Moving in Helsinki: the local guide

Moving in Helsinki at a glance

In Helsinki, a move usually means an apartment move. Older stone buildings have narrow stairwells and small lifts, inner-city streets have little room, and the season affects how things get from the door to the van.

This guide brings together the practicalities of moving in the capital region. Each topic links to a more detailed guide.

When do people move in Helsinki?

Moves peak in late summer and early autumn. In 2025 August was the busiest month, with 93,191 moves, followed by September and June. February was the quietest.

In busy months, book your movers and your preferred date early. If you can be flexible, give several dates in your quote request. See also what affects moving costs.

Inner-city buildings: stairs, lifts and stairwells

Many older buildings in central Helsinki have no lift, or a lift so small that only boxes and small furniture fit. Sofas, beds and wardrobes then go down the stairs.

Telling us the floor, the lift size and the stairwell width in advance helps us book the right crew and enough time. Measure large furniture and compare it with the narrowest point of the stairwell and doors. Read more in moving without a lift.

Parking and loading

Under the Road Traffic Act, briefly stopping to load or unload goods is not parking. A moving van may therefore stop to load in a no-parking zone, but not where stopping is prohibited.

Loading for a move can take hours. On a busy street you can reserve street space in advance by notifying the city. All rules, fees and a worked example are in our guide to parking a moving van in Helsinki.

Moving in winter

Snow, ice and short days slow down carrying. In winter, grit the paths, protect floors well and allow a little more time for moving day. Houseplants and cold-sensitive items travel best in your own car. See our winter moving guide for more.

Your housing company, house rules and neighbours

The law doesn’t require you to tell your housing company that you are moving, but the Finnish Real Estate Federation recommends it. If the company’s charges are based on the number of residents, you must report that number.

Your building’s house rules (järjestyssäännöt) set quiet hours and say whether the lift must be booked. The stairwell is an escape route, so belongings shouldn’t be left there. Let your neighbours know about moving day in advance.

Remember your change-of-address notice, which is due within one week of moving. The full list is in our moving checklist.

Kiinteistöliitto: notifying the housing company (in Finnish)

Recycling old furniture

A move is a good time to declutter. Furniture in good condition can be donated to Kierrätyskeskus, which collects donations in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen. Pickup from the outside door costs €24.90 (up to 20 minutes) and from inside the flat €39.90 (up to 30 minutes).

Large items that can’t be reused can go to an HSY Sortti station: Kivikko, Konala, Ruskeasanta, Jorvas or Ämmässuo. They are open on weekdays from 7 to 21, and Kivikko, Konala and Ruskeasanta also at weekends from 11 to 18. HSY’s Sortti pickup collects large items for €70–140.

Moving to Espoo or Vantaa

Each city in the capital region has its own permit service. In Espoo you apply for a paid permit for temporary traffic arrangements in eLupapalvelu, and in Vantaa in Lupapiste. On the Espoo and Kirkkonummi side the nearest Sortti stations are Jorvas and Ämmässuo, and in Vantaa Ruskeasanta.

Nordmuutto handles moves in and between Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, weekends included.

City of Espoo: temporary traffic arrangements (in Finnish)

Planning your move step by step

In the capital region, planning a move usually follows the same order. If you deal with things in this order, nothing important is left until the last minute, and on moving day you can focus on the move itself.

A more detailed week-by-week list is in our moving checklist.

A typical moving day in an apartment building

An apartment move usually runs the same way, whether it is in Kallio, Herttoniemi or Tapiola. The movers start by walking through the home with you and protecting the route. Then large furniture and appliances go first, so they sit securely at the front of the van, and the boxes go last.

At the other end the order is reversed: boxes and furniture go straight to the right rooms according to the labels. A booked lift, a clear route and a van close to the door shorten the day the most. If there are many floors and no lift, allow more time and mention it in your quote request.

Summer heat on moving day

Summer is the busiest moving season, and heat makes carrying hard work. Have drinking water for everyone and start early in the morning if you can. Heat-sensitive things such as candles, medication, cosmetics and electronics are best carried in your own car.

Remember that a closed vehicle heats up quickly. Don’t leave pets, plants or heat-sensitive items waiting in a car.

Moving with children and pets

Moving day is new and noisy for children and pets. If you can, arrange childcare for the day and take your pet to someone it knows, or to a quiet room with water and its own bed. Doors are open a lot on moving day, so a pet escaping is a real risk.

Pack your children’s favourite toys and bedtime things in the first-day bag, so the first evening in the new home feels familiar.

First checks in your new home

Once your things have arrived, go through the new home before you unpack everything.

• Test the smoke alarm and find the main water and electricity switches.
• Check that doors, windows and locks work.
• Note and photograph any damage that was there before you moved in.
• Put your name on the door or mailbox so your post arrives.
• Find out where waste is sorted, where the laundry room is and how sauna turns work.

Inner city, suburbs and neighbouring cities

Moving in Kallio or Punavuori is different from moving in Vuosaari or Leppävaara in Espoo. In the inner city’s old stone buildings, lifts are often small or missing, streets are narrow, and courtyards are reached through gateways.

In the suburbs, a van can often get closer to apartment buildings, but the walk from the parking area to the door can be long. So always describe the building and yard at both ends in your quote request.

Trams and traffic

Many inner-city streets have tram lines, and a moving van must not block a tram. Driving across the city takes longer at rush hour. If you can choose, start in the morning before the worst traffic, or time the move for a quieter part of a weekday.

Resident parking permits

In Helsinki, a resident parking permit is tied to a residential area. If you move to another area, you need a permit for the new one. Apply in good time, so parking at your new home doesn’t become a moving-day problem.

Sorting waste in your new home

In the capital region, housing companies usually sort biowaste, cardboard, glass, metal, plastic and mixed waste. Find your new building’s waste shelter and bins straight after the move. Flatten moving boxes and take them to cardboard recycling.

Moving to Espoo in practice

Many apartment areas in Espoo are spacious, and a moving van can often get into the yard or parking area. Permits for temporary traffic arrangements are applied for in eLupapalvelu. Espoo and Kauniainen belong to the Western Uusimaa wellbeing services county, so your health services move there when your municipality of residence changes.

Moving to Vantaa in practice

In Vantaa, permits for temporary traffic arrangements are applied for in Lupapiste, and the nearest Sortti station is Ruskeasanta. Vantaa belongs to the Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county. If you move from Helsinki to Vantaa, your health centre changes accordingly.

Street maintenance and temporary bans

Streets are cleaned in spring and ploughed in winter, and temporary parking bans are put up for that. A few days before the move, check whether bans are coming to your street on moving day. If so, choose another loading spot or reserve street space.

Small moves within the city

Not every move is a whole home. A sofa bought online, a student’s studio or a few boxes going to storage usually travel as a small move. Send a photo and the addresses and you’ll get a price quickly. See small moves and transport.

Moving in Helsinki: frequently asked questions

Short answers to the most common questions:

• When should I book movers? As early as possible, especially for summer and September, the busiest times.
• Do I always need a street reservation? No. Brief loading is allowed in a no-parking zone. A reservation is worth it if the street is tight or loading takes a long time.
• Can I move on a Sunday? The law doesn’t forbid it, but your housing company’s house rules may restrict noisy work at certain times. Check them in advance. Nordmuutto works on Saturdays and Sundays too.
• Where does an old sofa go? A sofa in good condition can be donated to Kierrätyskeskus; one that can’t be reused can go to a Sortti station. We can also take it away for you.
• Do I have to tell my housing company? It isn’t compulsory, but it is recommended.

Moving in Helsinki in a nutshell

Book movers early, especially for late summer. Give the floors and lifts, plan parking and a street reservation if needed, tell your housing company and file your change of address on time. Take what you don’t need to recycling before the move. With these steps, moving in the capital region goes smoothly whatever the season or building.

Ask if you’re unsure

Every move is different. If you’re not sure whether you need a street reservation, whether the sofa fits in the lift or how many movers you need, describe the situation in your quote request. We plan the move around your home and your schedule.

Moving help in the capital region

Choose the service that fits: home moves, small moves and transport or office moves. To see what the price is made of first, look at moving costs.