Real Estate Expert: Foreign Students Are Particularly Active in Tallinn's Rental Market Before the School Year

While students used to start active apartment searches as early as July in the past, the market is sluggish this summer, with mainly international students being active, comments Helen Šank, a real estate agent at 1Partner Kinnisvara.

The experienced agent notes that while in previous years there was already considerable activity among students in mid-July, at least local young people haven't started hurrying this year. "In the past, there was already a queue of interested parties at the door for every new listing by mid-summer. It's possible that local students are simply leaving the search to the last minute or aren't worried because they think there's enough supply on the market, but compared to before, it's much quieter now," says Šank.

While most students are looking for smaller and more affordable apartments and don't mind living farther from the city center, another type of interested group has emerged. "Local young people are looking for more affordable solutions, but some international students are more demanding. They prefer apartments in good condition in the city center and are willing to pay more for them. This year there are many Finnish students, among whom areas like Rotermann are popular, as it's convenient to travel to Helsinki on weekends," highlights 1Partner's rental agent.

The agent believes that local youth's more modest interest may be related to economic uncertainty, which has prompted many young people to stay at their parents' home for longer to save on living expenses. "This doesn't mean, of course, that interest in rental apartments has disappeared. Interestingly, the previously widespread trend of renting a larger apartment as a group is also fading. Those young people who can afford to move out from their parents' home are looking primarily for privacy and are more likely to rent a smaller space alone," explains Šank. She adds that a dorm-like studio apartment of about 20 square meters can be found in Tallinn for around 280–350 euros per month in rent, but these are mostly located in older buildings and away from the city center.