Applying for residential apartments

Only a few of the residential apartments owned by the Governing Body of Suomenlinna become available each year. These vacant apartments mainly become available on completion of restoration projects or after residents move out, and few new apartments are constructed. There are 330 rental apartments in Suomenlinna, of which approximately one third are leased by the Defence Administration as employee housing for Defence Administration personnel.

Residential apartments at Suomenlinna are issued through a special application procedure. Each free apartment must be applied for separately, and the Governing Body of Suomenlinna maintains no waiting list for apartments. Available apartments are announced on the notice board of the Governing Body and on this website. Application forms may be obtained from the customer service point of the Governing Body, or printed from this website at the time of the announcement. About 50 applications are usually submitted for each available apartment.

The allocation of apartments is based on the general instructions for leasing and applying for residential apartments at Suomenlinna. Tenants are selected by the housing department of the Governing Body, with particular priority given to persons who can assist in the care and services of the fortress. Residential apartments are not allocated on social grounds. A diversified population comprising various age groups, social groups and professional groups best serves the objective of maintaining the community structure that characterises the old garrison town. This means that no waiting list can be applied in the allocation of residential apartments in Suomenlinna.

The level of rents in Suomenlinna is reasonable, varying between 10 and 14 euros per square metre, depending on the size and standard of fixtures and fittings in the dwelling.

Link to the housing association website