Housing costs for which allowance can be paid
Kela pays housing allowance on the basis of certain housing costs. Of the housing costs, at the most the maximum amount of acceptable housing costs is taken into account, and this amount varies according to place of residence.
You can be paid housing allowance for pensioners towards the housing costs for your permanent home in Finland.
Rental home
For rental and subleased rental accommodation, Kela takes the rent into account as housing cost. If water and heating is not included in the rent, Kela takes them into account on the basis of the fixed charges. However, a fixed water charge Kela takes into account as housing cost as such.
If you have rented out part of the home to a sub-tenant, Kela will only take into account that part of the housing costs that corresponds to the part of the home you yourself are occupying.
Right-of-occupancy or partial-ownership home
For right-of-occupancy and partial-ownership homes Kela takes into account as housing costs
- maintenance charge or rent
- water charges
- interest on loans for acquisition of the right-of-occupancy or partial-ownership home.
Residential care home
If you live in a residential care home for the elderly and your rent includes service charges, Kela will only take into account the rent.
Unit in a housing cooperative
For a unit in a housing cooperative Kela takes into account as housing costs
- maintenance charge and separate water charge payable in connection with the maintenance charge
- interest on loan for acquisition of the home.
If water and heating is not included in the maintenance charge and no separate fixed water charge is paid, Kela will compensate for them on the basis of average costs.
Single-family home
Kela calculates your housing costs on the basis of average costs for heating, water and maintenance and repair.
For single-family homes the housing costs also include
- ground rent
- interest on loan for acquisition and repair of the home.