Homeowners face sharper housing cost increases in 2026

Housing costs are set to rise significantly in 2026 after a modest decline last year, with homeowners facing substantially larger increases than renters, Yle reports.

The figures come from a study commissioned by Kiinteistöliitto, a property owners’ organisation, and Omakotiliitto, a detached-house owners’ organisation. The study was conducted by Pellervo Economic Research, known as PTT.

Housing costs for detached-house owners are expected to increase by just under 5 per cent this year, mainly because of higher interest costs and rising prices for heating energy, including oil and electricity. In 2025, costs for detached-house residents fell by about 2 per cent.

Costs for people who own an apartment in a block of flats are forecast to rise by an average of 3 per cent, largely because of higher maintenance expenses.

Renters are in the strongest position among the groups compared in the study. Their housing costs are expected to rise by about 1 per cent on average. Market rents in the Helsinki metropolitan area may even fall slightly, while rents elsewhere in Finland are expected to increase marginally.

“There are significant differences between housing types in the development of housing costs this year. The situation is considerably better for renters than for homeowners,” Veera Holappa, a senior economist at PTT, said in a statement.

Housing is most expensive in the Helsinki metropolitan area and other large cities, both for homeowners and renters. Among the cities included in the comparison, costs are lowest in Kotka, Kouvola, Pori and Rauma.

Oil heating drives the biggest increases

Housing cost developments vary according to the type of home and household. Retired people living in oil-heated detached houses face the largest increase, of about 14 per cent. Families who own an oil-heated detached house face the second-largest increase, at almost 9 per cent.

By comparison, costs for a middle-income person renting an apartment in a block of flats are expected to rise by only about 0.5 per cent.

A renter living in a small studio apartment may pay just over 500 euros a month in total housing costs. A family that owns an apartment in a block of flats faces costs of more than 1,400 euros a month. Other forms of housing fall between these figures.

Housing costs will account for an average of 23 per cent of net income this year, unchanged from the previous year. The increase in housing costs is expected to slow slightly next year as the rise in energy prices levels off.