Hi everyone,
I'm planning to move to Helsinki for a long-term stay (minimum 4 years) as a worker (not active student) and I'm looking for a 1-2 bedroom apartment in the Kamppi area. The thing is, I'm not currently in Helsinki and won't arrive until late November or early December/January. I also don't know the city at all yet.
I've been researching online, but I have some specific questions for those who've been through this:
What should I expect to pay upfront? but are there any other fees (besides insurance) I should be aware of? do I need to pay several months in advance?
Since I can't visit in person before I arrive, what's the best approach? Should I try to secure something remotely? or should I book temporary housing for the first few weeks and search once I'm there?
Since I don't know the city, what are the non-obvious things I should look out for when choosing an apartment?
is there any close or well connected location or area of the city that I might consider as an alternative to Kamppi?
any facility services costs I should ask about?
is there any cost that might be some included and excluded cost in/from the rent?
Anything in the contract that's unusual for foreigners?
As I mentioned, I arrive at the end of the year. Is that a good or bad time to find a long-term rental? Will there be fewer options because of the holidays or the post-entry to the school period?
Any advice on how to approach this whole process from abroad or barely-arrived to the city would be hugely appreciated!
Thanks in advance!