Rovaniemi among cities with biggest rent hikes in Finland

Housing rental costs in Finland increased during the first quarter of this year, but to a greater degree in areas outside Greater Helsinki, according to Statistics Finland.

Rents for non-subsidised housing increased by 1.0 percent in the Helsinki region and by 2.1 percent in the rest of Finland in January to March.

The rents for such dwellings rose most in Hämeenlinna (3.1 %), Oulu (2.9 %) and Rovaniemi (2.9 %). They rose the least in Rauma (0.4 %), Pori (0.4 %) and Mikkeli (0.5%), according to the number-crunching agency.

Rents for one-room flats have risen less than larger ones. The rental hikes were also more moderate in the capital region than compared to the rest of the country. Rents for unsubsidised one-room apartments rose by 0.5 percent in the capital region and by 1.8 percent in the rest of Finland.

Biggest hikes in Hämeenlinna, Oulu and Rovaniemi

One-room flat rents saw the biggest hikes in the Lapland city of Rovaniemi (2.7%), two-room apartment rents rose most in Oulu (3%) and rents for family dwellings rose most in Hämeenlinna (4.1%) over a period of one year.

Meanwhile, government-subsidised housing saw rent increases of 1.7 percent in the Helsinki region and 1.8 percent in the rest of the country over the past year.

Rent price trends in the beginning of this year followed the same trajectory as last year. For example, in Helsinki, the rents of unsubsidised apartments rose by 0.3 percent last year. On the other hand, in two other large growth centres, Turku and Tampere, rents rose by 1.8 and 1.7 percent, respectively, last year.

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