Housing counselling

Do you live in Espoo and have issues or questions about housing? Do you need help with finding an apartment, making a rental contract, solving issues with paying rent or neighbourhood conflicts? Edistia’s housing counsellors are here to help!

Edistia will be providing the City of Espoo’s housing counselling services starting from September 2023. The service is free of charge and aimed at everyone who live in Espoo and need the service.

Housing counselling includes information e.g. about different forms of housing, finding an apartment, cost of housing and your rights and duties as a tenant. We can provide you with counselling and guidance for example with:
– finding an apartment
– making a rental contract
– issues with paying rent or maintenance charge
– conflicts with landlord or neighbours
– living in a rental, right-of-occupancy or owner-occupied apartment
– personal finances
– being threatened with homelessness

Apartment Finding Workshops in Espoo

In the apartment finding workshop, you will get guidance for apartment seeking in a small group (in Finnish, or in English if needed; interpretation service not available). The workshops are open and free of charge for everyone living in Espoo.

The maximum number of participants in a workshop is 4-6 persons in Sello and 6-8 persons in Iso Omena, so please prepare for waiting for your turn! You will need a laptop or a smart phone in the workshop. If you don’t have one, you can borrow a laptop in the library with a library card. Instructions for getting a library card can be read here.

Taking part in the workshop does not guarantee getting an apartment. The housing councellors do not give out apartments, recommendations or statements.

Upcoming workshops:

– Tue 30th April from 9.45 a.m. to 12.00 p.m., Sello library, meeting room Elina (2nd floor)
– Tue 14th May from 9.45 a.m. to 12.00 p.m., Sello library, meeting room Elina (2nd floor)
– Thu 23rd May from 12.15 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. Iso Omena library, meeting room Kari
– Tue 28th May from 9.45 a.m. to 12.00 p.m., Sello library, meeting room Elina (2nd floor)
– Tue 11th June  from 9.45 a.m. to 12.00 p.m., Sello library, meeting room Mauri (2nd floor)
– Thu 13th June  from 12.15 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. Iso Omena library, meeting room Kari

Walk-in councelling days

In the walk-in days, you can get short councelling (max. 20 min / person) without booking an appointment. The councelling can include for example service councelling or tips for where you could try to look for an apartment. Please note, that there can be other people in the same room, too. You will not get an apartment through the walk-in councelling. The housing councellors do not give out apartments, recommendations or statements. Interpretation available on the phone if needed.

Upcoming walk-in days:
– Thu 2nd May from 12.15 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., Iso Omena library, meeting room Kari
– Tue 7th May from 9.45 a.m. to 12.00 p.m., Sello library, meeting room Elina (2nd floor)
– Thu 16th May from 12.15 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., Iso Omena library, meeting room Kari
– Tue 21st May from 9.45 a.m. to 12.00 p.m., Sello library, meeting room Elina (2nd floor)
– Thu 30th May from 12.15 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., Iso Omena library, meeting room Kari
– Tue 4th June from 9.45 a.m. to 12.00 p.m., Sello library, meeting room Elina (2nd floor)
– Tue 18h June from 9.45 a.m. to 12.00 p.m., Sello library, meeting room Elina (2nd floor)

Housing counselling by email or phone

Housing counselling is also provided via email and on the phone. You can email our housing counsellors on asumisneuvonta@espoo.fi. Messages will be replied within 3 working days.

On phone counselling, we use a callback service. You can call us on the number 044 727 3415 from Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. and leave a message. Our housing counsellors will call you back during office hours, within 3 working days. Interpretation available on the phone if needed.

Exceptions:
The housing counsellors are not available on Thursday 25th April due to training.
The housing couselling service will be closed on 1st May (vappu), 9th May (Ascension Day) and 21st June (Midsummer Eve).

The workshops and walk-in events in Sello and Iso Omena libraries will be on a summer break after 18th June and start again on 6th August. Information of August’s walk-in and workshops will be published in the end on July.