"In August, one of the major factors increasing the demand were foreign and local students who, in anticipation of the new study year, hustled in searching for apartments that would meet their needs and financial capabilities. Not all students were lucky to find accommodation until September since – on the whole – there was a shortage of apartments to suit this category of tenants in Riga. Supply deficit is also retained in other categories of rental apartments, for example, high-quality apartments in Riga centre are rent out at short notice, "explains Girts Krumins, Head of Rental Department, Latio.

Foreign students often share a rental house among several fellows at once;therefore they look for accommodation with many rooms – even with four or five bedrooms, preferably in the centre of Riga or close to the university chosen to study. Foreign students are willing to pay about 200–300 euros per each tenant for multi-room apartments. Students form strong demand also for smaller-space apartments at lower rent charge, accordingly.

Insufficient supply of good rental apartments is still observed also in the centre of Riga being popular among locals and foreign nationals. Here, the strongest demand is witnessed in high-quality, well-appointed, fully furnished, two and three-bedroom apartments up to 80 square meters large at a rent charge of about 450–600 euros a month plus bills for public services. These apartments are rented out at short notice.

There is also a limited number of larger and more expensive apartments (3–4 rooms, rent charge below 1000 euros per month) in the centre of Riga, so prospective tenants spend more time looking for suitable housing.

G.Krumins emphasises that, in spite of the limited supply, rent charge for apartments remained at the level of the preceding months, as the tenants are not willing to pay an exorbitant price, so those apartments whose owners have put up their rates significantly in response to the strong demand have not been taken.

In August, the average rent charge per square metre a month, depending on the size of the apartment, in non-renovated brick-wall buildings was 6–7 euros in the Old Town, 6–8 euros in the silent centre, 6–7 euros in the near the centre, 5 euros in the remote centre;in a partly renovated brick-wall buildings, it was 8–9 euros in the Old Town, 8–10 euros in the silent centre, 8–9 euros in the near the centre, 7 euros in the remote centre;in fully renovated buildings and new developments, it was 14–15 euros in the Old Town, 11–13 euros in the silent centre, 11–12 euros in the near the centre, 7–8 euros in the remote centre.

In August, the average rent charge, excl. bills for public services, increased to 4.3 euros per square meter for prefabricated apartments in a satisfactory condition in the neighbourhoods outside the centre of Riga. In the previous month, the average rent charge was 3.9 euros per square meter.

In the neighbourhoods of Riga, the rental segment of prefabricated apartments does not list enough modern furnished apartments in good condition. If offered at an adequate rent charge, these apartments are rent out at short notice.