Housing in Oulu

Here you can find information on residing in Oulu. Other important information on this topic is available at Housing page.

The housing situation is good in Oulu, and there are various kinds of housing options. Haukipudas, Kiiminki, Oulunsalo and Yli-Ii are part of the City of Oulu.

Rental dwelling can be obtained from both public and private parties. You can also find rental dwelling through local newspapers. You can submit your own advertisement or reply to advertisements posted by others. For example, the following newspapers include housing advertisements: Kaleva and Forum24 newspaper.

You can look for a rental dwelling online on the websites Oikotie.fi and Vuokraovi.com.

Further information: Rental housing

Housing by various owner communities:

Rental dwelling for students:

Rental dwelling for young people:

A right-of-occupancy dwelling is an alternative to renting or buying. By paying a right-of-occupancy payment, which is 15% of the price of a flat, and a monthly rent, you will have the same rights to the flat as you would if you owned it. You cannot purchase a right-of-occupancy dwelling as a whole but you can sell your right-of-occupancy to another person or exchange it to another flat.

Further information: Living in Finland

You can receive more information on buying property from a real estate agent. You can find information on flats for sale, for example, from the windows of estate agencies, local newspapers and housing websites

Further information: Owner-occupied housing

Home care support services are available to persons who have difficulties coping without help, such as elderly persons or disabled persons. Such services include, for example, meal services and transport services.

A person who cannot live independently can receive a place in a facility.

Further information: Supported and service housing

If a member of your family uses violence against you or threatens to do so, you can contact a shelter (turvakoti). If you live in Oulu, you can go to the Oulu Mother and Child Home and Shelter (Oulun ensi- ja turvakoti).

Mother and Child Home and Shelter (Ensi- ja turvakoti)
Kanervatie 5
90650 Oulu
Telephone: 040 0581606(Link leads to external service)

You can call the shelter at any time. You do not have to give anyone your name when you call. You can find information on the operation of the shelter on the shelter's website.

If you become homeless, contact the social service office of your municipality of residence. A social worker can help you find housing.

Customer service of social services (Sosiaalipalveluiden asiakaspalvelu)
Kajaanintie 46 A, 4th floor
telephone: 044 703 4912
(on weekdays from 8:30 am–3:30 pm)

Further information: Homelessness

You can find a lot of practical information on housing on the following InfoFinland pages:

• looking for a home, on page Housing in Finland
• a checklist for moving house, on page Moving house
• fire safety, electrical work and water damage prevention, on page Safety at home

Read more about the rules and rights connected to housing on the InfoFinland page Rights and obligations of occupants(Link leads to external service).

Further information: Housing allowance

Sort your household waste, such as biowaste, glass, metal, cardboard and paper, and take it to the waste containers outside your home or to a recycling centre. You must not put any dangerous or toxic waste, such as chemicals, into the waste containers. Take hazardous waste to the closest collection point. The waste containers outside your home are only intended for daily household waste.

Furniture, old domestic appliances and other large items of waste must be taken to a waste centre or recycling centre. If you cannot transport large items of waste yourself, you can order the Repsikka collection service, which is subject to a fee.

You must not throw any solid waste, rubbish or leftovers into the toilet or down the drain.

Rusko Waste Centre (Ruskon jätekeskus)
Ruskonniityntie 10
90620 Oulu

You can bring the following to the Oulu Recycling Centre: 

• furniture
• dishes
• sports equipment, bicycles
• clean, undamaged clothes
• readable books (no school books or encyclopedia)
• small household appliances
• computers
• computer screens; all sizes, flat

Furniture, clothes and other items taken to the recycling centre can be purchased at the centre.

Recycling centre (Kierrätyskeskus)
Kurkelantie 2, Värttö
90230 Oulu
Telephone: 08 5584 3966