Here are the property purchases that Finland stopped - Sweden lacks a similar law

SVT Nyheter has previously reported that Swedish authorities lack a general possibility to stop foreign property purchases, with reference to national security. Despite warnings from Säpo and almost ten years of investigation. The issue has become topical in Sweden since the Armed Forces wanted to take over a leisure property near a naval base in the Stockholm archipelago.

In Finland, it looks different. The country has tightened its rules for property purchases by foreign citizens, outside the EU.

"We will not allow business if it is not possible to rule out a threat to national security," says Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen to Yle.

Total ban for Russians

Up to September 1 this year, 68 real estate deals have been stopped in Finland. Since July 2025, Russian and Belarusian citizens are also prohibited in principle from buying real estate.

According to Rickard Lindholm, an expert at the Finnish Ministry of Defence, it is about preventing security threats. The Russian state can compel citizens abroad to act in Russia's interests.

- We want to prevent massive property ownership arising in the long term that could be used in a possible conflict.

Not stopping the right people

The Finnish laws fulfill an important function according to Kari Liuhto, professor of intelligence research at the Finnish Defense Academy. Suspicious purchases can be stopped at an early stage. Using expropriation is both more difficult and more costly, he says.

But at the same time, he believes that the laws focus too much on citizenship.

- In most cases, we don't stop the right people, notes Kari Liuhto.

According to him, Russian intelligence uses intermediaries, or other methods, if it wants to get hold of a strategically important property.

- Most Russian property purchases in Finland have nothing to do with intelligence activities.

The risk increases

Finnish authorities are aware of the risk of purchases via bulvans, and that this risk has increased since a year ago, when Russian purchases are completely stopped.

- We have opportunities to intervene against suspected bullies, but the challenge is to find them, states Rickard Lindholm at the Finnish Ministry of Defence.

Despite gaps in the legislation, he believes that security-threatening property purchases are still made more difficult, because purchases are scrutinized.

- The deterrent effect is the most central.