The cost of renting apartments shows seasonal growth

The early surge of seasonal activity, accompanied by the demand of compatriots returning from abroad, led to a reduction in the exposure of apartments for long-term rental and an increase in prices for them. Over the month, the average cost of one-room apartments in the largest regional markets increased by almost 5%, two-room apartments – by more than 7%. The market does not rule out that by mid-September, average prices will rise by another 15%, but, having passed the seasonal highs, the indicators will inevitably begin to decline.

The average cost of renting one-room apartments in 18 largest regional markets of Russia (16 million-plus cities, Moscow and Leningrad regions) in August amounted to 23.72 thousand rubles. per month, two-room apartments – 23.24 thousand rubles. Over the month, the indicators increased by 4.7% and 7.3%, respectively, calculated in CIAN.Analytics. Experts attribute the dynamics both to an increase in the activity of potential tenants and a reduction in exposure: due to the washing out of the most budgetary offers, the share of expensive lots in it is generally growing, which increases the average values.

Other analysts have so far noted a more restrained trend. According to the estimates of “Etazhy”, the average cost of renting “odnushki” in 16 largest cities is now 21.5 thousand rubles. per month, “kopeck pieces” – 26.1 thousand rubles. Over the month, the figures rose by 0.8% and 0.7%, respectively. Konstantin Kamenev, head of the long-term rental category at Avito Nedvizhimost, says that the average long-term rental rate in Russia as a whole is 25,000 rubles. During the month, the indicator did not change, and over the year it increased by 13.6%.

The most pronounced growth average rental rates for the last month, CIAN.Analytics experts noticed in Krasnodar, where one-room apartments have risen in price by 17%, to 26.1 thousand rubles. per month. In Samara the dynamics amounted to 13.7%, up to 20.7 thousand rubles. per month. In “Etazhy” the most pronounced increase in prices for “odnushki” was noticed in St. Petersburg: 2.75%, up to 27.3 thousand rubles. per month. In Krasnoyarsk noted an increase of 2.4%, up to 18.5 thousand rubles. per month. Simultaneously In Perm the average rate per month, according to the calculations of CIAN.Analitiki, decreased by 7.1%, up to 18.4 thousand rubles. per month.

In Moscow, according to CIAN.Analitiki, renting one-room apartments costs an average of 46.5 thousand rubles. per month, two-room apartments – 82.4 thousand rubles. Over the month, the figures increased by 8.1% and 9.9%, respectively. Rental rates do not increase, but due to the active washing out of the most economical offers, the average cost is getting higher, explains Oksana Polyakova, deputy director of the rental department at Inkom-Nedvizhimost. The expert points out that the high season in the city began earlier than usual: in the first ten days of August, demand increased by 25% compared to July, and the exposure decreased by 25.9%.

At the same time, Ms. Polyakova notes that potential tenants of budget housing in Moscow, even with a shortage of supply, are not ready to switch to other price segments.

Therefore, owners of comfort-class housing still give discounts of 5-10%, the expert notes. Although Vladimir Rodionov, head of the Apple Real Estate rental department, notes that in the “business” and “premium” segments, owners are still gradually moving away from the practice of discounting. Although he notes that apartments with expensive interiors in a classic style remain not very popular: they used to be in demand among foreign couples, but the remaining tenants prefer mainly apartments in a modern style.

The rate of washout of exposure is increasing in other regions as well. According to CIAN.Analytics, over the past month, the volume of supply in the 18 largest markets as a whole decreased by 25%, in the previous month the dynamics was less pronounced – minus 19%. The situation on the long-term rental market this year is a little unusual: the volume of supply has been declining since the beginning of the year, and not from the end of July, as it happened earlier, recalls Alexei Popov, head of CIAN.Analytics. The expert connects the trend with migration processes. “Some of the compatriots who left last year are returning, solving the housing problem,” he explains. Now the standard seasonal factor is added: in early August, the demand for long-term rentals traditionally grows.

Olga Pavlinova, Director of the Floors Rental Department, calls the beginning of seasonal growth this year earlier: there is already a shortage of supply in some regional markets.

Tenants can be spurred not only by the approach of the business season, but also by the tightening of mortgage lending conditions: it takes place in the context of the continued overvaluation of primary and secondary housing, Ms. Polyakova adds.

This, according to the expert, makes many people postpone the purchase, continuing to rent housing for some time.

Olga Pavlinova expects that the reduction in supply and price growth will continue in the near future. So far, some owners, according to her, are still holding prices. “But such apartments are rented out very quickly, sometimes in a few hours,” the expert notes. In previous years, from mid-August to mid-September, the total volume of active supply in the rental market of million-plus cities and metropolitan areas decreased by 25-30%, Mr. Popov recalls. This year, he does not exclude a more pronounced dynamics. Against this background, rental rates may rise by 15% to current values ​​by mid-September, the expert suggests. After the passage of seasonal highs, the indicators, according to his forecasts, will begin to decline. Ms. Pavlinova expects a 5-10% increase in rates.

At the same time, Oksana Polyakova notes that the situation will be somewhat stabilized by the owners, who were waiting for the start of the high season: they will bring apartments to the market now, hoping to rent them at the peak. Ms. Pavlinova names another possible scenario for the earlier passage of the peak period: “Most of those who wish can already find housing by this time.” Konstantin Kamenev does not yet see the prerequisites for lowering rental rates.

Alexandra Mertsalova