Home > Statistics > Rents of dwellings > 2015 > 1st quarter > Quality Description: Rents of dwellings

Quality Description: Rents of dwellings

• 1. Relevance
• 2. Calculation method
• 3. Correctness and accuracy of data
• 4. Timeliness and promptness of the published data
• 5. Accessibility and transparency of the data
• 6. Comparability of the statistics
• 7. Coherence and consistency

1. Relevance

1.1. Information content

The quarterly statistics on rents describe quarterly and year-on-year levels and changes of rents for the rental dwelling stock. The statistics are published quarterly approximately five weeks after the end of the examined quarter.

The purpose of the statistics on rents is to provide information about the development of the rental market to all those monitoring the rental market.

1.2. Concepts, classifications and data

The data and the data suppliers

The statistics on rents are compiled from interview data collected in connection with the monthly Labour Force Survey, Statistics Finland’s data on the dwelling stock, obtained from the Building and Dwelling Register of the Population Register Centre, and data on migration and population structure. Around 1,500 persons are interviewed monthly. The sample for one survey month consists of five rotation groups which have entered the Labour Force Survey at different points of time. The target population of the survey month changes gradually so that one third of the respondents change monthly. The Population Register Centre's Register of Buildings and Dwellings forms the quarterly framework for rents. The framework is updated annually.

The quarterly publication contains rent data for the whole country, from the Greater Helsinki area, the rest of the country, satellite municipalities and largest towns. The Greater Helsinki area includes Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen. The satellite municipalities are Hyvinkää, Järvenpää, Kerava, Kirkkonummi, Nurmijärvi, Riihimäki, Sipoo, Tuusula and Vihti.

The interview data of the statistics on rents have been collected since the first quarter of 2003 and the quarterly index has also been calculated from that point forward.

Concepts

Rent: Statistics Finland's concept of rent includes separately paid water charges and heating costs. Compensations for the use of facilities, such as a sauna or laundry room, are not included in the rent figures. The concept of rent in the statistics is also exclusive of electricity and Internet charges. However, in case the charges above are directly included in the rent paid by the tenant, they are taken into the calculation of the average rent, because these items cannot be easily separated from rents. The statistics release information about both the average rent per square metre of the dwelling (EUR/m2/month) and the total rents of an average dwelling per month. The average rents per square metre and total rents reported in the statistics are geometric averages.

Number of rooms: A room is defined as a space with one or more windows that has a floor area of at least seven square metres and mean height of at least two metres. A hall, porch, bed recess or other similar space is not regarded as a room. Kitchen is not included in the number of rooms. Dwellings with at least three rooms are classified into room number category 3h+.

Type of financing: An ARA dwelling is a dwelling produced with government loans, in which the rent is determined by the cost correlation principle. The majority of ARA dwellings are owned by municipalities and non-profit corporations. Dwellings built with interest subsidy loans are counted as ARA dwellings in the rent statistics. Non-subsidised dwellings are other than ARA dwellings.

2. Calculation method

Calculation of changes

The calculation of the quarterly statistics on rents of dwellings has been changed so that price ratios are formed based on the euro-denominated observation and reference period rents of the same dwelling. Price ratios for new observations in the data are formed by using a statistical model with which the euro-denominated rent is estimated for the dwelling for the reference period. Geometric means are then compiled based on the price ratios for the most detailed regional levels. From these, higher level indices are aggregated with the value share weights of the frame of rents using a Laspeyres-type index formula.

Calculation of average rents per square metre

The average rents of rental dwellings per square metre describe the current rent level in dwellings of different size and type. Average rents per square metre are calculated by increasing the euro-denominated average rents per square metre of the annual rent statistics by the quarterly change indicated in the quarterly rent statistics. The levels of the statistics' average rents per square metre are checked annually to correspond with the average rents per square metre of the annual statistics.

Handling of non-subsidised and ARA dwellings

The handling and calculation of ARA dwellings has been harmonised with that of non-subsidised rental dwellings in the quarterly rent statistics starting from the first quarter of 2014.

Previously, only the dwellings where the rent had changed between the observation and reference periods were included in the index calculation for ARA dwellings. From now on, the change is calculated based on all findings for both non-subsidised rental dwellings and ARA dwellings.

3. Correctness and accuracy of data

3.1. Reliability of the statistics

To ensure the reliability of the statistics, average rents per sqare metre and dispersion figures are not published in categories with under 5 observations. The statistics make use of limits on rent per square metre based on the distribution, by which cases clearly deviating from the market level and errors in data are removed.

3.2. Accuracy of the statistics

Cases with missing information about rent or floor area, or with exceptionally high or low rent due to contract within family or error in data entry are not accepted into the statistics.

4. Timeliness and promptness of the published data

The quarterly rent statistics is published four times per year and the data of the publication are final.

5. Accessibility and transparency of the data

This publication describes the rent level and changes in rents during the quarter preceding the time of publication. The latest data release from the statistics and a pdf version of the publication are published on Statistics Finland’s website on the publication date of the quarterly statistics on rents.

6. Comparability of the statistics

6.1. Comparability with other data

In addition to the quarterly statistics on rents, Statistics Finland publishes annual data on rents. The compilation of the quarterly statistics deviates in certain respects from that of the annual statistics. The clearest difference between the two sets of statistics is that in addition to interview data, the annual statistics also utilise data from the register of housing allowances, which are not used in the quarterly statistics. Thus, the basis of the data for the annual statistics is considerably broader than that of the quarterly statistics.

6.2. Comparability over time

Because of comparability, the average rents have been calculated with the same formula from the first quarter of 2010. The quarterly average rents calculated both with the old and new methods for 2010 to 2012 can be found in the StatFin database service.

7. Coherence and consistency

In addition to Statistics Finland's statistics on rents, KTI Finland publishes rent data for the largest towns two times per year. These rent data are based on the rents of non-subsidised rental dwellings owned by towns, non-profit corporations and insurance companies. Statistics Finland publishes annual and quarterly statistics on rents.

Source: Rents of dwellings, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Outi Hautamäki 029 551 3472, Martti Korhonen 029 551 3451, asuminen.hinnat@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mari Ylä-Jarkko

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Updated 8.5.2015