Balcony, brightness, and shared moments: How Pasi found his perfect Helsinki rental

For Pasi Vataja, the best moments at home come in two forms.

Some of these moments are about peacefully unwinding from the everyday rush on his own. At those times, Vataja sits on the balcony sipping on a double espresso, then takes a nap on the living-room chaise. For a man who puts in long hours in the events industry and as a butler, these occasional “do-nothing” days are invaluable.

On the other hand, the best moments are those when Vataja's one-bedroom fills with friends who come to enjoy his cooking and the lively atmosphere together. In fact, Sunday afternoons are always reserved for these gatherings with friends.

Located in the Kallio district of Helsinki, this two-room apartment is perfectly suited to both solitary relaxation and entertaining friends. The bright interior and excellent layout of this SATO rental home have charmed both Vataja and his guests.

The freedom of renting

Vataja’s home is a compact 1950's one-bedroom on Hämeentie, a major Helsinki street near the Kurvi intersection. The seventh-floor apartment is 38 square meters (408 sq ft.), but it's open layout and abundant light make it feel more spacious.

Vataja moved into the apartment a year and a half ago, after a major renovation of the building was completed. Despite the remodeling, the spirit of the 1950's construction remains intact.

“For example, the old stone windowsills are wide and absolutely wonderful! My houseplants thrive on them.”

For Vataja, flexibility is what truly matters in rental living. There is no need for extensive planning, nor do you need large savings.

Many people think the same way as Vataja, since renting is popular in Finland. According to Statistics Finland, over one-third of all households rent their homes, and the number has been increasing.

Vataja has previously owned a home in Tampere, but ever since moving to Helsinki, he has enjoyed the ease of renting.

“The Hämeentie location is perfect for me. Most of my work is within a two-kilometer radius, and when I need to travel further, the transport connections are excellent.”

Vataja is also very pleased with his housing provider, SATO. When he last moved from one SATOhome to another, everything went smoothly and efficiently.

Vataja praises SATO’s key courier service in particular, which eliminates the need to return old keys or pick up new ones at the company’s office.

In Finland, large rental housing providers such as SATO play a key role in ensuring a stable and reliable rental market. As one of the country’s biggest housing providers, SATO manages tens of thousands of homes, offering residents not only security and professionalism but also a wide range of options in terms of location, apartment size, and price level.

“There is a huge variety of SATOhomes! If I ever wanted to live in a quieter area near nature, I know I’d find the right home there,” Vataja says.

This makes it easier for newcomers to find housing that suits their lifestyle, whether they are students, young professionals, families, or retirees.

A welcoming sense of community

Vataja’s housing cooperative consists of four buildings, making it quite large overall. Even so, Vataja praises the sense of community and says he knows all the residents on his floor.

“Here in Kallio, people are generally a very cheerful crowd!”

Among the shared facilities in the building, Vataja particularly praises the downstairs sauna and the adjacent club room as “super impressive.”

“If my life were even slightly more routine, I’d definitely reserve a standing weekly time at the sauna.”

The building’s amenities also receive praise for the communal laundry room with its modern equipment. It’s convenient to wash things like duvet covers and pillows in the large machines.

In this building, as in other SATO properties, SATO House Experts are also on hand. They are trusted, on-site professionals whom every resident can turn to for help with everyday issues—from minor repairs to HVAC issues.

They are deeply embedded in the community, handling defect reports, and even facilitating visits to newly available apartments for incoming residents.

Decorated with love

One of Vataja’s favorite aspects of his apartment is the balcony, which he uses as an extra summer room for almost half of the year.

“There’s just enough room on the balcony for a table, two chairs, and some flowers. I often have my coffee out there, watching the hustle of Hämeentie.”

When decorating his home, Vataja aims to blend new pieces with old. Some items are from his previous home, some from storage, and others from his childhood home.

One of his most cherished décor features is his “grandma’s corner.” It centers around a striking chest of drawers built by the father of his mother’s mother’s mother.

The paintings in his “grandma’s corner” are, for example, from his former art teacher and a friend. The charming dog paintings were given to him by his then-employer, the Savoy Theater, when they were no longer needed.

Another favorite spot in the home is the reading nook around his old, beloved chaise lounge.

“The chaise is large enough that you can really sprawl out on it!”

Vataja watches TV from the rocking chair in his bedroom, which was an impulse buy from a flea market during a Sunday stroll.

“The gentle motion of a rocking chair is soothing, and the chair’s firmness is good for your posture.”

Gatherings and dogs

The layout of the apartment, where the living room and kitchen share one open space, initially made Vataja hesitate, since he was used to a separate kitchen that kept cooking mess out of sight.

“But it has worked out just fine! And it’s actually good that I’m forced to keep things tidy.”

Vataja’s lunch and dinner invitations usually include just a couple of friends.

“But sometimes the group is much larger – like the time I invited seven friends who were spending Christmas alone to enjoy blinis and sparkling wine together.”

Vataja describes himself as an urban city person who doesn’t dream of owning a summer cabin.

“Of course, I sometimes crave a bit of greenery, which I get plenty of from my houseplants and balcony flowers. It can easily take me a couple of hours just to water and care for them all!”

In addition to flowers, Vataja also loves dogs, and SATO’s rental homes are very welcoming to pets.

“Because of my irregular work hours, I can’t have a dog of my own, but I regularly host my friends’ dogs, which helps satisfy my dog-loving side.”

Vataja feels so at home here that he has no plans to move. He’s never been particularly eager to relocate.

“Maybe that’s because I always choose my home thoughtfully and carefully!”