The luxurious penthouse terrace extends along the two long sides of the apartment. It acts almost like a second living room that can easily accommodate even a large number of guests, multiple armchairs and a Fatboy hammock.

“There are very few such large family apartments available for rent. That's why we were so happy when we managed to get this one. The need was acute, as we had just sold our own apartment and were trying to figure out where to move,” says Päivi Huuhtanen, looking down from the balcony and over the rooftops into the distance.

“When the apartment became available for rent, I went straight to the booking page – and that's how we got the apartment. We got to see the apartment even though it wasn’t ready yet.”

– Päivi

She is particularly fond of the apartment's innovative floorplan.

“We have children of very different ages. That is why we can appreciate the fact that the bedrooms have been cleverly spaced apart. This way, everyone can enjoy their own peace, including us adults.”

The bright and spacious living room with its open kitchen and dining area is the heart of the home that brings everyone around the dinner table to spend time with the family.

The family has previously owned their home. Moving into a rental apartment was only supposed to be a temporary solution, but the ease of living changed the couple's mind.

The father of the family Jani Kaskinen especially likes the fact that, when living in a rental apartment, there is no need to worry about the repairs or property maintenance.

“If something needs to be repaired, I’ll just send a message via the My Lumo service, and a professional will assess the situation and handle the problem if necessary. It’s almost like living in a hotel.”

– Jani

“When the radiators went cold one day last winter, I called property maintenance, who responded quickly. They came here and bled the valves, and the problem was fixed in no time.”

The couple have also lived in the United States, England and Canada, where rental apartments usually included lobby services like at a hotel.

“The situation here is not altogether different, only the services are digital,” says Päivi.

The three current trends in housing – community, responsibility and ease of everyday life – attract people to rental housing. Rental housing is not a product but a service, says Future Living Specialist Kimmo Rönkä.

“A good lessor is empathetic and understands the customer. They are able to meet the needs of the resident and keep them happy, perhaps thereby managing to keep them as a long-term resident as well.”

The time of monoculture when all Finnish homes heated their sauna on Saturday and watched the Saturday-night dances afterwards is now but a distant memory.

“Nowadays, we tend to live individualistic ad-hoc or ex-tempore lives in which everyone does exactly what they want to do at any given moment.”

People want flexibility, ease and peace of mind from housing as well as the improved comfort and quality of life that various services provide. Simply having a roof over your head is not enough – housing has to offer more.

“We should ask residents more often what they find important and what they dream about,” Kimmo says.

The housing criteria are changing. People who live in rental apartments today want elegant quality homes, freedom from property maintenance responsibilities and services that make everyday life easier, such as cleaning and installation services or shared cars.

Digitalisation will enable housing services to adapt to this change.

Päivi and Jani are both in responsible managerial positions. Thus, they have limited free time.

“I'd rather spend my free time with the kids than mowing the law or clearing the snow,” says Jani.

Services that make everyday life easier are today’s hot trend, a whole new way of living.

“All my interaction with Lumo homes has been smooth and swift.”

– Päivi

“We are a family that likes to use all the services that can make our everyday life easier. For example, we frequently use food delivery services, cleaning services and childminder services,” says Päivi.

Cleaning service ordered through the My Lumo service are also an interesting option. The huge windows in the living room have a stunning view, but there is also a lot of window area to clean.