Living in Turku
Where can I find an apartment to rent?
Municipal bodies, agencies and private persons offer flats for rent.
TVT Asunnot Oy rents flats that are owned by the City of Turku. You can apply for a vacant flat by filling out an application form. This will be valid for three months. You can fill out an application for housing either electronically on the company’s website or at their office.
TVT Asunnot Oy
Kiinteistö Oy Lehtolaakso
Käsityöläiskatu 3
20100 Turku
City exchange, tel. (02) 330 000
Fax (02) 262 4894
tvtasunnot@turku.fi
lehtolaakso@turku.fi
You can also apply for vacant rental flats from SATO Yhtymä Oyj, VVO and YH Länsi Oy.
The Student Foundation of Turku (TYS) offers student housing.
Other websites for rented flats include: Oikotie.fi, Vuokraovi.com
Where can I find a right-of-occupancy apartment?
You can apply for a right-of-occupancy apartment by filling out a form here: http://www.vaso.fi/isannointi.asp?id=4
How much does housing cost?
When you live in a rented flat you pay rent once a month. In addition to rent, you pay for the water and electricity you use. Often you also have to pay rent for a parking place. In some flats, an Internet connection is included in the rent, whereas for others you have to organise it yourself.
It is a good idea to keep your rent receipts, for example, if you apply for housing allowance.
Every occupant should take out a home insurance policy from an insurance company. A reasonable home insurance payment is considered an expense when calculating your income support.
If you watch television, you must pay a TV fee.
FINNISH COMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY AUTHORITY/TV FEES
Helsinki, tel: 09 613161
Itämerenkatu 3 A, www.tv-maksu.fi
A deposit/rent guarantee is required before entering into a rental agreement. In city-owned flats, this is determined by the size of the flat. A private renter usually requires two months’ rent as a deposit. If you vacate the flat in good, tidy condition, you will get your deposit back when you move out.
Will the flat have electricity and water when I move in?
Before you move, you must make a contract with Turku Energia for electricity.
Oy Turku Energia – Åbo Energia Ab
Street address: Linnankatu 65, 20100 Turku
open on weekdays between 8:30–16:00
electricity contracts, change of address notifications and guidance, tel. 0800 02500
When you move out of a flat, do not forget to cancel your electricity contract.
When you move into a new flat, make a new electricity contract.
You do not have to make a separate contract for the water if you are moving into a block of flats or a terrace house.
The water that comes out of the tap is clean and drinkable everywhere in Finland.
Because water is expensive it is best to avoid wasting it.
What fittings will a flat have?
All flats usually have the most common domestic appliances in the kitchen when a new tenant moves in, such as an electric cooker and refrigerator and the lights that have been fitted into the bathroom, and kitchen fittings. Usually flats are not furnished, so you have to acquire all the furniture and other domestic appliances and lights yourself.
Every occupant must buy a smoke alarm for their flat themselves.
A tip: you can buy used, good quality furniture from Ekotori, flea markets and second-hand shops.
How do I move into a flat?
After making a rental agreement on a flat, you will receive keys to it and can move in at the agreed time.
According to Finnish law, you must make a notification of move to the Local Register Office within a week from moving. By submitting the notification in good time before moving, you make sure that your mail will be redirected to the new address immediately.
Local Register Office of Turku
Aurakatu 8, 20100 Turku
tel. 071 874 1330
You can get Notification of Move forms from your house manager or the post office. The notification may also be made by calling the national service number 0203 456 456. Or you can make it online at www.muuttoilmoitus.fi (requires online banking codes), where you can also notify your change of address to the post office. The notification of move affects, for example, the determination of your home municipality. It also has an influence on whether you receive income support and housing allowance.
What support will I get for housing?
You may receive housing allowance, which you apply for at Kela. (link to the national part of Info Bank)
KELA Turku
Street address: Eerikinkatu 26, 20100 TURKU
Postal address: P.O. Box 366, 20101 TURKU
If you live in a rental flat owned by the City of Turku, you can ask the Housing Adviser for advice in case problems related to dwelling arise. He or she will help and advise you if you have problems paying your rent, in quarrels between neighbours, or if you are about to be evicted. The Adviser will also tell you how to apply for housing-related support and benefits and help you in other housing problems.
Housing Advisers:
Arja-Liisa Tamminen
Akseli Kiinteistöpalvelut Oy
Karvataskunkatu 1
20610 Turku
tel. (02) 275 2149
Suvi Santanen
TVT Asunnot Oy
Käsityöläiskatu 3
20100 Turku
tel. 040 530 6089
What should I know about housing rules?
A janitor is responsible for maintenance work in the house. When you make a rental agreement, ask for the janitor’s phone number. You can ask a janitor for advice in the following matters:
- minor repair works to the flat
- reserving times for sauna
- parking place
- cellar
- washing room
- if you have forgotten your key, the janitor will open your door for a charge
There are always certain rules to housing, especially if you live in a block of flats or a terrace house where you have to be considerate to your neighbours.
The rent must be paid by the due date. You have received the information about the amount of rent and the due date in the rental agreement. You can lose your flat if you do not pay your rent.
Between 22:00–7:00 occupants are expected to keep quiet and you must not make a lot of noise, for example, by playing loud music or having the television on so loud that your neighbours can hear what you are watching. You are also responsible for the noise and disturbance caused by your guests.
Rubbish must always be taken to the waste container outside, and it must be sorted according to instructions. Domestic rubbish must be sorted and taken to the appropriate recycling containers, for example, for paper, cardboard, glass, metal and problem waste. The housing company may also have containers for mixed waste and biowaste. Many buildings also have separate paper collection containers.
In blocks of flats or terrace houses, you will always receive information about the building’s own rules from the house manager. You will have received his or her contact information after you signed the rental agreement which gives you the right to live in the flat and consider it your home.
What is an eviction?
If you live in a rented flat and you have neglected to pay your rent, your renter will appeal to the Southwest Finland District Court to have you evicted from the flat. You can also be evicted if you have repeatedly caused disturbances in your flat or in the common facilities. This means that you will lose the flat and after that it will be very difficult for you to find another one.
More general information about living in Turku