It can be difficult to find private rental accommodation in Helsinki and Finland's other cities, and rents are often high.

Around half of all rental accommodation in Finland is state-subsidized housing, for which there are long waiting lists. This is rarely available to newly-arrived expatriates. The majority of other rental properties are owned by private landlords, often within buildings owned by housing companies. Within the cities nearly all rental accommodation consists of apartments, there are very few houses available.

Many properties are rented unfurnished, and may not even include carpets, curtains or light fittings. However, they often come with fitted kitchens including an oven and refrigerator.

Private rental properties are advertised in newspapers, on internet property search sites, and by housing agents. Agents normally charge a commission of around one month's rent plus tax.

Finland's property rental market was deregulated in the 1990s, and there is now considerable flexibility on rental agreements and prices, although rents must be reasonable. Once a rental agreement has been signed, the rent cannot be increased for the duration of the agreement.

It is normal procedure when renting a property to be asked to pay a security deposit of two months rent, plus a month's rent in advance. Tenants are usually asked to give a month's notice of leaving the property, while the landlord usually agrees to give three months notice, or six months notice after a tenancy agreement has been in effect for more than a year.