Finnish people are moving to cities in large numbers and their strict saving lifestyle is making them opt for micro-living spaces. Many of them are already saving money by using free websites like Riskivapaa as a form of entertainment. Landlords are receiving interest from hundreds of potential tenants within days of putting up advertisements.
The concept of micro-apartments was met with mixed reactions. While some were happy about being able to live in a city and earn, some were not so accepting of such small housing. There was, however, an agreement over the opinion that these tiny apartments should not have the same rent as regular ones. For many, the cleverness and quality of such a space-saving housing option did not compensate for the lack of space being rented for over 600 euros, every month, regardless of the location.
The newspaper Helsingin Sanomat (HS) has been closely following the capital’s developments in real estate. It reported that an apartment of 34 sq. meters, in Mellunmäk which is a little outside Helsinki, garnered the interest of about 500 potential renters. The lower monthly cost seemed to be the main reason. However, there were many strict criteria attached to these new micro-apartments.
For many years, the policymakers have tried to tackle the country’s problem of dwindling population. It is affecting their security system, something that used to receive international praise. But the concept of micro-apartments might just make things worse, as it would be impossible to squeeze another person into these tiny living spaces. Even dating someone in such close quarters might prove to be a challenge. It might also give an impression of financial instability, thereby pushing the need to start a family for later.