Applying for a rental apartment

The income limits apply to both new applicants and current Espoon Asunnot residents who wish to change apartments.

How is income calculated?

Income is calculated based on the gross monthly income of all adult members of the applicant household, meaning income before taxes.

The income limit for a one-person household is EUR 3,540 per month. The income limit is increased as follows:

• by EUR 2,480 for each additional adult
• by EUR 650 for the first child
• by EUR 600 for each additional child

Examples of income limits:

• 1 adult: EUR 3,540
• 2 adults: EUR 6,020
• 1 adult and 1 child: EUR 4,190
• 2 adults and 1 child: EUR 6,670
• 2 adults and 2 children: EUR 7,270
• 2 adults and 3 children: EUR 7,870

Source: varke.fi

You can only apply for state-subsidised rental apartments if your wealth do not exceed the defined limits.

What counts as wealth?

Wealth include, for example:

• an owner-occupied apartment, holiday home, or detached house
• a plot of land
• securities (e.g. shares)

If you are offered an apartment, you must provide a reliable estimate of the value of your assets and a report on any loans. The value of an owner-occupied home can be assessed by a real estate agent.

Wealht limits:

• 1 person: EUR 75,000
• 2 persons: EUR 94,000
• 3 persons: EUR 125,000
• 4 persons: EUR 135,000
• 5 persons: EUR 145,000

If you are moving to Espoo for work, an owner-occupied home located elsewhere may not be counted as an asset.

The income and wealth limits are listed at the beginning of this page. Please check them before filling in the application.

If your income and wealth:

• do not exceed the limits, you can apply for both state-subsided housing and privately financed housing.
• exceed the limits, you can only apply for privately financed housing

Before you start filling in the application, take a look at our rental apartments.

In the application, you can tell us what kind of apartment you are looking for. You can choose:

• location (where you want to live)
• apartment size (e.g. studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom)
• features (e.g. balcony, lift)
• maximum rent

Fill in your housing wishes carefully. If we are able to offer you an apartment, we will do so based on the information in your application.

For example, we will not offer a three-room apartment to a single applicant. In addition, the maximum rent you specify must be realistic in relation to the size of the apartment you are applying for.

The application must include all persons who will move into the apartment.

If you are expecting a child, please include the pregnancy and the due date in the application. Pregnancy is taken into account when determining the size of the household.

On the last page of the application, you’ll see a summary of the information you have provided. Please review it carefully before submitting your application.

If you need a copy of the housing application – for example, for Kela – select “Yes” under “I want the summary sent to my email” on the summary page. A copy will be sent to you automatically.

Once you have submitted your electronic housing application, you will receive an email confirming that it has been received.

Your application will be activated immediately, and you will be included in the resident selection process.

Espoo Service Points and libraries can help you use online services.

The City of Espoo’s housing counselling service (Edistia) can assist you in applying for rental housing offered by Espoon Asunnot and other landlords. You can find more information and contact details on the Edistia website.

1. Log in to the online service.
2. Select the application you want to edit.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the application summary to make changes.
4. Make the necessary updates and review the details on the summary page.
5. Submit the edited application to save your changes.

All updates will take effect immediately.

Each time you edit your application, its validity will be extended by three months. If your application has expired, you will need to submit a new one.

If you no longer need housing, you can cancel your application through the online service. Once cancelled, your application will be deleted immediately.

• The applicant is homeless. The applicant lives outdoors, in temporary housing (e.g. a shelter, guest house), or with relatives due to lack of housing.
• The applicant is at risk of becoming homeless. This may be due to, for example, the termination of the applicant’s lease agreement, the demolition or forced sale of the applicant’s home or the authorities declaring the applicant’s home uninhabitable.
• The applicant needs an accessible apartment, and the applicant’s current apartment is not accessible.
• The applicant lives in very cramped conditions. The apartment has three or more people per room or less than 10 m² of space per person (the kitchen does not count as a room).
• The applicant moves to Espoo for work, but does not have an apartment.

• The applicant’s current housing costs are unreasonable. Rent and other housing costs account for more than 40% of the household’s gross income.
• The applicant has a fixed-term lease that cannot be extended.
• The applicant lives in cramped conditions. The apartment has more than one but less than three people per room or less than 15 m² of space per person (the kitchen does not count as a room). Living in a single-parent family is cramped if the parent does not have their own bedroom.
• The applicant is over 18 years old and still lives at home.
• The applicant or the applicant’s family member has an illness or disability that requires healthier or more suitable housing (not the same as the need for accessible housing). A medical certificate must be attached to the application.
• A married or cohabiting couple cannot be separated due to the lack of an apartment.

This category includes applicants whose need for housing is not urgent but who wish to change their apartment for reasons such as:

• A long or difficult commute (does not apply to those moving to Espoo for work – see extremely urgent need for housing)
• The applicant is starting a family and does not have a shared home with their partner
• The applicant’s current apartment is unsuitable for shift work
• The applicant’s current apartment is otherwise unsatisfactory