Home-buying checklist: what to request and ask
By Lumi · Updated: Jun 16, 2026, 12:00 AM
A practical checklist for buying a home in Finland: which documents to request and what to ask the seller and building manager before an offer.
Important: Get the manager's certificate and PTS before your offer — they reveal upcoming renovations and the company's debt.
A good deal is made before the offer. Here's a practical checklist: the documents worth requesting and the questions that reveal hidden costs.
Documents to request
The manager's certificate (isännöitsijäntodistus), the long-term maintenance plan (PTS), the latest AGM minutes, and the housing company's financial statement or balance sheet. These show condition, planned renovations and finances.
Questions that reveal costs
Has the pipe renovation been done or is it coming? What's the maintenance charge €/m² and is there a company loan? What's the energy class? Has an asbestos survey been done? What's the age of the wet rooms?
Own or leased plot — and if leased, what are the terms and when is the rent reviewed?
Checking price and taxes
Compare the debt-free price (sale price + loan share), not the sale price alone. Budget the 1.5% transfer tax (Verohallinto, 2024) — the first-home exemption was abolished on 1 Jan 2024, so everyone pays it.
The Lumi passport gives a ready starting point by address: age, renovation risks, environment and a question list.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the manager's certificate?
- A document collecting the key facts of the housing company and flat: charge, company loan, and past and upcoming renovations.
- What is the PTS?
- The long-term maintenance plan — the housing company's estimate of future repair needs, usually for 5–10 years.
- Why does the debt-free price matter?
- Because a low sale price can hide a large loan share; the debt-free price is the real comparison price.
Sources
See also
This guide is general information, not personal advice. Verify figures and rules from official sources.