Hoas
Hoas is a Finnish non-profit foundation, established in 1969, that provides affordable rental apartments to university and polytechnic students across the Helsinki metropolitan area under state-subsidised housing regulations. It operates a multi-thousand-unit portfolio managed through the MyHoas tenant portal and AI-assisted customer service tools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersHelsinki, Finland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hoas does
Hoas (Helsingin seudun opiskelija-asuntosäätiö) is a non-profit foundation established in 1969 that provides affordable rental housing to students in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The foundation operates a portfolio spanning Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, offering shared apartments (soluasunto), studios, two-room apartments, family apartments, summer apartments, and accessible housing units near universities and polytechnics. Tenant selection is governed by the Centre for State-Subsidised Housing Construction (Varke), and 12 university and polytechnic student unions participate in the foundation's governance, creating a structural pipeline of qualified applicants.
The foundation's commercial activity is built around a recurring monthly rental revenue stream, with example rents ranging from approximately €643 to €930 depending on apartment type and size. Hoas monetises its housing inventory through direct-to-tenant subscriptions, supplemented by ancillary services including free Hoasnet internet, on-site laundry and sauna booking (via Tampuuri integration), parking, and key management handled by Caverion at K-group grocery stores. The MyHoas tenant portal serves as the operational system of record for rent, maintenance, fault reports, and document access.
On the technology layer, Hoas has layered AI features on top of its tenant operations: a 24/7 Hoas chatbot (OpenAI via Giosg) deployed on the website and WhatsApp handles customer inquiries; the Asuntoetsivä (Apartment Detective) recommendation tool and the Aluesuosittelija quiz match prospective tenants with suitable properties and areas. AI is also used internally for drafting communications, translation between Finnish/Swedish/English, and summarising case threads, with human review required before publication. The foundation publicly commits to GDPR and EU AI Act compliance and structures AI as advisory rather than decision-making in housing allocations.
Hoas firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hoas
- Legal name
- Helsingin seudun opiskelija-asuntosäätiö sr
- Website
- https://hoas.fi
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hoas is a Finnish non-profit foundation, established in 1969, that provides affordable rental apartments to university and polytechnic students across the Helsinki metropolitan area under state-subsidised housing regulations. It operates a multi-thousand-unit portfolio managed through the MyHoas tenant portal and AI-assisted customer service tools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hoas industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Housing
- NAICS
- Rental and Leasing Services (532), Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (7213)
- SIC
- Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student Housing Roommate Matching, Assignments & Occupancy Management (BPAJAJAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Off-Campus Shared Student Houses (Room-by-Room) (THAMAGAC), Association Maintenance, Vendor & Capital Project Management (BPAJAHAM)
Keywords
Where Hoas is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Helsinki
- HQ country
- Finland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Hoas business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Property/Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Student Housing Rentals: Monthly rental income from student apartments across the Helsinki metropolitan area. Rents vary by apartment type and size (shared apartments, studios, two-room apartments, family apartments). Electricity is included in shared apartment rents.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Shared apartment (soluasunto) - Most affordable option with shared kitchen and common areas |
| Subscription | Monthly | Studio apartment (yksiö) - Self-contained small apartment |
| Subscription | Monthly | Two-room apartment (kaksio) - Apartment with separate bedroom |
| Subscription | Monthly | Three-room and family apartments - Larger units for families |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Hoas product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hoas is a non-profit foundation that rents affordable student apartments in the Helsinki metropolitan area (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa). Its portfolio includes shared apartments, studios, two-room apartments, family apartments, summer apartments, and accessible housing. Services include a self-service tenant portal (MyHoas), an AI-powered customer service chatbot, an apartment recommendation tool, free internet, laundry and sauna booking, and tenant support services. Tenant selection is guided by the Centre for State-Subsidised Housing Construction (Varke).
Product overview
Hoas (Helsingin seudun opiskelija-asuntosäätiö) is a non-profit foundation providing affordable student housing in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The core offering is a portfolio of rental apartments including shared apartments (soluasunto), studios, two-room apartments, family apartments, summer apartments, and accessible housing. The product suite includes the MyHoas tenant portal for managing rent, maintenance, and documents; the Hoas chatbot (AI customer service on website and WhatsApp); Asuntoetsivä (AI apartment recommendation tool); and the housing application system. Additional services include free Hoasnet internet, laundry/sauna booking, and the Aluesuosittelija area recommendation quiz.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Student Apartments (Opiskelija-asunnot) Affordable rental apartments for full-time students in the Helsinki metropolitan area, located near universities and public transportation in Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa. Portfolio includes shared apartments, studios, two-room apartments, family apartments, summer apartments, and accessible housing.
- MyHoas Tenant Portal Self-service online portal for Hoas tenants to manage rent payments, fault and maintenance reports, parking applications, document access, and tenant communications.
- Housing Application (Asuntohakemus) Online application portal where students submit housing applications to be matched with available Hoas apartments. Includes a separate pathway for international exchange students applying for furnished short-term housing.
- Hoas Chatbot AI-powered customer service assistant available 24/7 on the Hoas website and WhatsApp. Helps users with housing applications, apartment information, maintenance questions, and service inquiries. Built on OpenAI's language model delivered through the Giosg chat platform.
- Asuntoetsivä (Apartment Finder) AI-assisted apartment recommendation tool on Hoas property pages that recommends apartments based on institution location, rental budget, and household composition. Uses anonymized data and does not link recommendations to user identity or affect application decisions.
- Hoasnet Internet Service Free broadband internet connection included with every Hoas tenancy. Wired Ethernet service that requires the tenant to supply their own router and Ethernet cable.
- Laundry and Sauna Booking Reservation system (Booking by Tampuuri) for shared laundry rooms and saunas in Hoas residential properties. Tenants book usage slots online.
- Aluesuosittelija (Area Recommendation Quiz) AI-assisted interactive quiz that helps prospective tenants identify which Hoas residential area best matches their lifestyle preferences (e.g., nature versus urban environment).
Quantifiable outcome
- Home insurance mandatory for all new tenancy agreements starting January 1, 2026, ensuring tenant protection
Companies that use Hoas
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hoas technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability6 records
Feature3 records
Hoas partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- University of Helsinki Student Union (HYY)corePartner student union that participates in Hoas governance and helps direct students to affordable housing services.
- Aalto University Student Union (AYY)corePartner student union representing Aalto University students, involved in student housing advocacy and Hoas operations.
- Ten Other Student Unions and Polytechnic Student UnionscoreNetwork of 10 additional student unions and polytechnic student bodies that participate in Hoas's organizational structure and student housing mission.
- Centre for State-Subsidised Housing Construction (Varke)coreGovernment body that guides tenant selection criteria for Hoas, ensuring fair allocation of state-subsidised student housing.
- CaverioncoreKey management service provider operating automated key pickup/return machines at K-group grocery stores. Handles all key handover logistics for Hoas tenants.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hoas competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SATO Oyj: Major Finnish residential rental housing company operating in growth centers including Helsinki. Comparable to Hoas in residential rental operations within the same Finnish metros, but broader customer base rather than student-specific.
- Kojamo plc: Finland's largest private residential rental housing company (Lumo brand). Comparable to Hoas as a Finnish residential rental operator in the same metro areas (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa), but serves broader demographics rather than students specifically.
Emerging players
- Amber (student housing platform): Global student accommodation marketplace connecting students with verified housing near universities. Comparable to Hoas in serving international student housing demand, though as an aggregator rather than a property operator.
- University Living: Global student housing marketplace and accommodation provider. Comparable to Hoas in targeting international and domestic students, though operating as a commercial platform rather than a state-aligned non-profit foundation.
- HousingAnywhere: European rental marketplace focused on students and young professionals, with strong presence in the Netherlands and expanding across Europe. Comparable to Hoas in addressing student housing demand, but as an aggregator/marketplace rather than an operator.
Direct peers
- Studentbostäder i Sverige (SBS): Swedish non-profit student housing foundation providing affordable student apartments across Swedish university cities. Closely comparable to Hoas in mission (non-profit, state-supported, student-focused), tenant base, and operating model.
- CRM Students: UK-based student accommodation provider operating PBSA properties near universities. Comparable to Hoas in core product (purpose-built student apartments) and customer segment, though UK-focused and commercially structured.
- Nido Student: Pan-European purpose-built student accommodation operator. Comparable to Hoas in target customer (university students) and core offering (managed student apartments), though operating on a commercial rather than non-profit basis.
- Sammen (Student Welfare Organization): Norwegian student welfare organization providing student housing across multiple Norwegian university cities. Comparable to Hoas as a Nordic non-profit student housing provider serving similar demographics with affordable, regulated housing.
Others
- The Collective (co-living): Co-living operator offering shared and private residential units with community programming. Comparable to Hoas in shared-living concept and student/young professional targeting, though operating as a commercial co-living brand.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hoas social profiles
Digital presenceHoas compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Hoas financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hoas leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Hoas funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hoas M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hoas
What does Hoas do?
Hoas is a non-profit foundation that rents affordable student apartments in the Helsinki metropolitan area (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa). Its portfolio includes shared apartments, studios, two-room apartments, family apartments, summer apartments, and accessible housing. Services include a self-service tenant portal (MyHoas), an AI-powered customer service chatbot, an apartment recommendation tool, free internet, laundry and sauna booking, and tenant support services. Tenant selection is guided by the Centre for State-Subsidised Housing Construction (Varke).
Is Hoas a public or private company?
Hoas is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hoas founded?
Hoas was founded in 1969. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hoas based?
Hoas is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, in the Europe region.
How does Hoas make money?
One revenue line is on record: student Housing Rentals.
Who are Hoas's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SATO Oyj and Kojamo plc. Emerging players are Amber (student housing platform), University Living and HousingAnywhere. Direct peers are Studentbostäder i Sverige (SBS), CRM Students, Nido Student and Sammen (Student Welfare Organization). The Collective (co-living) is listed as an others.
Does Hoas have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hoas.
What industry is Hoas in?
Hoas's product category is Student Housing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJAJAJ, Student Housing Roommate Matching, Assignments & Occupancy Management, with a secondary code of THAMAGAC, Off-Campus Shared Student Houses (Room-by-Room). Its NAICS code is 532 and its SIC code is 6513.