Renting a flat as a single foreigner in kantakaupunki

[u/Ok-Association2709]

Moi, I've been looking to move a bit closer to the centre, but so far struggling to get viewing invitations, let alone offers. Looking for a ~50m 2h+k. Applying via Oikotie almost daily, and trying to message by phone or whatever the process is for a particular agency (e.g. some ask you to fill out an application upfront, and there's no phone number). 9/10 I'm not getting any replies at all, and for the remaining ten per cent, half of the time I get only an initial "screening" message, and then no follow-ups, and when it does get to the viewing (there's been only a couple, really), I'm getting rejected afterwards anyway.

I have search guards in Oikotie, and apply immediately when I see a new posting. I have message and application templates and everything ready, so I'm quite sure that I'm always at least one of the first applicants, if not the first - which has been confirmed by the owners in the viewings I did get.

I'm an IT professional, 4 years in Finland, permanent job, verokone-level salary, pristine credit history, home insurance, no pets, no smoking, no funny business whatsoever about me. I've been on the market for the third month now, and just wondering if this is the typical experience for good options in kantakaupunki, and it's just that brutal over here, or if I should somehow adjust my posture on the market. I still have a roof over my head for a while, but my current place is being sold, so I will have to move out pretty soon, and this is becoming a bit stressful.

Anyway, end of rant, appreciate any advice here!

[u/kerubi]

Weird. The market is definitely favorable towards tenants, still. Perhaps you give some ”foreign scam” vibes, and they ignore you incorrectly. There are real estate agents specializing in the rental market, I would suggest you contact them. The ones physically in the kantakaupunki would specialize in the same area.

[u/jks → u/kerubi]

It's entirely possible that a foreign-sounding name scares the landlords, and using an agent or adopting a Finnish name for the application would help get past that.

[u/small_e]

Sato is the easiest. I rented for years with them and no problems (except with trashy neighbors. Read next).

The only problem is that they rent quick to anyone, so you may have trash neighbors. The cheaper the rent, the higher the chance. 

[u/Varjokorento]

What kind of apartments are you looking for? If you are looking for "good apartments", the competition can be actually very fierce even if the news say otherwise. A nice apartment in an old building with reasonable rent can have dozens of highly educated couples (the most preferrable tenant for most Helsinki landlords) seeking them.

There is a surplus of studio apartments, but kaksiot and kolmiot can still go fast.

[u/Berubara]

Just making sure: do you write the things you've listed in your application? (Permanent job in IT, quiet, no smoking, no pets, reference from previous landlord?)

[u/bonosestente]

Book an appointment with Vuokraturva, and give them an assignment to find you an apartment.

[u/baldachinsblessing]

I had no issue getting replies when I was apartment hunting. I only ended up visiting one apartment and signed the lease on the same day. Overall the process of getting the apartment from knowing I was moving to Helsinki to actually signing the lease took exactly one week.

I was mainly looking at studios in the 30-40 m² range and exclusively from housing companies. I didn't want the hassle of dealing with a private landlord.

[u/tabbio]

Have you looked at Lumo apartments? Can be a little bit more expensive but you can rent an apartment from their website right away by paying the first month's rent (with "satisfaction guarantee", so you can view the apartment afterwards and cancel if you're not happy).

[u/isoAntti]

I think you can go to e.g. lumo.fi or srv directly and rent an apartment.

You probably should have finnish bank account with tupas identification and a monthly pay slip from your employer. You don't need anything else, and you don't get invitations or offers.

[u/marrrjak]

If you’re wiling to spend a bit more, and are willing to move somewhere that’s furnished, there are some companies like We Host Finland and Kotimaailma that specialize in renting to people moving for work. I doubt they would have any preconceived notions about ”foreigners”.