Foreigners buying property in Finland will have to seek permission from the country's ministry of defence amid concerns that hostile intelligence agencies have been building up real estate portfolios in the country.

The new rules, which come a year after security forces raided more than a dozen properties linked to a Russian businessman, will require any individual or entity from outside the European Union or European Economic Area to seek the permission of the military authorities before buying.

It also gives the government a “right of preemption,” allowing it to not only block a sale, but to buy the land in question itself if the property is within 500 to 1000 metres from a military installation and deemed essential to national security.

The Finnish ministry of defence insists that the new laws are “not directed to any specific country or actor(s)."

"It will prevent situations where the operating conditions of security authorities or national security interests could be compromised due to construction or real estate exchange." said Anu Sallinen, a ministry spokesperson.