Finnopedia

A Helsinki fire reminder: Is your home insured?

2026-06-04 15:14 Housing Other useful tips
A recent fire in a residential building in Helsinki’s Kalasatama left all 63 apartments temporarily uninhabitable, according to Yle. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but residents still cannot return home for safety reasons.
We are always happy when our EOR-clients and Nerdsbay-community members move into a new home, start a new chapter and feel settled in Finland. But we also care about the practical side of living here, especially the things that are easy to postpone until it is too late.
That is why we strongly recommend arranging home insurance from the very first day of your rental agreement.
Many landlords in Finland require home insurance. Even if it is not required in your rental contract, it is still one of the most important things to take care of when moving into an apartment.

Why home insurance matters:

  • Your landlord’s or housing company’s insurance usually does not cover your personal belongings
  • Your furniture, electronics, clothes and other personal items may need separate coverage
  • Home insurance may help in case of fire, smoke damage, water damage, theft or accidents
  • Liability insurance can be important if you accidentally cause damage to the apartment or someone else’s property
  • Some policies may also cover temporary accommodation if your home becomes unsafe to live in

A simple checklist when moving into a rental apartment in Finland:

  1. Arrange home insurance before or on the first day of your lease.
  2. Make sure the insurance starts on the same date as your rental agreement.
  3. Check that the address in the policy is correct.
  4. Confirm what is covered: belongings, liability, legal expenses and temporary housing.
  5. Check the deductible and compensation limits.
  6. Update your policy immediately when you move.
  7. Keep the insurance certificate in case your landlord asks for it.
It may also be useful to ask the insurance company about package options. In some cases, combining home insurance with car, travel, accident or private health insurance can offer better overall conditions. For example OP offers 10% discount for their owner customers if they have insurances from 3 different categories.
This is not personal insurance advice, every situation is different, and it is always worth checking the terms, coverage, deductibles and prices carefully before choosing a policy.
We know that moving, renting and settling into life in Finland can sometimes feel overwhelming. That is why we try to remind our community about small practical steps that can make everyday life safer and calmer.
Home insurance is one of those steps. We added useful links below to help you get started:

Useful links:

🌟 InfoFinland — rental housing

🌟 InfoFinland — housing problems

🌟 Finnish Landlord Association — tips for tenants

Examples of insurance providers in Finland:

⭐ OP / Pohjola

⭐ If

⭐ LocalTapiola

⭐ Turva

⭐ Fennia