General information
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!
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 is approx. 400€/month including furniture, internet connection, electricity and water and other additional free services. The deposit payment is 500 euros per person. The tenancy agreement is binding for both parties, and the fixed-term agreement (September-December or January-May) cannot be terminated.
HOAS’s application period for the autumn term 2019 starts already at 1st of April 2019. It is highly recommended to apply for HOAS apartment even before you have been accepted as an exchange student at Aalto University. Note that you need to apply for the apartment by the end of May 2019 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!
More info, application form etc: https://www.hoas.fi/exchange/ → Housing application or Apply for housing
Contact email: exchangestudents@hoas.fi
AYY, Aalto University Student Union
AYY primarily offers housing to students and exchange students studying in the Aalto University, who are members of AYY. The rent level starts from 200 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 2019, please make it in the housing application system Domo https://domo.ayy.fi/ You can fill in your application in the spring term but please be aware that most of the AYY apartments will be offered during June/July 2019. 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.
More information about AYY Housing at
AYY web pages
Where to find furniture
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:
MOST IMPORTANT STEPS!
- 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, 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 centre and campus areas. It is easy to travel around Helsinki region by public transportation. Check the transport connections from your apartment to the centre or campus areas with Journey Planner http://www.reittiopas.fi/en/
- 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.
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