAS |
| Turku and Rauma | TYS |
| Oulu | PSOAS |
| Jyväskylä | KOAS |
| Kuopio | Kuopas |
| Lappeenranta | LOAS |
| Joensuu | ELLI |
| Rovaniemi | DAS |
| Vaasa | VOAS |
The full list, by city, is kept by SOA, the umbrella organisation of student housing providers. HOAS, for example, rents to full-time students on degree programmes at any institution in the Helsinki area. Ask the international office of your university too: some reserve rooms for new international students.
Prices
According to Study in Finland, a single room in a shared student flat costs about €200–€380 a month (2026). Studios and family flats cost more and have longer waiting lists. In Helsinki prices are higher: HOAS's listings in October 2026 showed shared-flat rooms at about €290–€490 and studios above €800 a month.
SOA says that in most cases the rent includes internet, electricity and water. Check each listing, because this differs between buildings.
How to apply
- Apply online to the foundation as soon as you have your admission letter.
- List several buildings or flat types to improve your chances.
- Keep the application up to date. HOAS asks applicants to update it about once a month.
- Accept an offer quickly when it comes and sign the tenancy agreement.
Waiting times vary. HOAS says they range from a few weeks to more than a year, and studios have the longest queues.
The private market
You can also rent on the open market through rental agencies, housing websites and social media. Study in Finland notes that private prices are usually higher than student housing. Rents in Helsinki are the highest in the country.
Deposit and the law
The Act on Residential Leases limits the deposit to three months' rent. A larger deposit clause is void. When the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit, or tell you in writing why part of it is kept, within 14 days.
Student foundations often ask for less. HOAS asks for no deposit in most agreements since June 2023; when one is needed, it is €260 for a shared flat and €500 for other flats.
Always sign a written tenancy agreement, and never pay before you have one.
Kela and housing benefits
Do not count on housing benefits. Students cannot as a rule get Kela's general housing allowance. Students from outside the EU and EEA who come to Finland only to study cannot get Finnish student financial aid or its housing supplement. EU students usually qualify only if their residence becomes permanent or they work enough in Finland.
Registering your address
Within one week of moving in, submit a notice of move to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). Non-EU students also visit a DVV service point to register as residents; see student visa for Finland.
Scams
Fake landlords ask for a deposit before you can see the flat or sign. Apply to student foundations only through their own websites. Read finding student housing in Europe without being scammed.
Tips
- Apply to student housing the day your admission is confirmed. Demand peaks before the autumn term.
- Take a shared flat first and move to a studio later.
- Smaller cities have shorter queues and lower rents than Helsinki.
- If nothing is free in August, rent a short-term room and keep your application active.
Where to look next
- How much it costs to study in Finland
- How to get into a university in Finland
- Student visa for Finland
- Document recognition for Finland
Official sources
- Study in Finland: Accommodation: Finnish National Agency for Education
- SOA: student housing providers by city
- HOAS: deposit: Helsinki student housing foundation
- Kela: Can you get benefits when you move to Finland?
- Act on Residential Leases 481/1995: Finlex, in Finnish
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.