Lapland is bustling with visitors, which has opened up multiple job opportunities for people who have dreamed of moving to Lapland. But where can you find a roof over your head?
We’re providing you with four useful tips worth considering when looking for an apartment.
1. Make use of the Internet
Search online property websites such as etuovi.com, tori.fi or oikotie.fi for apartments to rent or buy.
– You might also want to check out what is listed with the local estate agencies, such as OP-Kiinteistökeskus, says Mikko Korhonen, Managing Director at the real estate agency Pohjolan OP-Kiinteistökeskus.
If you use social media, try looking for regional apartment rental groups. There are many active Facebook groups, especially for Rovaniemi and the biggest ski resorts, where you can find advertisements for places to rent for a longer period of time as well as for temporary housing. There are also groups on Facebook where you can look for houses to buy. Quick tip: You may need to be able to demonstrate that you are genuinely seeking housing before your request to join a group is accepted.
2. Employ the word-of-mouth tactic
Finland is a small country, where somebody always knows somebody. So employ the word-of-mouth tactic and let your friends and acquaintances know that you are looking for an apartment. They may know someone who has just the perfect place for you or can offer a helpful hint that will help you in your hunt for an apartment.
– Spread the message on social media too, recommends Julia Benzar who is working in Ylläs for the winter.
And how about placing an ad in the newspaper? As most people are looking for and offering apartments online, a traditional ad in the local press may result in a pleasant surprise. And, should you feel totally bold and adventurous, ask a local resident to put an advertisement for you in the local grocery shop.
3. Where do you stand in terms of services?
If you insist on having services such as an airport, a grocery shop stocking the necessary ingredients for sushi, a cinema or indeed a public swimming pool close at hand, you might want to look for an apartment in Rovaniemi or other town centres. But mind you, the ski resorts also boast a comprehensive range of services nowadays.
– Especially the biggest ski resorts such as Levi and Ylläs offer a surprisingly wide variety of services all year around, and the nature in these locations also offers unique leisure opportunities.I feel that in the ski resorts there is no need to ‘cut down on’ on anything, and what’s more, you get to enjoy the nature that is included in the bargain, says Janne-Juhani Haarma, CEO at Visit Ylläs, who found a place for himself and his family through a neighbour.
4. Flatshare or solo living?
If you are willing to share an apartment and the related costs with flatmates, living in a flatshare might be right up your alley. Together with flatmates, it is possible to find affordable deals even on detached houses.
If, on the other hand, you are not craving company but would rather meditate in the serene solitude of the forest, try looking for a lakeside or a riverside cabin that is occupied only occasionally. Bear in mind, though, that public transportation in Lapland is quite limited compared to Southern Finland, although this should not be a problem if you happen to have a car of your own.
Johanna Koivumaa, Development Manager at the Municipality of Kolari, adds that plans are afoot to build modular apartments of different sizes in Lapland, which will provide an ideal housing solution for seasonal workers or function as a form of temporary housing before finding a permanent apartment.