Applying for an apartment

Application process

The selection depends on the application and on how urgently the applicant needs an apartment. Since our apartments are state-subsidized rental apartments (so-called ARA apartments), we comply with the instructions provided by the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA) when choosing tenants so that apartments are first offered to those who need them the most.

Please note, that there will be no progress reports regarding your application. Once we have received your apartment application, you are automatically included in our tenant selection process. We will contact you by phone or e-mail if we have an apartment to offer you.

If we offer you an apartment, it’s usually possible to see the apartment before you decide whether you want to take it.

Waiting time

It is impossible to give an exact waiting time for getting an apartment. It depends on the number of vacant apartments, the applicant’s criteria and the level of urgency for an apartment. Getting an apartment is therefore not based on a queuing system.

Studio apartments and apartments located in the most central locations have the most applicants.

Tip! If you are in a hurry, you should include as many houses as possible in your application. Especially larger apartments, perfect for family or communal living are more often available.

Your application is valid for 4 months. A suitable apartment may not, however, become available during this period of time, so you should keep the application up to date and matching your situation. Please remove your application if you no longer need an apartment.

The attachments to the application

The attachments required in the application are:

• Specification of the most recent confirmed certificate of taxation, can be found in OmaVero / MyTax.
• Records of income: employment contract, last salary receipt or other proof of regular income.
• If the applicant is not a Finnish citizen, a passport or a residence permit will also be required.

The credit history is checked for all applicants. If the applicant has payment default entry, they are requested to submit a listing of the debtor’s distraint matters given by the distrainer.

Please send all the attachments with your application!

Applying with friend or partner

You can also apply an apartment together with your friend or partner. For example, you can apply for a shared housing. If you are applying for shared housing, both of you have to submit your own applications, in which you select the shared apartment and in the “Other wishes”- field, write the name of the friend with whom you want to live with. If you want to apply for, for example, a two-room apartment with your partner, submit a shared application with them. Please write in the “Other wishes” -field, that you apply for a shared lease. If there are three applicants, write the name of the third person in the Other wishes field.

Questions? Please reach over to our customer service or come by to have a chat!

Questions about applications

Resident selection is managed by location. In Helsinki the resident selection is carried out by NAL Apartments. Our customer service can answer to general questions on resident selection. Please note however, that our customer service is not able to answer to inquiries about vacant apartments or the current situation of a specific application.  

In other locations, the NAL’s local branch makes the resident selection and answers questions related to the region’s housing and resident selection.