A 90-euro rent gap forced Niina and her daughter to move: “I long for a room with a door I can close”

Niina Lukinmaa, 50, Lahti:

My daughter once said she doesn’t really feel comfortable bringing friends to our two-room apartment, because we have so little space. Her group of friends has to cram into her room, and I’m right on the other side of the door. Sometimes I, too, wish I had a room of my own with a door I can close. I also long for a separate kitchen so the entire home doesn’t feel like one big space.

I’ve slept in the living room for years so my daughter can have her own room. In 2022, we moved into a 56-square-meter (about 600 square feet) two-room apartment that was meant to be our long-term home. It had a spacious living room and a separate kitchen. My daughter had her own space, and I used a nook in the corner of the living room. We found it comfortable.

I’m on disability and unemployed. My income is made up of various benefits that cover living expenses, including housing. Last summer, I received a letter from Kela, Finland's social insurance institution: under the new rent cap, our rent was about 90 euros too high. They advised me to find a cheaper place to live.

I had already been following news about the government’s cuts and worried about how they would affect us. When I got the message, I was on extended sick leave with a broken shoulder. My child was also reluctant to move out of the apartment we’d grown so comfortable in.

Kela gave us three months before they would lower our benefit. They also required us to apply for a certain number of apartments. It was important for me to stay in the city of Lahti for my daughter’s schooling, and I wanted to be near services since we don’t have a car. We struggled to find a home that met all those needs.

Later that year, I received more bad news: the housing company would raise our rent. I realized our situation was growing tight. Finally, we were offered a one-bedroom apartment of 45 square meters (about 480 square feet). I was skeptical, but there were no better options.

We had to get rid of many items when we moved. I was most upset about parting with our huge chaise sofa. We also had to give up countless dishes, the dishwasher, and some cabinets due to lack of space. I mourned the heirlooms from my late mother that didn’t fit into the new home. I cried often sorting through them because it felt like part of her disappeared. Thankfully, my neighbor took some and promised to return them if I ever want them back.

I couldn’t bear to throw away the drawings and crafts my children made, even though there are loads of them. They’re precious to me, wonderful memories.

I enjoy decorating and constantly think about ways to make the apartment cozier. Even small details, like a new decorative pillow cover, brighten the space. Since I spend a lot of time at home, it often feels like the walls are closing in. That’s why I regularly rearrange the furniture or come up with other updates. Yet I notice that even a short time away can make me appreciate my home again.

There are upsides to living in such a small space. It requires less cleaning, and we’re forced to keep our possessions minimal. Being too cramped makes my mind feel cluttered. When my daughter eventually moves out on her own, I’ll have just enough space.

I have two housing dreams: either a little red house with a potato patch or a fairly modern single-family home. I know I couldn’t manage either one right now without winning the lottery, but maybe one day I’ll at least own my own cabin.