Short-term rental in Finland: rules and advice for owners
What the law in Finland asks of owners who let their home on Airbnb or Booking, which cities are open or restricted, and our practical advice. Updated 18/10/2026.
Free today, capped from 2027 if Parliament agrees
Finland currently has no registration scheme and no night limit for short-term rental of homes. That is set to change: a reform of the Building Act (rakentamislaki) was submitted to Parliament in spring 2026. According to the Ministry of the Environment, a dwelling in a planned area that is not anyone's permanent home could be let short term for up to 90 days per calendar year without a building permit, with a duty to keep records, from 1 January 2027. Holiday homes (loma-asunnot), scattered settlement areas and shore-planned plots are excluded. The reform creates no registration procedure, as the ministry is still assessing how EU Regulation 2024/1028 should apply in Finland.
The municipal lever
Under the proposal, a municipality could raise the limit to 180 days in selected planned areas, for example where seasonal tourism needs more beds. Beyond the permitted days, a change-of-use building permit would be required. Until the law is adopted and published, these figures remain a proposal.
Six cities in two groups
- Open now, capped from 2027: Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere and Turku, for ordinary flats that are not the owner's permanent home.
- Largely outside the planned cap: Rovaniemi, where properties classed as holiday homes would stay excluded; an ordinary flat in the centre would still follow the general rule.
Tax and housing-company matters
Rental income is taxable and must be declared each year; hotel-like services may bring VAT into play. In a limited liability housing company (asunto-osakeyhtiö), read the articles of association and inform the property manager of your plans before guests arrive, since neighbours and the board will notice frequent turnovers.
How to prepare
Plan your 2027 calendar now. If the flat is not your permanent home, assume 90 days unless your municipality opts for more, and consider a mix of short and medium-term stays. Keep a day log from the first booking of 2027 and follow the parliamentary vote. Send us the details; we study every Finnish request and tell you honestly whether and how we can help.
Where it earns most: AirDNA markets
| Market | Avg nightly rate | Occupancy | Avg yearly revenue | Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rovaniemi | €284 | 60% | €34,052 | controle local |
| Kittila | €320 | 55% | €32,834 | open |
| Inari | €287 | 55% | €32,427 | open |
| Kuusamo | €252 | 47% | €28,974 | open |
| Kolari | €283 | 55% | €28,119 | open |
AirDNA 2026, markets with at least 150 active listings and more than $30,000 of yearly revenue per listing, converted at 1 EUR = 1.1567 USD. These are the strongest markets, not the national average, and not a promise.
Neighbouring countries
Other country guides
All European countries covered by Hexuvium →
Frequently asked questions
Is Airbnb legal in Finland?
Finland has no short-let cap today, but a Building Act reform before Parliament would limit non-permanent homes to 90 days a year from 2027.
Can Hexuvium manage my property in Finland?
Send us your address and a short description. We check the national and local rules for your exact property in Finland, then tell you honestly whether and how we can help — free and without obligation.
Sources
Thinking of renting out your home?
Tell us about your property: we study every request, check the local rules with you and tell you honestly whether and how we can help. Free and without obligation — Hexuvium, managing short-term rentals since 2015.
Get a free income estimate