The price of rental housing in Russian cities has increased by a record 32%
Last year was a record-breaking year in terms of the growth dynamics of average rental rates in Russia, with two-room apartments overtaking the most popular small-sized variants by this indicator, said the federal company "Etazhi".
"Despite the fact that the last couple of months the volume of supply in the rental market is growing rapidly, and in some major cities relative to the fall months the number of apartments offered for rent, increased by 30-40%, landlords are still reluctant to reduce rates," - said the deputy director of the rental department of the federal company "Etazhi" Daria Khlystova.
According to her, some of those who rented apartments on the wave of shortage of supply in the fall, are now looking for alternative options for rent in a more convenient location, but at a low price. In September-October last year, the supply on the rental market in Russia's largest cities was so scarce that many people were forced to rent apartments that were not quite suitable for their financial capabilities.
"About 10-15% of those who now apply for the selection of apartments for rent are looking for more comfortable but affordable housing to replace what they rented during the fall rush on the rental market," Khlystova specified.
She added that the owners do not reduce the rates yet, but are ready to bargain with real tenants who are ready to conclude a contract for a period of six months and more.
According to analysts of the company, last year the average rental rates of two-room apartments increased by 32%, and studios and one-room apartments - by 31%. The largest annual growth of average rental rates for one-room apartments and studios among Russian cities with a million residents was recorded in Samara (+56%), Chelyabinsk (+55.6%), Kazan (+44.5%), St. Petersburg (+40%) and Nizhny Novgorod (+38%). In Moscow prices increased by 24.4% over the same period. The lowest growth was observed in Voronezh (+15.8%) and Krasnodar (+17.9%).
Average rental rates for two-room apartments changed most significantly in Krasnoyarsk (+60%), Kazan (+54.8%), St. Petersburg (+49.3%), Yekaterinburg (+42.6%) and Nizhny Novgorod (+38.8%). The least rates increased in Samara (+19%) and Krasnodar (+16.9%). In Moscow, the growth amounted to 21.3%.
"We expect that in the medium term the volume of supply on the rental market will grow and landlords will have to reduce rental rates in order to rent out their properties in the shortest possible time. The rates are supported only by the inaccessibility of market mortgages, because of which some Russians are forced to rent temporary housing, as rental rates are much lower than the monthly loan payments," - summarized the expert.
Earlier, January 16, the head of the service "Yandex Rent" Roman Zhukov called the most suitable periods for the search for a rented apartment. According to him, in January, in late spring and early summer, as well as on the eve of the New Year holidays, the activity of tenants is traditionally lower. He noted that in these conditions it is possible to find "inexpensive comfortable variant of rented housing with minimal competition".
Before that, on January 15, the President of the International Academy of Mortgage and Real Estate Irina Radchenko said that last year the average cost of rental housing increased by 30%. The expert emphasized that the subsequent price growth will depend on how quickly the key rate will be reduced and whether the population will take mortgages. If citizens will take mortgages with an increased rate, the rental housing market will have a high demand.
