Apartments lack tenants – Business – Kommersant

The growing volume of supply and the growing competition for potential tenants are driving down the cost of long-term rental housing. Deals are still mostly discounted, and employers themselves are becoming more selective, taking longer to choose from available options. Market participants do not expect significant price fluctuations in the near future, calling the current conditions favorable for those who have decided to rent a house.

The average cost of renting one-room apartments in 18 largest regional markets of Russia (16 million-plus cities, Moscow and Leningrad regions) amounted to 21.7 thousand rubles. per month, two-room apartments – 31.9 thousand rubles. Over the month, the indicators decreased by 1% and 3%, respectively. Such data is provided by CIAN.Analytics, calling the overall dynamics rather insignificant.

“The spread of values ​​from city to city is very large – this indicates a change in the supply structure, characteristic of increased turbulence,” explains Alexei Popov, head of CIAN.Analytics.

According to the expert, during a period of uncertainty, agents adhere to different policies: some actively bring offers to the site, others reduce the volume. Fluctuations affect averages.

In “Etazhi” the average cost of renting one-room apartments in 16 largest cities is estimated at 21.5 thousand rubles. per month, two-room apartments – 26.4 thousand rubles. Over the month, both of these indicators fell by about 1%. According to Avito Nedvizhimost estimates, rent:

• a studio in the largest cities now costs 22 thousand rubles. per month,
• one-room apartment – 20 thousand rubles,
• two-room apartment – 30 thousand rubles,
• and a three-room apartment – 43 thousand rubles.

The cost of renting some layout options for the month decreased by 4.3–8.8%, but the weighted average rate for all types of housing remains stable, says Konstantin Kamenev, head of the long-term rental category at Avito Nedvizhimost.

The most pronounced dynamics of prices for long-term rentals over the past month, according to CIAN.Analytics, in Rostov-on-Don, where one-room apartments fell in price by 7%, to 20.8 thousand rubles. per month. Simultaneously in Krasnoyarsk and Chelyabinsk average values, according to analysts, increased by the same 7%, to 20.8 thousand and 15.3 thousand rubles. per month, respectively. More indicative situation in the largest markets. AT St. Petersburg, according to the “Etazhy” data, the average cost of renting a one-room apartment is now 30.2 thousand rubles. per month.

The indicator decreased by 2.5% compared to October and by 14% compared to November last year.

within the borders “old” Moscow the average cost of renting one-room apartments is now 47 thousand rubles. per month, two-room apartments – 75 thousand rubles, according to the calculations of Inkom-real estate. Analysts call fluctuations in announced prices subtle, pointing out that rates are mainly adjusted by discounts of 5-10%.

“In the mass segment, the number of offers has increased by 25% since the beginning of September due to a 20% decrease in demand over the same period,” explains Oksana Polyakova, deputy director of the apartment rental department at Inkom-real estate. The owners, according to her, are loyal to potential tenants: they are ready to rent out housing to tenants with children, pets, do not pay attention to their origin, and agree to share the amount of the security deposit.

Business and premium apartments in Moscow are rented at an average discount of 15-20% from the initial price, said Vladimir Rodionov, head of the rental department at Apple Real Estate.

The size of discounts, according to the expert, reaches 35% for lots that were initially overpriced. Competition for tenants in the segment also remains: the volume of supply is one and a half times higher than the same period last year. Such a conjuncture, according to Mr. Rodionov, makes potential employers more selective – they take longer and more difficult to make a choice, ready to wait for new offers and discounts. Although, according to his observations, clients who previously temporarily left for Turkey, Armenia, Kazakhstan and other countries are returning to the city.

The volume of supply is growing in all major cities, but the dynamics is slowing down. Thus, according to CIAN.Analytics, over the past month, the number of rental lots increased by 10%, while in October the figure increased by one and a half times. “Most of the apartments vacated due to the relocation of their owners to other cities and regions have already been sold, and there were no new inputs,” explains Mr. Popov.

Although Olga Pavlinova, Director of the Floors Leasing Department, considers that one of the factors for the growth of exposure is the entry into the market of apartments, which the owners decided not to sell before the New Year.

Avito Nedvizhimost is talking about an increase in supply by 5.5% per month. Demand, according to Mr. Popov, has almost returned to the levels of the first half of September. Olga Pavlinova believes that the activity of tenants is only 5-7% behind last year.

Vladimir Rodionov does not see any prerequisites for a change in the situation on the long-term rental market in the near future: “the situation will remain at the current level, that is, the transaction receipt in the high-budget segment is approximately 15-20% lower than the stated price.” The market, according to the expert, is strongly influenced, on the one hand, by the socio-political agenda, and on the other, by the stabilization of business processes in Moscow. Olga Pavlinova does not exclude that rental rates for lots in the mass segment will decrease by 5-10% by the end of the year. A new wave of demand will keep the market from a more pronounced decline, the expert believes.

Konstantin Kamenev calls the moment really good for tenants who have decided to move. “There are more options for rental housing, it’s easier to negotiate discounts,” he says. Aleksey Popov, in turn, calls rent a rather attractive way to solve the housing problem. “In the face of uncertainty and reduced confidence in the future, not everyone is ready to enter into a long history with mortgages,” he argues. The expert does not expect significant dynamics of rates in the near future. And Oksana Polyakova also points to seasonality: a surge of activity is traditionally observed in autumn, a lull in winter, demand revives again in spring, and then a summer calm follows.

Alexandra Mertsalova