Housing in Åland
The basic rule is that you can purchase your own home in all areas designated for permanent residence when you move to Åland. With regional citizenship (right of domicile), you have the right to own land and property in Åland without restriction, and you can apply for this after five years of permanent residence. There are no restrictions on owning a dwelling in housing company or renting a dwelling, however.
The types of housing and taxation related to housing are the same as in Finland. You can read more about them and other useful information on the page Housing in Finland.
Buying a home
Anyone can purchase a home in Åland even without Åland regional citizenship, but a special exemption in the form of a land acquisition permit from the Government of Åland may be required. There are a number of estate agents who can help you find a property or apartment to buy, and private individuals also sell their homes without involving an estate agent.
The website Fastigheter.ax lists all properties available from estate agents in Åland. It may also be a good idea to use social media, your own contacts and read daily newspapers to find properties for sale.
A property is, for example, your own house or a summer cottage with an outside area. If you wish to purchase a property for permanent residence as a new resident without Åland regional citizenship, the property must be located in a zoned residential area and be less than 4,000 square metres in size. With a land acquisition permit, you can own a property even without regional citizenship.
The purchase of a property is usually financed through personal savings or a home loan. The costs of a home loan are affected by factors such as interest rates, the term of the loan, the quality of the collateral and your relationship with the bank. If you are buying a home in Åland and taking out a home loan from a bank in another Nordic country, you are generally not allowed to use the home as collateral for the loan. When you purchase a home, you must pay transfer tax in addition to the purchase price. The transfer tax for property is a one-time fee of 3 per cent.
Anyone can purchase and own housing-company apartments in Åland. In a housing-company apartment, there is no residence requirement that requires you to register at the address. You can live in the dwelling permanently or periodically and are entitled to rent it out.
When you buy a home, you must pay transfer tax in addition to the purchase price. The transfer tax for housing-company apartments is a one-off fee of 1.5 per cent.
Right to buy housing
Anyone can buy or rent a home in Åland. However, there is Åland regional citizenship (right of domicile), which is a prerequisite for owning and possessing land in Åland. It is possible to purchase an apartment, residential building or land in Åland even for those who do not have Åland regional citizenship. Exemptions from the requirement of regional citizenship may be granted by the Government of Åland after you have applied for a “land acquisition permit”.
In the menu tabs, you can read about the conditions for Åland regional citizenship and land acquisition permits.
If you have lived in Åland for five years without interruption and are a Finnish citizen, you can apply for Åland regional citizenship. Åland regional citizenship gives you the right to, among other things, own and possess real estate in Åland without restrictions. For example, if you are a registered resident of Åland at birth, you automatically have regional citizenship. Regional citizenship can be lost if you are registered in another locality for more than five years. If you move back to Åland, you can apply to have your right of domicile reinstated.
Read more about regional citizenship on the Info Norden page on Åland regional citizenship or on the website of the Government of Åland.
The Government of Åland may grant an exemption, known as a land acquisition permit, allowing you to own land for permanent residence even if you have not formally obtained Åland regional citizenship. One of the conditions is that the property is located in a planned residential area and is less than 4,000 square metres in size. The processing time for the permit is a couple of months, and the municipality where the property is located acts as the referral body.
Familiarise yourself with the most common questions and rules regarding land acquisition permits and how to apply on the Government of Åland website.
Renting a home
Anyone is free to rent a home in Åland; there are no requirements regarding regional citizenship or land acquisition permits. Rental properties are often owned by Åland companies and municipalities, but also by private individuals. Åland has its own tenancy law and there is no requirement to take out home insurance, for example, but the landlord may specify special rules in the tenancy agreement. You can read the Åland tenancy law on the Government of Åland website.
The supply of rental housing and rent levels vary between municipalities. Rents are often higher in Mariehamn than in the archipelago and rural areas. Municipal rental properties generally have lower rents than private ones, and it is common for landlords to require a deposit in addition to the monthly rent when tenants move in.
To rent municipal housing, you need to contact the municipality and sometimes also go on the municipality's housing waiting list. Many individuals and companies advertise vacant properties for rent on various digital channels. Use your own contacts and networks to help you in your search for accommodation. If you have recently moved to Åland, your employer may be able to assist you in finding accommodation.
Åland Living lists a number of private and municipal landlords on its webpage on renting accommodation in Åland. The page also provides links to social media groups where private individuals are looking for tenants.
Student housing
Demand for student accommodation is often high at the start of the term, so it is a good idea to start looking for accommodation as soon as you receive your admission letter. There are companies that offer student accommodation, but it is also common to rent from private individuals or the municipality. On the Åland University of Applied Sciences website, you can find landlords who offer accommodation suitable for students.
Selling property
The same rules apply in Åland as in Finland. Before selling a property, you need to find out what certificates are required for the sale, draw up a deed of sale, pay any taxes, and so on. You can use an estate agency to sell your Åland home and at the same time get help with the administrative aspects of the sale.
On the page Housing in Finland you can find more information about what is required when selling a property in Åland and Finland. The Suomi.fi service also has valuable information about selling.
Taxation and housing
The same rules and taxation principles apply in Åland as in Finland when it comes to housing and property. This applies, for example, to rental income, property tax, inheritance and gift tax, transfer tax and capital gains tax.
The Tax Administration's website provides comprehensive information on taxation of housing and property. For specific Åland tax deductions, go to the page Tax in Åland.
Allowance for housing
Housing allowance is tax-free income intended to help lower-income households reduce their housing costs. In Åland, Kela is responsible for general housing allowance and housing allowance for pensioners. The Åland Labour Market and Student Service Authority (AMS) is responsible for housing support for students who meet the conditions for study grant or adult study grant.
As a rule, you can only receive one type of housing allowance at a time. General housing allowance and housing allowance for pensioners are only granted for housing costs for a home in Finland or Åland. Read more about housing allowance and the amount, as well as housing support for students, on the page Housing allowance in Åland.
More information
On the Info Norden website, you can find information on housing in the other Nordic countries and what authorities to contact if you have questions.
Please fill in our contact form if you have any questions or if you have encountered an obstacle in another Nordic country.
NB! If you have questions regarding the processing of a specific case or application, or other personal matters, please contact the relevant authority directly.