Only one apartment sold in three years in new Helsinki development of 109 units

A brand-new 109-unit apartment building in Helsinki's Tapanila district stands almost entirely empty, with only one resident currently living there. The apartments have been on the market for over three years, but no buyers have been found. The sole resident praises the building and neighbourhood, but admits that a large empty building feels strange at first.

A nearly empty new apartment building stands in Helsinki's Tapanila district, with only one buyer found for one of the 109 units in the past three years. The glass-balconied building is owned by the City of Helsinki and sales began in spring 2023, while construction was still underway. The building itself was completed in December 2024, but most apartments remained unsold.

The sole resident feels at home

Currently, only Antti Soini lives in the building with his partner. According to Soini, he enjoys the Tapanila district, which is known for its greenery and pleasant environment. He also praises the apartment itself: "The apartment is very comfortable and the building is built to high quality," Soini told Yle.

Soini admits that living in such a large empty building felt strange at first, but he has since become accustomed to it. Paradoxically, he finds the idea that the stairwell might one day be full of neighbours rather odd.

Housing market crisis in Finland

The situation reflects broader difficulties in the Finnish property market, where sales of new developments have slowed significantly in recent years. High interest rates, rising construction costs and buyer caution have put many development projects in a difficult position. The case of the building developed by the City of Helsinki is particularly striking, as it is a public sector project intended to provide new homes for the capital's residents.