Changes to the resident selection process

Update 6.3.2024: category model for ousing applications postponed to autumn 2024

Category model for housing applications to enter into force in spring 2024

LOAS will change the tenant selection process to be more in line with the guidelines of the Housing Financing and Development Centre of Finland (ARA). LOAS apartments are ARA apartments built with state support, which must be allocated to those most in need, according to ARA's resident selection criteria. In the selection process, priority is given to applicants with the most urgent housing needs. 

Effects of the reform on applications and offers of housing

The reform will affect both the application for housing and the order in which housing is offered. The change will largely eliminate the old scoring system. There will be only one application per type of application (applying for housing alone, applying for housing as a family). Unlike the old application form, the applicant will be asked a clear reason for needing housing. 

It will no longer be possible to return an application to the system after a rejected offer without losing the urgency status of the application. The applicant can also continue to apply for housing by submitting a new application. An applicant in urgent need of housing is required to apply for a sufficient number of different apartments and to clarify their housing needs with additional information and attachments. If LOAS does not receive sufficient information from the application to handle the application, LOAS will ask the applicant for further clarification.

Applications are processed according to categories of urgency (Homeless, Very urgent housing need, Urgent housing need and General improvement of the housing situation). Applicants will see the category of their application in the intranet. The old hourglass showing the ranking of the application will be completely removed. As before, LOAS will not be able to estimate when a housing offer will be received.

What happens to existing applications?

Existing applications will automatically be transferred to the new category model when the change is made. After the transfer, the applicant will see the category in which the application has been placed in the intranet. If an applicant has several valid applications at the moment, all applications will be transferred as such to the new category model. If the applicant submits a new application after the change, the old applications will be deleted from the system. 

We will provide more details on the category model at a later stage.