Renovation Risk in Housing Companies Concentrating in the Same Properties

Finnish housing companies' renovation debt is increasingly concentrating in the same properties. According to a new analysis, as many as one in three housing companies has insufficient funds set aside for upcoming renovations — a situation that could affect apartment prices, financing, and the completion of property transactions.

The estimate is based on renovation data compiled by Alma Real Estate, combining the repair history, structural data, and renovation forecasts of tens of thousands of housing companies. Information that was previously scattered is now consolidated into a single view, making the renovation needs and risks of housing companies comparable for the first time.

"There has long been an information asymmetry in the market: some players have better visibility into renovation risks than others. Now the same information has been made available to everyone," says Laura Leskinen, Business Director of Alma Real Estate Insights.

The data currently covers approximately 76,000 housing companies and 150,000 residential buildings. It shows that renovation debt is not evenly distributed — some housing companies are clearly in a significantly weaker position than others. In 49% of the housing companies analysed, at least one major renovation remains outstanding, most commonly pipe, elevator, or façade renovations. Housing companies built in the 1960s–80s that still lack a pipe renovation are in the most challenging situation.

Impact on Prices and Financing

Greater visibility into renovation risk could shift the dynamics of the property market. Estate agents can use the data to price properties, buyers can more accurately assess future costs, and banks can refine their collateral valuations.

"When renovation debt is made visible and comparable, it directly influences negotiations, pricing, and financing. Decisions can be based on the same data," says Leskinen.

Until now, renovation information for housing companies has been scattered across documents such as property manager certificates, maintenance needs surveys, and separate reports, making it difficult to form a comprehensive picture.

Renovation Debt Is Growing – But Its Distribution Has Been Unclear

Finland's residential building stock is estimated to carry a renovation debt of €30–50 billion. According to the ROTI 2025 report (Finnish Association of Civil Engineers, RIL), over 40% of buildings are in need of major refurbishment, while households' capacity to finance repairs has weakened with rising interest rates. The new renovation data provides, for the first time, more precise information on where exactly the renovation debt falls and how it is distributed across housing companies.

For further information:
Laura Leskinen Business Director, Alma Real Estate Insights
Tel. +358 45 631 6617
laura.leskinen@almamedia.fi

Alma Real Estate is Finland's leading real estate service ecosystem. It combines residential property marketplaces (Etuovi.com, Vuokraovi.com), a professional platform for estate agents (OviPro), AI-powered real estate data tools (Asuntopuntari, Aluepuntari, Climatrix), and digital property transaction infrastructure (DIAS) into a single ecosystem.

Alma Media in brief

Alma Media is an international company of digital media, marketplaces and services with a strong capacity for renewal. We inspire human curiosity and choice by creating services that combine technology and content with a local heart. In Finland, our best-known brands include Kauppalehti, Talouselämä, Iltalehti, Jobly, Etuovi.com, Nettiauto and Nettimoto. Our recruitment services include prace.cz and jobs.cz in Czechia, Profesia.sk in Slovakia and mojposao.net in Croatia.

In Finland, our business operations include leading housing and automotive marketplaces, financial and professional media, national consumer media and content and data services for businesses and professionals. Alma Media’s international business in Eastern Central Europe, Sweden and the Baltic countries consists of recruitment services and an online marketplace for commercial properties.

Alma Media operates in 10 countries in Europe and employs approximately 1,650 professionals. Alma Media’s revenue from continuing operations was EUR 327 million in 2025 of which the share of digital business was 86%. Alma Media’s share is listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. Read more at www.almamedia.fi/en/

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