Applying for housing: Frequently asked questions

We get a lot of questions regarding the availability of apartments and the status of the housing application. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions.

How are tenants selected?
We make all tenant selections based on the housing applications, so all applicants must submit an electronic housing application on our website. We consider the reasons for needing a new apartment and the urgency of the situation of each tenant, so applicants in the most urgent need for housing will be prioritized. Therefore, the number and situation of other applicants who have applied for same apartment have an influence on the apartment offering.

In addition, we consider applicants’ income level in accordance with the wealth limits of ARA apartments.

How to apply for immediately available apartments?
Immediately available apartments are applied for in the same way as our other apartments, by submitting an electronic housing application. There is an open field in the application where you can specify if you are interested in a particular apartment. Please note that we consider all applicants’ situation also when offering immediately available apartments, so these apartments cannot be shown or booked in advance.

What is my position in the apartment queue?
POAS does not have apartment queues at all, as all tenant selections are made based on the applicants’ need of an apartment and the urgency of their situation.

I have submitted an application but I have not received any response?
We will not respond to all applicants, but we will contact you by email if we are able to offer you an apartment. You will receive an automated confirmation email when your housing application is successfully submitted in our system.

How can I edit my application?
After submitting an application, you will receive an automated confirmation email which includes the link to edit your application. You can also edit your application from this link: hakemus.tampuuri.fi/poas/muokkaus/. The application is valid for three months, so please keep your application up-to-date, if you are still in need of an apartment. Updating the application will return your application for re-processing, so you do not need to inform our customer service of updated application separately.

In order to edit the application from the link, you need to be able to identify yourself electronically, for example with Finnish online banking credentials. If you cannot edit your application, you can submit a new application. Submitting a new application will automatically expire the previous one.

What if I cannot provide the attachments when submitting the application?
No worries, you can still apply for an apartment! Attachments, such as an employment contract or a certificate of a study place, are asked at the latest when we are making the rental agreement. So you can provide your attachments later on, or you can add them to your application afterwards from the edit link: hakemus.tampuuri.fi/poas/muokkaus/. We recommend you to submit your housing application as soon as you know you need a new apartment, even if you do not yet have the necessary attachments. Then we can take a look at your situation already in advance.

I found a nice apartment on your website, how can I go to see it?
Our apartments are not shown publicly. You will be able to see the apartment after you have received an apartment offer. If the apartment cannot be visited during previous tenancy, you will have the opportunity to accept the offered apartment based on photos and other information provided. So please familiarize yourself with our apartment selection carefully before applying. Photos, layouts, rents and other details of our housing complexes can be found in our apartment search.

Does making an appointment to POAS office or calling affect my chances of getting an apartment?
Calling or visiting the office will not affect your chances of getting an apartment, as all apartments are rented based on the housing applications, and we will consider the situation of all applicants when offering apartments. You may have to queue for our phone service, especially during busy times. If you want to update your information or tell us more about your housing needs, please update the changes directly to your housing application by editing your application.

How can I improve my chances of getting an apartment?
In addition to the other applicants, the chances of getting an apartment depend on the number of available apartments as well. If you apply for a certain type or size of apartment in a particular building, you may have to wait a long time before that kind of apartment is vacated. If you need an apartment quickly, we recommend that you apply for a wide range of different types of apartments in different areas. For example, if you are looking for an apartment in Hervanta area with a maximum rent of EUR 500 per month, do not limit your application to studio apartments only. In many of our housing complexes, there are also 1-bedroom-apartments in the same price range. Please also note that some of our housing complexes are directed to students only, so in principal we cannot offer an apartment from these complexes to employed applicants. You can find information on these apartments in our apartment selection.

What is the best time of the year to get an apartment?
The number of applicants and vacant apartments varies in different seasons. In the spring and early summer, there are more apartments vacated in relation to the number of applications compared to other seasons. In August-September, there are the most applicants, and all available apartments are rented out quickly. If you are able to schedule your moving later in the fall (October-November) or spring, you may have a better chance of getting an apartment from us.

Before applying, please familiarize yourself with our application instructions, where you will find more information regarding our tenant selections and application process.