For Applicants
We have gathered all the essential information about applying for an apartment, rents, and security deposits right here on this page. You can also familiarize yourself with the general house policies, so you know in advance what living with us is like.
In accordance with its regulations, Lärkan rents apartments to students: priority in resident selection is given to those studying at Swedish-language higher education institutions, and among them, teacher education students have first priority.
How do I apply for an apartment?
Please submit your application as soon as you receive confirmation of your study place, as apartments fill up quickly. The apartment application is valid for three months. You can renew your application either by submitting a new form or by notifying customer service that you wish to extend its validity. Priority is given to students of Åbo Akademi, after which apartments are rented to other students.
Terms of lease and payments
Tenancy agreement
The tenancy agreement (lease) is signed before moving in. The agreement is made either as an open-ended (valid until further notice) or a fixed-term contract (typically only very short-term contracts are fixed-term).
Most agreements are open-ended, as tenants may not yet know their exact move-out date. An open-ended tenancy agreement has a notice period of one calendar month. For example, if a tenant moves out on the last day of May, a written notice of termination must be submitted to the office during April.
A fixed-term agreement cannot be terminated early; the rent must be paid for the entire duration of the agreed period. Unless specified otherwise, the tenancy agreement is made until further notice. The tenancy agreement and rent levels are tied to the cost index for property maintenance.
Rent security deposit and reservation fee
The rent security deposit at Lärkan properties is €350.00, and it is the same for all tenants regardless of the apartment type.
The deposit acts as a reservation fee for the apartment and must be paid by the due date stated on the invoice. If a tenant cancels the agreement after it has been signed and the deposit has been paid, the tenancy agreement has taken effect and the deposit will not be refunded. Keys will not be handed over to the tenant until the security deposit has been paid.
The amount is held in Lärkan’s deposit account for the duration of the tenancy. It will be refunded to the tenant in full, provided that the apartment is in good condition and properly cleaned at the time of handover, all keys have been returned, and all rent payments have been settled by the end of the lease. The deposit is refunded approximately 2–6 weeks after the tenancy agreement has ended.
Rent
Rent is due on the fifth (5th) day of every month. The rent invoice specifies the validity period of the invoice, and the reference number remains the same throughout the entire duration of the tenancy. Payments can also be managed via e-invoice (e-lasku) or direct payment (suoramaksu).
Rents are reviewed once a year, and any rent increases take effect in June. Lärkan monitors the cost index for property maintenance. Notice of any potential rent increase and a new invoice will be sent to the tenant before they take effect.
Good to know
Other practical matters
Key collection takes place during BC Consulting Oy’s opening hours, and the pickup time must be agreed upon in advance. Please contact us before your move-in date via email at larkan@bcconsulting.fi. If you cannot collect the keys yourself during office hours, they can be left in a key box, or someone else can collect them on your behalf—however, this must always be arranged separately in advance. The person collecting the keys must present a valid ID.
The tenant is responsible for the keys once they have signed for them. If a tenant loses their keys, they are liable for the replacement costs. Keys must be returned to customer service or to the key return box according to separate instructions.
If you lock yourself out of your apartment, the property maintenance service can open the door for a fee. In this event, please call the maintenance company and be prepared to pay the door-opening fee.
Shared apartments are rented furnished. The furniture includes a bed (80×200 cm) with mattresses, a desk and a chair, an armchair, and a bookshelf. The furniture in shared apartments is free of charge for residents. If you wish to rent a shared apartment unfurnished, a fee will be charged for the removal and return transport of the furniture according to the property maintenance service price list; please arrange this well in advance. Please note that items such as bed linens, towels, or dishes are not included in the furnishing, and residents must bring their own. Studios and two-room apartments do not include furniture.
Electricity consumption is included in the rent for shared apartments at Lärkan.
For studios and two-room apartments, tenants are responsible for their own electricity costs. Remember to notify your electricity provider about your move well in advance. Vaasan Sähkö Oy supplies electricity to the Lärkan properties. Tenants who pay for their own electricity are free to choose their provider, but it is important to remember to make an electricity contract before moving in—otherwise, there will be no electricity in the apartment at all.
Water is included in the rent.
Both buildings feature laundry rooms, which are located on the ground floor. Please use the reservation lists found on the buildings’ bulletin boards. The laundry rooms are available to all tenants. Residents of Lärkan 1 use the laundry room in their own building, and residents of Lärkan 2 use the one in theirs.
Lärkan 1 has two sauna sections on the ground floor. The reservation lists are available on the bulletin board. The sauna sections are intended for all Lärkan tenants.
The properties are connected to the DNA cable TV network, and the basic subscription fee is included in the rent. To watch TV, your television must be capable of receiving cable TV signals. Please contact DNA if you wish to order channels outside the basic selection.
An internet connection is also included in the rent. Please contact the operator, DNA, before your move to activate the connection. To use the internet, you must connect a network cable to your computer, as there is no wireless internet in the buildings. If you want to use wireless internet in your apartment, you will need to purchase suitable additional equipment (a Wi-Fi router). If you wish to upgrade your internet speed, please contact DNA. The base speed is 50M as of March 1, 2026.
Fault reports regarding the internet and cable TV should be made directly to DNA. They will investigate the issue and guide you forward based on where the fault is located. Remember to provide them with your contact information in case their maintenance staff needs to check if the issue is inside your apartment. If the problem is not caused by your computer or faulty equipment, please contact the property maintenance service or the property manager.
Contact Information:
DNA: Phone 044 144 044, www.dna.fi
Fault Reports: Call DNA’s fault report number at 044 144 044 or send an email to palvelu@dna.fi.
Pets are allowed in the apartments, provided they are properly cared for, do not disturb other residents, and do not cause damage to the apartment. Pets must be kept on a leash in the outdoor areas, and they must not soil the buildings or the surrounding environment. There are outdoor recreation areas near Lärkan that are highly recommended for walking your pets.
Lärkan has a monitored parking area. If you have a car, please make sure to check where you are allowed to park. Lärkan offers 36 affordable parking spaces equipped with heating outlets. There is a waiting list for these spaces. For parking inquiries, please contact customer service. The parking space rent is billed together with your apartment rent using the same reference number. All parking space renters will receive a parking permit, which must be displayed in a visible spot inside the car. The parking enforcement officer has the right to issue a fine if the parking permit is not visible.
Please contact the parking enforcement company directly if you receive a parking ticket or if someone else has parked in your designated space.
Both buildings have storage spaces for bicycles and outdoor equipment. Items stored in the common storage areas are kept there at your own risk. Cage storage units can be rented, subject to availability. Please place a padlock on the door of your own storage unit, and remember to take all your belongings with you when moving out of Lärkan.
We kindly ask all tenants to sort and handle their waste properly. The waste bins are located next to the parking lot in the backyard of Lärkan 2. Please do not litter these areas and always follow the current waste sorting guidelines. For example, flatten cardboard boxes and milk cartons carefully to save space. A messy waste area makes the environment unpleasant and attracts rats and other pests. Therefore, waste must never be left outside the bins; extra cleaning of the area increases company costs and, consequently, rents.
You can find detailed sorting instructions in the Lärkan stairwells and near the waste bins. You can also check the guidelines on Stormossen’s website (www.stormossen.fi).
The property maintenance service is not responsible for transporting furniture or other items that do not belong in the regular waste bins to the landfill. Each resident must personally arrange for the proper disposal of such items. The cost of clearing away items left outside the waste bins will be billed to the resident.
Pests can spread quickly in properties due to increased human travel. At Lärkan, regular pest inspections are conducted, and you must always notify the property management if you detect any pests. Tenants will be informed of inspection dates in writing in advance. The notice will also include instructions on how to prepare for the inspection.
For more information, please contact the property manager or a pest control service.
The tenant is legally obligated to always report pests or any other defects in the apartment to the landlord. Neglecting this duty can have severe consequences, so please always report it immediately if you notice pests or any other issues in your apartment.
Contact us
Call us, send an email, or fill out the contact form below. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Property management
BC Consulting Oy
Raastuvankatu 21 B 7a, 65100 Vaasa
Phone: +358 40 487 2466
Email larkan@bcconsulting.fi
Fill out the contact form
