Asuntomarkkinakatsaus 2/2025: Asumisoikeusasunnot (Varke)

The document “Asuntomarkkinakatsaus 2/2025: Asumisoikeusasunnot (Varke)” is an official review produced by the State‑supported Housing Construction Centre (Valtion tukeman asuntorakentamisen keskus). Authored by housing‑market expert Hannu Ahola, the report was automatically submitted by the EHC profile routine and is publicly accessible via the Varke website. It presents a comprehensive analysis of Finland’s right‑of‑occupancy (asumisoikeus) housing stock, focusing on the Vantaa region and national trends for 2025.

Finland housed 60 500 right‑of‑occupancy homes as of 1 October 2025, an increase of 2 150 units from the previous year. Approximately 56 % of these dwellings are located in the Helsinki metropolitan area and its surrounding municipalities, with the remainder spread across 48 municipalities. The total stock is projected to exceed 64 000 units once all constructions slated for 2025–2027 are completed. Ownership is concentrated in 19 organisations; national housing associations hold 76 % of the units, while municipal entities own the remaining 24 %.

Government funding for new right‑of‑occupancy housing ended in autumn 2023, but support was extended through 2025. In 2024, 2 580 new units began construction, with a comparable figure expected for 2025, marking the highest initiation rate since the 2009 financial‑crisis recovery. Over the 2000s, an average of 1 550 units were started annually, representing roughly 20 % of state‑supported housing production. The share of right‑of‑occupancy homes in total state‑supported output rose above 30 % in 2024‑2025.

Right‑of‑occupancy homes in Vantaa charge user fees about 15 % below market rents, reflecting the programme’s affordability goal. Nationwide, the average user charge in September 2025 was €13.90 per square metre, a 5.1 % increase year‑on‑year. In the capital region the average rose to €15.40 /m², while the cheapest rates were observed in Oulu (€11.40 /m²) and Turku (€12.00 /m²). Despite rising charges, they remain generally lower than comparable market rents, especially in Helsinki where they are about 24 % cheaper.

The report categorises market conditions using an “aso‑index” (0‑50 scale). In 2025, Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa shifted from “fairly tight” to “balanced” markets, while Turku, Tampere and other major cities remained stable. Overall, 94 % of right‑of‑occupancy homes are situated in municipalities with balanced or fairly tight markets. Regional breakdowns show 39 % of new units allocated to Helsinki, 13 % to Turku, 8 % to Espoo and 7 % to Tampere.

Between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025, 9 152 right‑of‑occupancy agreements were recorded, averaging 760 per month. New agreements comprised two‑thirds of the total, with 31 % linked to household moves and 2 % to property transfers. The average applicant age was 49 years, with 43 % over 55 years. Household composition of applicants was 54 % single, 26 % couples, and 20 % larger families; 31 % preferred row‑ or terraced houses, while 53 % sought apartments.

As of October 2025, about 3 700 units were under construction, expected to be completed by the end of 2025, with additional completions in 2026‑2027. Approximately 1 350 loan‑financed units had already been finished by 2024. Once the current pipeline is delivered, the total right‑of‑occupancy stock will surpass 64 000 homes, reinforcing the sector’s role in providing sustainable, affordable housing.

The Finnish right‑of‑occupancy model demonstrates how state‑supported, low‑cost housing can be expanded without compromising affordability. Key takeaways for a pan‑European audience include the importance of long‑term funding continuity, the impact of concentrated ownership on stability, and the effectiveness of user‑charge subsidies in keeping housing costs below market levels. The data underline the sector’s capacity to contribute to sustainable urban development, especially in high‑density metropolitan regions.