Rents decreasing in Hämeenlinna while rising in Helsinki and Turku
In Hämeenlinna, certain rental properties will see a decrease in rent next year. According to Hämeenlinnan Asunnot Oy, rents will be lowered in about 20 of their approximately 110 properties. Tuukka Tuomala, the CEO of Hämeenlinnan Asunnot, explained that the primary reason for the rent reductions is the number of vacant apartments.
“The main reason is that we are trying to increase occupancy rates. We have previously reduced rents in some locations, and we have received positive feedback. Occupancy rates have increased, which in turn has boosted rental income,” he stated.
Currently, Hämeenlinnan Asunnot has over a hundred vacant apartments. Many of these face challenges such as lack of accessibility or being overly large for potential tenants. For instance, there are apartments in three-story buildings without elevators, including a 80-square-meter three-room unit on the top floor, which may be difficult for elderly residents or families with children to access.
On average, rents will decrease by just under 10%, and no rents will increase at the beginning of the year.
In contrast, in Helsinki, rising inflation, increased living costs, and a number of vacant apartments have led to rent increases for city housing residents next year. The average rent for Helsinki’s city-owned housing company, Heka, is set to rise by 5.2% compared to this year. Additionally, in Turku, the city-owned rental company TVT Asunnot Oy plans to raise rents for affordable housing by an average of 3.9% starting next March.