General housing allowance in Finland 2026: limits, maximum housing costs and who gets it
Published · Updated · Author: Palvemax OY
Kela accepts housing costs only up to a maximum (enimmäisasumismenot) set by municipality group and household size. For one person it is €563/month in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, €447/month in 24 municipalities such as Tampere, Turku and Oulu, and €394/month elsewhere in mainland Finland. The allowance is 70% of accepted costs after the basic deductible (perusomavastuu), and it is only paid if it comes to at least €15/month.
For example, a single person in Helsinki with rent of at least €563/month and gross income of €1,200/month gets about €240/month. With the same rent the allowance stops once gross income passes about €1,844/month. Below are the full maximum-cost table, income limits for different households, the formula and the 2026 asset rule.
- 70%
- of accepted housing costs
- €563
- max costs, single, capital region
- €15
- smallest allowance paid /month
- €50,000
- net assets at which it stops
Maximum housing costs 2026 – Kela’s rent limits
Accepted housing costs include rent, or the usage charge (käyttövastike) of a right-of-occupancy home. If water is billed separately, Kela accepts €20/month per person for it. Separately paid heating is counted at a standard rate: €46/month for one person and €16/month for each additional person, slightly more in the north. Electricity and parking are not accepted. Of the total, at most the amount in the table is accepted – anything above it you pay entirely yourself.
| Municipality group | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | Each additional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1: Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen | €563 | €808 | €1,019 | €1,188 | +€148 |
| 2: 24 municipalities incl. Tampere, Turku, Oulu | €447 | €652 | €828 | €981 | +€134 |
| 3: other mainland municipalities | €394 | €574 | €734 | €875 | +€129 |
| Åland | €470 | €687 | €871 | €1,032 | +€141 |
Group 2 is Hyvinkää, Hämeenlinna, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Järvenpää, Kerava, Kirkkonummi, Kuopio, Lahti, Lohja, Nokia, Nurmijärvi, Oulu, Porvoo, Raisio, Riihimäki, Rovaniemi, Seinäjoki, Sipoo, Siuntio, Tampere, Turku, Tuusula and Vihti. On Åland the allowance is 80% of accepted costs, elsewhere 70%.
Income limits: what income still qualifies?
There is no single income limit. A basic deductible (perusomavastuu) is calculated from income: 50% of the part of the household’s gross income above €667 + €94 per adult and €296 per child. The allowance is 70% × (accepted costs − deductible), so it ends when the deductible grows almost as large as the housing costs.
| Household | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 adult | €1,844 | €1,612 | €1,506 |
| 2 adults | €2,428 | €2,116 | €1,960 |
| 1 adult and 1 child | €2,630 | €2,318 | €2,162 |
| 2 adults and 1 child | €3,146 | €2,764 | €2,576 |
| 2 adults and 2 children | €3,780 | €3,366 | €3,154 |
The figures are calculated with Kela’s formula and are indicative: if your housing costs are below the maximum, the allowance ends at a lower income, and from 2026 assets can also reduce it. Example: single in Helsinki, gross income €1,200/month → deductible 0.5 × (1,200 − 761) = €219.50 and allowance 0.7 × (563 − 219.50) = €240.45/month. You can work out your own case with the housing allowance calculator.
Income means the gross income of the household members. A minor’s income only counts if they apply alone or with a spouse. Since 2024 there is no €300 earned-income protection, so every euro of pay reduces the allowance.
Who gets the housing allowance in 2026?
- A low-income household living in Finland in a rented, right-of-occupancy (asumisoikeus) or part-ownership (osaomistus) home.
- No general housing allowance has been paid for owner-occupied homes since 1 Jan 2025.
- Students usually get the study-grant housing supplement instead, from 1 Aug 2025.
- The household’s net assets are under €50,000.
- The allowance is only paid if the calculated amount is at least €15/month.
Assets in 2026: what counts and what does not
If a single person’s net assets exceed €10,000, or those of a household of two or more adults exceed €20,000, 20% of the amount above the threshold is counted as annual income. With net assets of €50,000 or more no allowance is paid at all. Long-term debts such as a mortgage or a student loan are deducted from the assets first.
Deposits (after a €2,000 deduction for everyday spending), real estate, housing-company shares and insurance investments count. A holiday home in your own use, a share of an undivided estate, deposits on an ASP account and property you have no right to manage do not.
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 have not been covered since 1 Jan 2025, and students moved to the study-grant housing supplement on 1 Aug 2025. From 2026 assets also affect the allowance.
Calculators for this topic
FAQ
What are the maximum housing costs in 2026?
For one person €563/month in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, €447/month in the group 2 municipalities such as Tampere, Turku and Oulu, and €394/month elsewhere. For two people €808, €652 and €574; for three €1,019, €828 and €734; for four €1,188, €981 and €875 a month.
What is the income limit for the housing allowance in 2026?
There is no fixed limit – the allowance shrinks through the basic deductible. With housing costs at the maximum, it is still paid at roughly this gross income: a single person €1,844/month in Helsinki and €1,506–1,612 elsewhere; two adults in Helsinki €2,428; two adults with two children €3,154–3,780 depending on the group.
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 gross income of €1,200/month gets about €240/month. With no income it is at most 70% of the maximum – €394.10/month for a single person in Helsinki.
Who gets the housing allowance in 2026?
A low-income household living in Finland in a rented, right-of-occupancy or part-ownership home, with net assets under €50,000. Owner-occupied homes are excluded from 1 Jan 2025, and students usually get the study-grant housing supplement.
What does Kela accept as housing costs?
Rent or the usage charge, plus separately billed water at €20/month per person and heating at a standard rate – in total no more than the maximum for your municipality group and household size. Electricity and parking are not accepted, and anything above the maximum is not compensated.
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.
Do assets affect the allowance in 2026?
Yes. For a single person 20% of net assets over €10,000 and for two or more adults over €20,000 is counted as annual income, and with net assets of €50,000 or more no allowance is paid. Deposits get a €2,000 deduction, and long-term debts are deducted from assets.
When is the housing allowance paid?
On the first banking day of the month. It is normally paid to the applicant, but with your consent it can go to the landlord – and without consent if the rent is at least two months unpaid. The housing allowance is tax-free.
Can you get the allowance for an owner-occupied home?
No longer. From 1 Jan 2025 the general housing allowance is only paid for rented, right-of-occupancy and part-ownership homes.
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.