What are the responsibilities of property owners in Finland? How much you have to spend on taxes and fees, and how much you have to pay for utilities? The answers to these and other questions about real estate in Finland can be found in our article.
The cost of maintaining the apartment consists of the utility fee and possible payments on the loan taken by the housing cooperative from the bank for construction (in the case of a completely new house) or major repairs. The utility fee includes heating, water supply, maintenance of the cooperative's real estate, small ongoing repairs, accounting and management services, annual property tax, insurance, cleaning of common areas, and so on.
The fee for water consumption in Finland is often calculated based on the number of people living in the apartment. However, at present, water meters are increasingly being installed in homes. The use of the co-op's shared sauna, laundry, and parking space is paid separately.
Owners of their own houses and cottages pay all their own expenses: heating, water and sewerage, insurance, and the annual property tax. The tax is calculated by the local tax service, based on the size of the plot and the buildings on the plot.
Owners of country houses, as a rule, also pay a fee for the maintenance of the road leading directly to the site.
In Finland, as in most European countries, owners must pay an annual municipal property tax regardless of their citizenship and place of permanent residence.
The tax is paid at the beginning of each calendar year. Therefore, even if you sell your property on the second of January, you will have to give the state the required amount.
Important!
The apartment tax is included in the monthly utility fee, so you do not have to pay it separately.
Property tax
In Finland, the annual tax on residential real estate ranges from 0.41−0.90 %. In the case of dachas (vapaa-ajan asunnot), the tax is from 0.93% to 2%. Assesses the cadastral value of the property as well as determines the amount of tax within the specified limits, the tax service of the local municipality.
When buying a property in Finland, the realtor is obliged to provide information about the amount of annual tax in the current year on a particular object.
If you own a land plot for construction, then until it is completed, the land tax is 2-6% of the cadastral value of the plot. Upon completion of the construction, it is necessary to pay the tax established by the local standard, both on the land plot and on the building located on its territory.
Utility Bills
All types of utility payments depend on the area of the property, the type of construction, the region and even the lifestyle of the owner.
It is impossible to speak about the owners' partnership in the classical sense of the word in Finland, if only because apartment buildings in the country are housing joint-stock companies. But the cost of maintaining the house has not disappeared, just for different types of housing, they are slightly different.
For example, the accounts of the owners of apartments in Suomi include payments for cleaning the territory adjacent to the house from €70-100 per year. The average national utility fee is €4-4. 5 per square meter of owned apartment. The amount of contributions to the utility fee is determined annually by the general meeting of apartment owners of Association of residents and may change depending on the needs of the cooperative.
The owners of houses in the communal areas often have a point "fee for the maintenance of roads": this is €70-90 per year.
Electricity
Electricity in Finland is paid for by meters. Tariffs vary greatly, depending on the supplier, on average - €0.09-0.13 per 1 kW/hour. At the same time, the total cost of electricity directly depends on whether your house has central heating. Usually in urban housing, it is found even in individual homes. But suburban housing is most often heated by electricity.
In the absence of central heating, the hot water in the house is heated by a boiler, and the entire house is heated by electric radiators. Naturally, in this case, electricity bills can be a very significant item of expenditure.
Newer private homes are usually equipped with modern heating, water heating and ventilation systems with heat recovery. This allows you to save up to 65% of electricity compared to conventional electric heating. In such houses, heating for permanent residents is spent on average about €1 per sq.m.
Water supply
In the bill that is sent from the house management, in addition to the cost of utilities, water costs are a separate line. As a rule, this is a fixed amount per tenant, about €18-20 per month. Thus, a family of 3 people will pay €54-60 per month for water.
Pricing plans:
Cold water – about €3 per cubic meter
Hot water – about €10 per cubic meter (with central heating)
If you have your own well (in your own homes), there are no water supply costs, but you will have to pay for sewerage (septic tank cleaning). With autonomous water supply and permanent residence in the house, about once a month you need to pump out the waste of the sewer tank. The cost of such works is about €70.
Modern local sewerage systems are more advanced and you only need to clean the septic tank once a year.
Heating
Even when buying, you should specify what kind of heating system is in your future home. After all, in such a cold country as Finland, most of the costs of utility bills will fall on heating.
Central heating in Finland is charged in both winter and summer. The average price is about €26 per 1 MWh. Prices are set based on the costs of heat production and distribution, so they differ from one utility to another.
Internet, TV, phone
As in many countries of the world, in Finland, one of the main means of communication is mobile communication.
The largest Finnish mobile operators: Telia, DNA, Elisa. The monthly fee, including unlimited internet, starts at €19 per month.
A dedicated 100 Mbps internet connection in your own apartment will cost €25-30 per month.
Real estate insurance
Owners of detached houses in Finland are required to insure their property against fire, hurricane and other emergencies. The house has an area of about 100 sq. m. m will cost about €300 a year.
Apartment insurance is voluntary, but usually includes liability insurance to the cooperative or neighbors, so it is recommended not to abandon it. Payment of insurance of buildings of apartment buildings for apartment owners is included in the utility fee.
How to pay for utilities?
Utility bills and notices for the payment of the annual tax are usually sent by e-mail or by regular mail to the address of the owner. If the owner of the house does not have the opportunity to pick them up, periodically visiting their Finnish home, or pay the bill by bank transfer from Russia, it is best to open an account with a Finnish bank and make an agreement on automatic debiting of funds. Then the bills will be sent to the bank, which will automatically write off the required amount and send the payment for the maintenance of the house. The bank will send a report with a description of the costs to the account holder.
The house has an area of 98 sq.m on its own plot of 15 acres by the lake, worth €189,000. A family of four lives for 3 months of the year.
Annual annual tax (approximately) €1,300
Garbage collection and road maintenance fees €160
Water for 4 people (about €40 per month) €120
Electricity, including heating of €1,800
Insurance for the building €300
Total expenses per year: €3,680
Residential property for sale in Finland:
24 000 €
Flat in Mänttä, Finland
36 sq.m111
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22 000 €
Flat in Kouvola, Finland
35 sq.m111
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A spacious studio apartment of 35 m2 on the 3rd floor is for sale in the Kuusankoski area.
The price is 22 000 €.
The house was built in 1954, district heating.
Major repairs, cleaning of sewers, windows, etc. were made.
Spacious kitchen and...
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225 000 €
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141 sq.m421
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Habita International Estates Ltd
25 000 €
Flat in Kuhmoinen, Finland
38 sq.m111
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Studio apartment in Kuhmoinen
The year of construction is 1970. The total area is 38 sq.m., 1/3 floor. Elevator.
Living room, equipped kitchen, bathroom, balcony.
The price is 26,000 euros
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Payment for water - by...
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15 900 €
Flat in Suomussalmi, Finland
57 sq.m211
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In the city of Suomussalmi, a 2-bedroom apartment of 57 m2 on the 2nd floor is for sale.
The price is 16,900 €.
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86 000 €
Flat in Loviisa, Finland
65 sq.m322
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Habita International Estates Ltd
21 585 €
Flat in Kotka, Finland
57 sq.m211
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It is possible to conduct a transaction remotely without your presence by proxy!!!One bedroom apartment in KotkaThe year of construction is 1979. The total area is 57 sq.m. 2/3 floor.Living room, equipped kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, balcony. The price is 21,585.60 euros + installments from the management company for the repairs carried out in...
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35 000 €
Flat in Somero, Finland
60 sq.m211
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One bedroom apartment in Somero
The year of construction was 1940. The total area is 60 sq.m. 1/2 floor.
Living room, equipped kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, sauna.
The price is 35,000 euros
Utility bills - 279.60 euros / month.
Payment for water - by the...
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39 000 €
Flat in Hollola, Finland
128 sq.m531
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In the area of Järvelä, Kärkölä, a 5-room apartment of 128 m2 with a fireplace is for sale.
The price is 39,000 €.
3 bedrooms, large living and dining room, kitchen, bathroom and separate toilet.
The second kitchen has been converted into a utility...
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25 000 €
House in Aanekoski, Finland
184 sq.m431
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House for permanent residence in Äänekoski
The year of construction is 1952. The total area is 184 sq.m. 3 floors.
Living room, equipped kitchen, 3 bedrooms, bathroom, sauna.
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Flat in Kemi, Finland
30 sq.m111
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Inexpensive and affordable 1-bedroom apartment of 30 m2 in Kemi, in need of renovation.
The apartment is located in a good location, close to the services of the city center.
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The house was built in 1971, district...
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5 000 €
Townhouse in Siilinjarvi, Finland
70 sq.m321
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A cozy small residential complex in a quiet location.
Close to schools and Siilinlahti beach.
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18 000 €
Flat in Kuhmoinen, Finland
37 sq.m111
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House in Kemi, Finland
141 sq.m321
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The price is 18,500 €.
Beautiful courtyard, sauna in the courtyard at the back.
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The heating of the house is electric. The annual electricity consumption of current residents...
VIPCON LKV - FINLYANDIYA
20 000 €
Townhouse in Oulu, Finland
65 sq.m321
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A commercial space of 65.3 m2 is for sale in the center of Kärsämäki.
The price is 20,000 €.
The premises are in a clean condition.
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228 000 €
Flat in Sipoo, Finland
67 sq.m211
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Habita International Estates Ltd
239 000 €
House in Loviisa, Finland
118 sq.m521
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Habita International Estates Ltd
24 991 €
Flat in Kemi, Finland
29 sq.m111
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Very clean and affordable studio of 29 m2 "a stone's throw" from the city center.
The bathroom has been renovated and almost all surfaces in the apartment have been updated in the newly completed renovation!
A balcony overlooking the courtyard.
The...
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