ACCOMMODATION IN THE HELSINKI METROPOLITAN AREA

Helsinki Metropolitan area is a fun place to live in, but finding suitable accommodation in the capital regioncan be challenging. There is a lot of competition in affordable housing, so it is important to start searching fora room many months prior to arrival. Look into different options and make sure that you have reservedaccommodation for your whole exchange period before you arrive.

Here’s some advice from previous ConREM-students:"secure accommodation before arrival to Helsinki. Use all your network to find accomodation"“Look for houses 2-3 months before they come to Helsinki in many websites.”“Pay a lot of attention to the housing question, start to solve it a long time before arrival in Helsinki”“You can find accommodation but you need to search!”

PRIVATE MARKET OPTIONS

The International Office at Helsinki Metropolia UAS cannot offer assistance in finding accommodation fromthe private market, but we have compiled the following list for you about where to start looking foraccommodation:

1. During academic year 2013-2014 many Conrem students stayed at AnttiKorppi Student House:http://www.anttikorppi.com/. This can also be a good option for you. If you are interested in this option,contact Student House as early as possible.

2. Find or post ads, for example· HOAS Flea market: http://www.hoas.fi/www/hoaswww.nsf/sp2?Open&cid=Content07FC5· Facebook group ”Apartments for students in Helsinki Metropolitan Area”:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/112489548797522/· www.vuokraovi.com --> English· www.airbnb.com

If you are looking for an apartment from the private market it is a good idea to team up and look forapartments in groups as studio apartments are always the most expensive option. It is also a good idea tocontact the ConREM students who were in Helsinki during the previous academic year to find out where theyfound accommodation!

HOAS

Metropolia does cooperation with HOAS, a non-profit Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region.HOAS has furnished apartments for exchange students and unfurnished apartments for full-timeundergraduate students who do their whole degree in Finland. If you are interested in applying for a furnishedroom in the Metropolia quota from HOAS then please note:

Ø Normally tenancy agreements are always made for full Finnish semesters (Autumn semester:September - December /Spring semester: January - May). ConREM-students can apply foraccommodation from HOAS but please note that the tenancy agreements cannot be made for the timeperiod of October-February, since the tenancy agreements are made for Finnish semesters. Exceptionscannot be made (except the one mentioned below).

Ø During academic year 2014-2015 it is possible to apply for a HOAS room situated in theKannelmäki area for the period of October- December. The rooms will be fully renovated duringAugust and September and that is why the rental period in this location can start in October. Please note,however, that the rental period cannot be continued after December, so if you are interested in this optionyou need to be prepared to find accommodation elsewhere for January and February. Please also notethat the option of the rental period being October-December is not possible in other HOAS locations.

Ø The number of exchange student rooms is limited: Therefore, applying on time does not necessarilyguarantee you will get a room from HOAS by the time your studies begin. Be prepared to look for otherhousing options.

Ø Apply for housing during April. Send your application via the HOAS webpage for EXCHANGESTUDENTS. The housing offers are sent to the applicant’s e-mail on first come, first served basis -> thestudents applying for a room early in April have better chances in receiving an offer from HOAS.

Ø Depending on the type of housing, the monthly rent is 400 - 550€, which includes basic furniture,Internet connection, water, heating and electricity.

Ø If you get a housing offer, please confirm it or reject it soon: HOAS will offer you the best housingtype and location that is still available - you will not get a second offer! If you are not interested in theoffered room, please inform about it to HOAS as soon as possible, so they can offer the room to the nextstudent in the queue.

MORE INFORMATION

- HOAS website for Exchange students: www.hoas.fi (please see the section for Exchange Students)- Metropolia Study Guide, accommodation for exchange students:

http://opintoopas.metropolia.fi/en/accommodation-exchange-students

THE MOST IMPORTANT STEPS REGARDING HOUSING

1. START EARLY AND BE ACTIVEThe most important thing is to be active yourself and start looking for an apartment already in the spring! Theuniversities do not guarantee or offer assistance in searching for housing for their students.

2. USE VARIOUS CHANNELSIt is recommended to apply for an apartment simultaneously through various channels. When you are offeredan apartment, we strongly recommend you to take it because you might not get another offer. However, whenrenting a flat from private person do not sign a contract before seeing the flat.

3. BE PREPARED TO PAY 400-800€ PER MONTH FOR HOUSINGPlease note accommodation is much more expensive in Helsinki than in Berlin.

4. BE PREPARED TO LIVE FURTHER AWAY FROM THE CITY CENTER OR CAMPUS AREASYour possibilities to find an apartment are significantly better if you are willing to live outside the city centre orcampus areas. You can easily check the transport connections from your apartment to the campus from theHelsinki Region Transport Journey Planner: www.reittiopas.fi/en. In Finland it is very common for the studentsto live further away from campus.

5. NEVER SEND MONEY OR YOUR PASSPORT INFORMATION TO ANYONEWhen renting a flat from a private person do not send your passport information to anyone before you haveseen the apartment and signed a contract. An offer that sounds too good to be true (e.g. very cheapapartment close to the centre) is usually a scam.

6. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PLACE TO STAY BEFORE ARRIVING TO FINLANDWhatever you decide on accommodation, please make sure to have a place to stay before arriving to Finland,since it is extremely difficult to find accommodation here in September/October.