General housing allowance in Finland 2026: who gets it and how much?
The general housing allowance covers 70% of your accepted housing costs after the basic deductible is subtracted. For example, a single person in Helsinki with accepted housing costs of €563/month and income of €1,200/month can get about €240/month. The allowance is only paid if it is at least €15/month.
The amount depends on your housing costs, income, household size and municipality. From 2026 assets also affect it. Below are the formula, the municipality-group maximums and the 2024–2026 changes.
- 70%
- rate of housing costs
- €563
- max costs, single (group 1)
- €15
- smallest allowance paid /month
- 2026
- asset test introduced
How is the housing allowance calculated?
The allowance is calculated as 70% × (accepted housing costs − basic deductible). The basic deductible is 50% of the part of income that exceeds the base amount: €667 + €94 per adult and €296 per child. The higher the income, the larger the deductible and the smaller the allowance. When income is low enough, there is no deductible and the allowance is 70% of the housing costs.
Accepted housing costs are capped at the municipality-group maximum. In a more expensive area you can get more with the same costs.
| Group | Area | Max costs /month |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen | €563 |
| Group 2 | Large cities | €447 |
| Group 3 | Rest of Finland | €394 |
What changed in 2024–2026?
The 2024 reform cut the rate from 80% to 70% and removed the €300 earned-income protection. Owner-occupied homes are no longer covered (from 1 Jan 2025, rentals only), and students moved to the study-grant housing supplement (1 Aug 2025). From 2026 an asset test applies: for a single adult, 20% of net assets over €10,000 and for two adults over €20,000 is counted as income, and with net assets of €50,000 or more no allowance is paid.
Housing allowance calculator 2026 →Calculators for this topic
FAQ
How much housing allowance can you get?
The allowance is 70% of accepted housing costs after the basic deductible, and is only paid if it is at least €15/month. For example, a single person in Helsinki with costs of €563/month and income of €1,200/month gets about €240/month.
How does income affect the allowance?
A basic deductible is calculated from income: 50% of the part exceeding €667 + €94/adult + €296/child. Since 2024 there is no longer a €300 earned-income protection, so all income affects the allowance.
Can you get the allowance for an owner-occupied home?
No longer. From 1 Jan 2025 the general housing allowance is only paid for a rented home.
Do assets affect the allowance in 2026?
Yes. From 2026, for a single adult 20% of net assets over €10,000 and for two adults over €20,000 is counted as annual income. With net assets of €50,000 or more, no allowance is paid.
Do students get the housing allowance?
Generally no. From 1 Aug 2025 students moved back to the study-grant housing supplement. The general allowance is still possible, for example, when the household also includes non-students.