The housing situation in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area (cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen) is challenging and there is a lot of competition on the rental housing market. Rental level is high and there is a lack of small rental apartments and student housing within the area. Therefore, it is good to start finding suitable accommodation many months before your arrival in Finland.
Aalto University does not itself own any student dormitories nor have housing services to offer. Aalto University has an agreement with HOAS for providing a number of furnished rooms for incoming exchange students. Unfortunately Aalto University cannot guarantee housing for all the exchange students since the quota is limited. Exchange students can apply housing also for unfurnished apartments owned by Aalto´s Student Union, AYY. In addition it is good to prepare yourself to find accommodation from the private rentals as well.
When looking for an apartment, read carefully all the information and instructions given by the housing provider!
Key points when applying for housing!
- Be active! Apply early and reserve time for finding the apartment!
- Apply simultaneously through various channels! (HOAS, AYY and private rentals)
- It is good to reserve minimum approx. 400€- 700€ for accommodation/month (should be enough for a room in a shared apartment).
- If/when you are offered an accommodation, accept the offer as soon as possible, even if the location or the quality of housing does not match all your requirements! Remember also to cancel all your other housing applications as there are other students needing housing in the queue.
- Your possibilities to find an apartment are improved if you are willing to live outside the campus area. It is easy and fast to travel around Helsinki region by public transportation. Check the transport connections from your apartment to the centre or campus areas with Journey Planner
- Watch out for rental scams! Never send money or passport information to anyone! If the apartment seems too good to be true (e.g. cheapness), it is usually a scam.
Exchange Student Housing - main options
HOAS (Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region)
HOAS is an independent, non-profit organisation which provides safe and reliable housing for students. Aalto University has reserved a limited number of furnished rooms for Aalto's new incoming exchange students. Rooms are located in the cities of Helsinki and Espoo, all within good public transportation connections. The monthly rent (approximately 400€/month) includes furniture, electricity and water and other additional free services like fast broadband services. The deposit payment is 500 euros per person. A signed tenancy agreement is binding for both parties, and the fixed-term agreement (September-December or January-May) cannot be terminated or edited afterwards.
HOAS’s application period for the autumn term 2020 starts already at 1st of April 2020. It is highly recommended to apply for HOAS apartment even before you have been accepted as an exchange student at Aalto University. Please note that you need to apply for the apartment by 5th of June 2020 at the latest!
Most of the HOAS housing offers will be send out during June, so if you have not received a housing offer e-mail by early July, be sure to apply for other accommodation options. Please remember to check your e-mail on a regular basis - also junk mail / spam mailbox!
For more information, application form etc: → Housing application or Apply for housing
Contact email: exchangestudents@hoas.fi
AYY, Aalto University Student Union
AYY offers affordable housing to students and exchange students studying in the Aalto University, who are members of AYY. The Student Union owns shared apartments, studios and family apartments in Otaniemi & Leppävaara in Espoo and around Helsinki. The rent level starts from 250 euros. All the AYY apartments are unfurnished! Please also note, electricity is excluded in some of AYY's apartments. Internet connection is available in every apartments. The deposit payment is 250 euros per each tenant.
If you want to apply for an apartment for the autumn term 2020, please make it in the housing application system Domo. You can fill in your application already in the spring term but please be aware that most of the AYY apartments will be offered during June 2020 All housing offers are sent by email to the email address supplied by the applicant into the system so please remember to check your e-mail regularly.
Every autumn term Student Union AYY also arranges emergency housing in co-operation with the Aalto University for AYY members who have ABSOLUTELY no other options on where to sleep. Emergency apartments are located in Otaniemi Campus.
More information about AYY Housing at
AYY web pages
Where to find furniture, homeware
Please note that all AYY apartments are unfurnished. This means that there are no furniture in the apartment. No bed, no table, no lights. All AYY apartments have a kitchen with a stove and a fridge, though.
You can get furniture cheaply or even for free from recycling centers. There’s one in Otaniemi and it is organized by volunteers. More information: Otaniemi recycling center
You can also rent furniture from for example a company called Furent. Furent is a company that specialises in services related to furnished apartments. Their main service is furniture rental and they can provide anything from a fully furnished house to single handpicked items. For more information and prices, please contact info@furent.fi
There are also two Ikea stores near Helsinki in Espoo and Vantaa, for contact information and instructions on how to get there, see Ikea's website. They also have a delivery service.
Rent your homeware
Just arrived? Choose the easy & sustainable way!
Contact email: housing@ayy.fi
Other Options/Private rentals
You can also search for accommodation on the private market. However, it might be difficult to find affordable furnished accommodation for a short period of time. Please note that Aalto University cannot offer any assistance in finding accommodation from the private market.
More information about private rentals:
No flat before arriving in Finland?
We strongly recommend to find an apartment before arriving in Finland!
Check other short-term housing options such as Couchsurfing, Airbnb , Hostels in Finland, Sleep Cheap, Facebook group Teekkarikylän markkinat