Renting a place in Helsinki, Please Help :(

[yugi_oh]

Hello,

I want to rent a place in Helsinki or Espoo (otaniemi), but all I hear is that "It's really hard to get a place in Helsinki". I found the website Oitokie which seems to be very nice. But the agencies are renting most of the apartments. I do not have a guarantor in Finland as I'm a foreign student. I would also assume that a landlord would prefer a Finnish citizen to be his/her tenant. Can anyone give me some tips how I can make this process easier ? I am really stressed

[bf421]

Do you have a Finnish id number? My recent experience is that I had little to no luck finding an apartment without it, but once my residence permit card arrived with the id number on it, I was able to fill out lots of applications with housing companies. After that, I was able to find an apartment without too much trouble.

You'll want a good source of funds and/or a job. It seems like landlords want you to be able to show that you have the ability to pay for the apartment. Apparently, though, credit history doesn't matter so much. I'm new to Finland so I have no credit history at all, but it was fine because at least I don't have any *bad* credit history.

As a student, have you looked at HOAS. They might have something in a shared apartment. Also, have you looked at the Facebook page "Apartments for Students in Helsinki Metropolitan Area?" Lots of people post rooms that they are leasing or subletting on that page.

Hope that helps!

[betelgeuse]

Apparently, though, credit history doesn't matter so much. I'm new to Finland so I have no credit history at all, but it was fine because at least I don't have any *bad* credit history.

It's illegal to keep a positive credit registry in Finland. Empty credit history is best you can have.

[Rip]

It's illegal to keep a positive credit registry in Finland. Empty credit history is best you can have.

Though getting a credit card or a loan is pretty hard if you're a recent immigrant. I do not know if this shows explicitly in credit records or is it taken for other sources.

[betelgeuse]

Though getting a credit card or a loan is pretty hard if you're a recent immigrant. I do not know if this shows explicitly in credit records or is it taken for other sources.

It's not something they are allowed to record in credit records. That information comes from the population information system.

http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/2 ... 0527#L4P12

[inkku]

Put a decent, well written advert on student unions, university's etc website. Look for flatshare, it is very difficult to get a studio. Of group together with some friends and look for a bigger apartment together.

this FB groups is also very active.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/235368102105/