Affordable city-owned rental apartments — Heka Helsinki, Tampere Housing, and other municipal providers.
City-owned rental apartments are applied for directly through the housing company or municipality that owns them. There is no single national application. Choose the city where you want to live, submit that provider's online application, and keep it updated until your housing situation changes or the application expires.
Kaupunki means “city” in Finnish. In housing searches, kaupungin vuokra-asunto usually means an affordable rental home owned by a city, a city-owned company, or another non-profit housing provider working under public housing rules.
These homes are normal rental apartments. You do not need to buy an ownership share or obtain an ASO order number. You pay a monthly rent and usually a security deposit according to the rental agreement. The city or housing company remains the owner.
Many apartments are state-subsidised ARA homes. For these homes, tenant selection is generally based on housing need, household income, and wealth. The exact rules, income limits, application validity, and available homes differ between providers. Privately financed homes from the same provider may have different criteria.
You do not automatically receive an apartment just because you apply or live in the municipality. Demand is often high. The provider assesses applications and makes offers when a suitable home becomes available. Applying to several suitable providers and areas can improve your chances.
Eligibility depends on the apartment and provider. For state-subsidised homes, the provider usually considers the size and urgency of your housing need, the household's income, and the household's assets. Applicants who are homeless, threatened with homelessness, living in overcrowded conditions, or moving because of work may receive priority under the applicable rules.
There may be income and wealth limits for ARA apartments. These limits can change and can depend on the number of adults and children in the household. Some city-owned providers also offer non-subsidised apartments with fewer restrictions. Always check the current rules on the provider's own website before applying.
Start with the official housing company for your target city. Search using the Finnish terms kaupungin vuokra-asunnot, kohtuuhintaiset vuokra-asunnot, ARA-vuokra-asunnot, or vuokra-asuntohaku together with the city name. The municipality's English housing pages often link to the correct provider.
| City or area | Provider and search link | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Helsinki | Heka rental apartments | City-owned Heka. Applications are assessed by housing need, income, and wealth. |
| Espoo | Espoon Asunnot | Electronic application is valid for three months and can be updated. |
| Vantaa | VAV | Vantaa's city-owned rental housing provider. The city page links to the application instructions. |
| Tampere | VTS-kodit | Tampere's largest landlord. The city also lists other providers, including TVA. |
| Tampere | Tampereen Vuokra-asunnot (TVA) | Another city-linked provider of rental homes in Tampere. |
| Turku | TVT Asunnot | Rental housing company owned by the City of Turku. |
| Oulu | Sivakka | Largest landlord in Oulu. The City of Oulu also maintains a wider provider directory. |
| Jyväskylä | Jyväskylä rental apartments | The city page explains local rental housing and links to providers. |
| Lahti | Lahden Talot | City-owned rental housing provider in Lahti. |
| Kuopio | Kuopio rental housing | The city page explains local rental housing. The city-owned Niiralan Kulma is the largest local rental provider. |
| Joensuu | Joensuu housing services | Use the city's housing pages to identify current municipal and non-profit providers. |
| Vaasa | Vaasan Vuokratalot | City-linked rental housing in Vaasa; availability and instructions are on the provider site. |
Check before applying: Provider names, ownership structures, and application links can change. If a link does not show the homes you need, open the municipality's official website and search for rental housing or vuokra-asunnot.
Heka is Helsinki's city-owned rental housing company. The City of Helsinki selects tenants for Heka homes. The official process is:
Heka's application guidance states that selecting more realistic areas and a reasonable maximum rent can increase the number of homes that can be considered. Do not select an area or rent level that you cannot actually accept.
VTS-kodit is the largest landlord in Tampere and offers affordable rental apartments across the city. You normally fill in a housing application, select preferred areas, apartment size, and maximum rent, and take part in the tenant selection process. VTS states that its application is valid for three months at a time.
The City of Tampere also lists other rental housing organisations, including TVA, Avain, A-Kruunu, M2-Kodit, TA-Yhtiöt, and YH Kodit. Apply separately to each provider that has suitable apartments.
City rental housing, ASO housing, student housing, private rentals, and emergency or supported housing use different rules. A Varke ASO order number is not needed for a normal city rental apartment. A municipal rental application also does not automatically apply to Heka, VTS, Espoon Asunnot, or another city.
Most providers ask for basic information when you apply and request supporting documents only if you are being considered for a home. Keep the following ready:
| Information | Why it may be needed |
|---|---|
| Identity and contact details | To identify the applicant and send offers or renewal reminders. |
| All household members | To assess the appropriate apartment size and household eligibility. |
| Current housing situation | To assess urgency, overcrowding, homelessness risk, or an unsuitable home. |
| Income information | To check income limits for state-subsidised apartments. |
| Asset and debt information | To assess wealth limits and the household's actual financial situation. |
| Reason for moving | To explain work, studies, family changes, health, accessibility, overcrowding, or homelessness risk. |
| Supporting documents | Providers may later request tax information, payslips, benefit decisions, a tenancy notice, or evidence of assets and debts. |
Apply to more than one suitable provider and select several neighbourhoods that you can genuinely accept. Choose a realistic maximum rent and apartment size. Keep your phone number, email address, household details, and housing situation current. Renew every application before its expiry date. If your need becomes urgent, contact the municipality's housing counselling service and explain the situation clearly.
Do not exaggerate your situation or select a home that does not match your household. Incorrect information can delay processing or affect an offer. Never send bank passwords or payment-card details to an unofficial housing intermediary.
Before accepting an apartment, calculate the total monthly cost. In addition to rent, check water, electricity, sauna, parking, laundry, storage, internet, and any separate service charges. A security deposit may be required.
If your income is low, you may be able to apply for housing support from Kela. Use Kela's current calculator and wait for the official decision before relying on an estimated benefit. The landlord's application and Kela's benefit application are separate processes.
For Helsinki, use the City of Helsinki Heka application guide. For Tampere, use the City of Tampere rental housing page. For Oulu, use the City of Oulu rental housing directory. For Espoo, use the Espoon Asunnot application guide.
If you are at immediate risk of homelessness, contact your municipality's housing counselling or social services without waiting for an ordinary application to produce an offer.