What is a good rental yield?

In the capital region a gross of about 3–4% is common; a higher yield usually means higher risk.

What does net yield account for?

The charge, transfer tax, vacant months, repairs and taxes — i.e. real cash flows.

Is the charge in open data?

Only as a rough estimate. The exact amount is in the manager's certificate.

Rental yield: how to calculate gross and net yield

By Lumi · Updated: Jun 16, 2026, 12:00 AM

Rental yield shows whether a buy-to-let makes sense. How to calculate gross and net yield, and how the charge and transfer tax affect it.

Important: Gross yield looks better than reality. Always compute net yield after the charge, tax and vacancy — use the calculator below.

Rental yield is the key metric for a buy-to-let. Gross yield is easy to compute, but net yield — after the charge, taxes and costs — decides whether it pays off.

Gross and net yield

Gross yield = annual rent / debt-free price × 100%. Net yield subtracts the maintenance charge, transfer tax, any vacancy and repairs.

In Helsinki gross yield is typically around 3–4%; smaller cities are higher but carry more risk.

The charge eats the yield

The maintenance charge (hoitovastike) is the key recurring cost — the benchmark for blocks of flats is about €5.5/m²/month (Tilastokeskus 2025; higher in Helsinki and older stock). A financing charge (company loan) comes on top.

Ask for the manager's certificate: it shows the real charge and the company loan.

Taxes and costs

Buying housing-company shares carries a 1.5% transfer tax (Verohallinto, 2024) — note: the first-home exemption was abolished on 1 Jan 2024, so everyone pays it. Rental income is taxed as capital income at 30% (34% above €30,000), and costs are deductible.

The Lumi passport shows the area's rent and price level as an estimate — verify the real figures from the listing.

Rental yield calculator

Debt-free price (€)Rent / month (€)Maintenance charge / month (€)Vacancy (%)Maintenance reserve / mo (€)

For reference: vacancy typically ~5% (lower in Helsinki), maintenance reserve ~€0.5–1/m²/mo (source: KTI, Vuokranantajat).

Gross yield: 5.1 %
Net yield (before tax): 3.4 %
Net yield (after tax): 2.3 %

Estimate: 30% capital-income tax, charge deductible. Not investment advice — verify the figures yourself.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good rental yield?: In the capital region a gross of about 3–4% is common; a higher yield usually means higher risk.
What does net yield account for?: The charge, transfer tax, vacant months, repairs and taxes — i.e. real cash flows.
Is the charge in open data?: Only as a rough estimate. The exact amount is in the manager's certificate.