Make sure you reserve enough time for the housing application process. State on your application at least your maximum rent level and the area where you are looking for an apartment.

Narrowing down your search area will make it slower for you to receive a housing offer and if you are only searching for an apartment within a specific area, you must cite reasons for this on your application. It is a good idea to include as wide a search area as is possible on your application.

Your application should state:

• why you need housing (for example homelessness, end of the current lease, the current apartment is too expensive, large or small). State the reasons for your housing needs in detail. 
• your life situation and issues affecting your chances of receiving housing (for example studies, work, unemployment, poor credit history.) 
• reasons why you are applying for housing in specific areas (for example your child attends a certain school or class). You should not set any area limitations without justifying them, and convenience is not an acceptable justification.
• requests like lift, balcony or sauna (Please note that listing requests will restrict your application and may reduce your chances of receiving a housing offer, so you should only list requests that are necessary and justify them, for example if you need to have a lift due to health reasons.) 

• Personal reasons that you would like to bring up when applying for an apartment.
• Any non-payment record and rent debt you may have (as well as a payment plan) should be mentioned in the application.
• Housing applications must be updated regularly and whenever there are significant changes to your information (for example change of address to a Poste Restante address if you become homeless).

Kela has defined maximum limits for housing costs that are considered reasonable that are specific to each municipality. Housing costs that are recognized in basic social assistance (Espoo, Helsinki, Vantaa): 

• 1 person € 694 /month 
• 2 persons € 869 /month 
• 3 persons € 993 /month 
• 4 persons € 1089 /month 
• 4 persons € 1211 /month 
• 4 persons € 1333 /month 
• any additional persons + € 122/month 
• in addition, a water fee of € 22.80 /person /month is accepted.

• A housing offer will usually be sent as a written offer to your e-mail and the response time is usually short.
• The offer is accompanied by instructions on how to proceed if you want to accept the apartment: accepting the housing offer, a list of the required appendices, instructions on paying a possible security deposit. 
• Read the housing offer carefully and submit the necessary appendices by the given deadline. If you need more time to submit the appendices, contact the lessor. 

• The lease agreement should always be made in writing. Make sure you read the terms of the agreement carefully before signing the contract.
• If necessary, you can apply for the security deposit from Kela in connection with basic social assistance, in which case you need to have justified reasons for moving. Bank statements from the past two months and a housing offer listing the details of your new apartment are sufficient appendices to your security deposit application. The security deposit will be granted as a promissory note.
• If you need Kela/social services to pay for the security deposit, you should not sign a lease agreement before you are absolutely sure you will be granted the deposit.

• You can apply for a general housing allowance from Kela to receive assistance with your housing costs. Housing allowance can be granted to low-income households. A household typically comprises the persons sharing living quarters and the housing allowance is granted to the household collectively.
• A signed lease agreement is required as an appendix to the housing allowance application.
• You can apply for assistance with moving costs from Kela as basic social assistance.

Go to page: Kela.fi(external link)