Prices of existing apartments fell 3.0% in the year to May 2026 — Greater Helsinki fell 3.8%. Before you celebrate: most Finnish "apartments" are shares in a company, and non-EU buyers of actual land need government permission. Details below.
Figures verified 9 July 2026| Market (non-subsidised rentals) | Average rent, Q4 2025 | ≈ 75 m² apartment |
|---|---|---|
| Whole country | €16.48/m² | €1,236/month |
| Helsinki | €21.42/m² | €1,607/month |
Source: Statistics Finland rents statistics (asvu), Q4 2025. Subsidised (ARA) housing is cheaper but generally not available to new arrivals.
Most apartments are shares in a housing company (asunto-osakeyhtiö) entitling you to a specific flat. You'll pay a monthly maintenance charge (hoitovastike) on top — and can inherit a share of the company's renovation debts. Read the company's documents before bidding.
Buyers from outside the EU/EEA need Ministry of Defence permission to purchase real estate (land, detached houses on their own plots). Housing-company shares — i.e., most apartments — are exempt. Permission is usually granted; rules have tightened since 2020.
3% on real estate, 1.5% on housing-company shares (rates in force since the late-2023 cut). First-time-buyer exemptions were abolished in 2024. Budget it into your offer.
Vastike charges, renovation debt (putkiremontti!), and how to read the isännöitsijäntodistus.
The MoD permission process step by step, fees, and what it does and doesn't cover.
Getting a lease before you land, deposits, and the documents Finnish landlords want.
Housing-company documents are in Finnish and full of expensive surprises. We'll introduce an English-speaking property professional we've independently vetted.