I have grown up in a safe and familiar environment in my youth and early adulthood. I still live close to my childhood home, so I can say I know my living environment like the back of my hand. Because I am a local and Finnish-speaking person, I am also familiar with many local practices related to apartment living, some of which are so-called tacit knowledge. I know, for example, that you have to take care of recycling your furniture yourself, and that it doesn't belong in the rubbish room. Maintaining good neighbourly relations makes for a more harmonious co-existence and contributes to the growth of a sense of community in the neighborhood. A cohesive neighborhood takes care of its members, thus helping them to cope with the challenges they face in their daily lives. My internship in Katto-program has enabled me to provide advice to people in need on housing and other housing-related issues. In addition to this, we have been going to schools all over the capital region to give multilingual information sessions on housing issues. The experience gained during the autumn has broadened my understanding of the challenges of housing, especially from the perspective of foreign language speakers.  

Finding accommodation on the internet requires an understanding of the local rental market and housing providers. In addition, it would be beneficial to identify what to put on the housing application form to help one's own access to housing and what to do after submitting the application. Foreign language speakers who do not speak Finnish are in a more difficult position than native speakers when it comes to obtaining rental accommodation. The price level of rental housing in the Helsinki metropolitan area is too expensive for many people and there are not enough moderately priced larger rental dwellings for families. In order to apply for housing, the applicant must also have sufficient digital skills, equipment and network connections, which are not a given for everyone. On top of the above challenges, research shows that discrimination against foreign-sounding home seekers in the rental housing market (Vilkama et al., 2021, p. 34)

In addition to the challenges of finding accommodation, some aspects of Finnish housing practices may be unfamiliar to immigrants. In particular, people who do not speak Finnish, Swedish or English may find themselves in difficult situations, as the lack of a common language may make it difficult to communicate with their neighbours and the property manager, which in turn may mean that the rules and tacit practices of the housing company may not be communicated to them. Garbage recycling and the maintenance of garbage rooms are a common source of disputes in apartment blocks in Finland. Disputes between neighbors who speak different languages are often caused by a lack of common language, which may lead to the assumption that one party is deliberately breaking the rules. Multilingual communication by building societies about their rules could prevent disputes arising from misunderstandings and reduce prejudices related to multiculturalism. In an increasingly diverse society, diversity should also be reflected in the provision of services. 

Vilkama, V., Myllylä, A-L., & Puurunen, H. (1.11.2021). Vuokralaisvalintaan vaikuttavat tekijät ja ulkomaalaistaustaisten asunnon hakijoiden asema yksityisillä vuokramarkkinoilla – Raportti vuokranantajille suunnatun kyselyn tuloksista. Moniheli ry, Sininauhasäätiö sr & VVA ry. Ulkomaalaistaustaisten-asunnon-hakijoiden-asema-yksityisella-vuokramarkkinoilla-raportti.pdf (moniheli.fi)