Cost of rental housing in Helsinki increases
|
|
The financial position of those living in rental accommodation in the Helsinki region has weakened considerably since 1990.
Although tenants have to spend more on their rent than they did before, the amount of living space per resident has hardly increased at all in the Helsinki region, although it has increased in all other parts of Finland.
According to the findings of a study published by the Helsinki Information Centre, those living in housing that they own have more living space per person than in the early 1990s - both in the Helsinki region and elsewhere.
Rents have gone up especially in private rental apartments in the Helsinki region. The monthly rent per square metre was about seven euros in 1993. By 2002 this had gone up to about EUR 12 a month per square metre.
About one in three residents of rented accommodation in the Helsinki region live in non-subsidised housing.
The sharpest rise in rents was in 2001, when new rental contracts were 11% more expensive than average rents.
The surge in rents has been faster than the rise in personal income. Consequently, those living in rental accommodation had an average 10% less disposable income than they did in 1990.
"This was the case even though housing subsidies have grown", says researcher Henrik Lönnqvist. "Housing costs could become unreasonably high especially for those with low incomes, and at worst, could lead to poverty."
Helsingin Sanomat
|
| 14.4.2005 - TODAY |
 Cost of rental housing in Helsinki increases
|
|
