Survey: the popularity of saunas and glazed balconies has clearly decreased

According to a barometer* commissioned by YIT, the housing aspirations of city dwellers have clearly changed over the past year. The share of those who want a glazed balcony in their apartment when it increases the apartment price has markedly decreased over the year, from 73% to 64%. Common areas and the affordability of housing were considered more important especially among those living in single and two-room apartments or one-person households.

The share of those who want a sauna in their own apartment also decreased significantly from 53% to 37%. The appreciation of a private sauna decreased especially among families with children and middle-aged people.

In previous years, the popularity of both the balcony and the sauna has been growing steadily, and the COVID-19 pandemic made our lives home-centric. Now, however, the trend has changed.

The popularity of shared housing company saunas increased from 39% in 2018 to 49% in 2022.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the popularity of the sauna grew, and many things that increase living comfort were considered attractive.  As far as the sauna is concerned, it can now be clearly seen that people want the apartment square meters for everyday use. The rise in energy prices may also have affected the result. The general rise in prices has made consumers think about their housing choices more carefully,” says Pekka Helin, Senior Vice President, Customerships and Living Services at YIT.

*The Sustainable Urban Environments barometer survey is directed at the residents of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Jyväskylä and Kuopio. The number of respondents for the online panel this year was 1,074 + 348 (separate sample of office workers). The data represents the population of 18–75-year-old residents of cities by gender and age. The survey was carried out between September and October 2022. Prior Konsultointi was commissioned by YIT to conduct the survey.

Read more:
Download the Sustainable Urban Environments barometer

Further information:
Pekka Helin, Senior Vice President, Head of Customerships and Living Services, YIT Finland Ltd, tel. +358 (0)40 588 8135, pekka.helin@yit.fi
Maija Taimi, Senior Vice President, Communications, YIT, tel. +358 50 487 1561, maija.taimi@yit.fi

YIT is the largest Finnish and a significant North European development and construction company. We develop and build sustainable living environments: functional homes, future-proof public and commercial buildings, infrastructure for smooth mobility, and renewable energy solutions to benefit the climate. We employ approximately 5,000 professionals in nine countries: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. In 2022, our revenue amounted to EUR 2.4 billion. YIT Corporation's share is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. Read more: www.yitgroup.com