The expert predicted a moderate increase in rental housing by the fall of 2026

In conditions of economic uncertainty, the situation on the rental housing market is becoming one of the key topics for residents of large cities. As noted on November 18 in an interview with Izvestia, a consultant on strategic and anti-crisis management, Director of Development of OOO "Together.PRO" Alexander Berezhnoy, in the next two years the market will develop within the framework of restrained, predictable dynamics. Sharp price spikes should not be expected: moderate growth is possible only by the autumn of 2026.

According to the expert, by the end of next year, long-term rentals may rise in price by about 10-15%. Such a trend will be associated with a combination of macroeconomic factors, among which a gradual reduction in the key interest rate will be of key importance. It is expected that by the autumn of 2026 it will drop to 13-15%, which will support consumer demand. However, even cheaper mortgages are unlikely to immediately make home purchases massively affordable, so many families will continue to choose rentals.

"At the same time, a reduction in the rate may free up some of the savings of Russians, there are about 60 trillion rubles in bank deposits now, and some of these funds can be directed to investment real estate, including rental properties. This will create additional pressure on the market, especially in the segment of high—quality housing," Berezhnoy said.

The expert called the further stratification of the rental market one of the noticeable trends in 2026. The demand for modern apartments with high-quality repairs and developed infrastructure remains consistently high. At the same time, the objects in the old fund continue to become cheaper. In a number of central districts of Moscow, the cost of renting such apartments has already decreased by about 30% relative to peak values, and this trend, according to the interlocutor, will continue.

In addition, for the tenants themselves, 2026 may be a time of relative stability and opportunities for savings. It is most profitable to look for housing in the "low" season — in January or from May to July, when owners often make concessions and offer discounts of 5-10%. Berezhnoy also noted the popularity of shared rentals, which can reduce individual costs by 20-50%. Additional savings are achieved by choosing less prestigious but infrastructurally developed areas or unfurnished rental housing, which can reduce the cost of rent by up to 20%.

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"2026 is likely to be a period of adaptation to the "new normal" for the Moscow rental market. After several years of high volatility and sharp price fluctuations caused by external economic shocks, the market is moving towards greater balance and predictability. The moderate growth, which may occur closer to autumn, will be selective and will primarily affect facilities that meet modern standards of comfort and location," the consultant added.

According to him, record jumps like those observed in 2023-2024 are not expected. This creates more favorable conditions for both landlords and tenants, allowing them to make long-term plans with less uncertainty.

On November 16, the federal company "Floors" told Izvestia that the record level of bidding for the sale of ready-made housing in Russia makes it possible to significantly reduce overpayments on market mortgages. With a rate of 18.99%, a down payment of 60% and a loan term of 20 years, a discount of 15% of the market value of the apartment reduces monthly payments and mortgage overpayments to levels commensurate with the mortgage rate of 10.7%, and if such a loan can be refinanced at 14% in a year, this will allow for another 1.4 times reduce overpayment for the entire loan term.

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