Study title

Free-time Residence Barometer 2021

Dataset ID Number

FSD3558

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3558

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)

Abstract

The survey studied developments in the use of free-time residences and holidays homes in Finland. Spending time at a free-time residence (mökki) is a widespread phenomenon in Finland with deep historical and cultural roots, forming a significant part of domestic tourism. In this survey, the term "free-time residence" refers to rural recreational residences (holiday homes, cottages) mainly used during weekends and holidays, especially during summertime. The 2021 survey was commissioned by the Island Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and funded by the Natural Resources Institute Finland.

The use of the free-time residence was charted by asking the respondents, for example, about the distance between their free-time residence and permanent residence in kilometres and hours, the location of their free-time residence, and its suitability for year-round habitation. They were also asked to indicate the number of days their holiday home had been used each month in the previous 12 months as well as the number of people who had spent at least one night there. Willingness to rent out the residence to other people was also queried. The respondents were asked whether their use of the residence had increased or decreased in the previous three years, and to estimate whether it would increase or decrease in the following three years. In addition, they were asked whether a household member had commuted to work from or worked remotely from the second home, and whether the respondents themselves teleworked or would be willing to telework there. Opinions on the impact of rising fuel prices on time spent at the free-time residence were also charted.

Questions related to the standard of the free-time residence covered the total floorage, access to electricity, heating, and available amenities at the free-time residence. Views were also probed on the accommodation capacity, improvements made in the last 12 months, and future improvements. In addition, the respondents were asked to rate the overall state of the main building. Water supply and waste disposal was investigated with questions about sources of water for drinking, cooking and washing, wastewater management, type of outhouse, and waste management.

Service provision at the free-time residence was charted by asking the distance to the nearest services (e.g. grocery store, health centre, library, post office, bus stop). Satisfaction with various services available in the proximity of the free-time residence was canvassed as well as willingness to buy various services. In addition, the respondents were asked whether they usually bought groceries and other goods and services from a store/company located in their municipality of residence, along the way, or in the municipality where the free-time residence was located.

The use of money was surveyed with questions on the average amount of money used per each day spent at the free-time residence, and the amount of money spent on building or repairing the residence, purchasing goods, and using services close to the residence in the previous 12 months. In addition, the annual amount of various fees and user charges related to the residence (e.g. real property tax, private road fees, harbour and quay dues, and waste collection, electricity, waste water, and telephone charges) was queried.

Respondents were asked about their participation in different community activities (e.g. local community events, municipal politics, associations) in the municipality of their free-time residence. Opinions on introducing a law that would allow free-time residence owners to have the same access to services and the same voting and eligibility rights as permanent residents in the municipality of their free-time residence were surveyed. Attitudes towards easing the building code that regulates the construction of free-time residences were also examined.

Background variables included the respondent's municipality of free-time residence, municipality of permanent residence, economic activity, household size, household characteristics, and household monthly gross income.

Keywords

expenditure; holidays; housing; leisure time; leisure time activities; local community facilities; second homes; telework; waste disposal and handling; water supply

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Consumption and consumer behaviour (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Leisure, tourism and sport (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Housing (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Free-time Residence Barometers

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

Data Collector

• Natural Resources Institute Finland

Data Producers

• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Island Committee

Time Period Covered

2019 – 2021

Collection Dates

2021-03 – 2021-04

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Household

Universe

Owners of free-time residences in Finland

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability: Stratified

5,000 free-time residences from Finland, including the Åland Islands, were randomly selected for the survey. A stratified sample was drawn from the Population Information System maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency targeting individual second residence owners aged 18-79 who, according to the register, used their second residence as a free-time residence and had a permanent address in Finland. Only one person per free-time residence was selected and the same person was included in the study only once. If a free-time residence had more than one owner, the oldest owner was selected for the study provided that they were aged 18-79 at the time of sampling. Half of the selected participants were free-time residence owners whose free-time residence was located in the same municipality as their permanent residence, and half were free-time residence owners whose free-time residence was located in a different municipality than their permanent residence. The free-time residences included in the sample were located in the following regions (the number of free-time residences included from each region in parentheses): Åland Islands (180), South Karelia (190), South Ostrobothnia (180), South Savo (450), Kainuu (180), Kanta-Häme (200), Central Ostrobothnia (180), Central Finland (330), Kymenlaakso (180), Lapland (290), Pirkanmaa (430), Ostrobothnia (195), North Karelia (220), North Ostrobothnia (280), North Savo (290), Päijät-Häme (200), Satakunta (180), Uusimaa (390), Southwest Finland (455).

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Response Rate

25.5

Data File Language

Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: Finnish.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Data Version

1.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

To prevent identification of respondents, all open-ended variables and the variables containing information on the municipality of the respondents' free-time and permanent residences were removed from the data by FSD. In addition, variables charting household size and composition, age groups and floorage of free-time residence were top-coded to ensure the privacy of the respondents.

Weighting

There are no weight variables in the data.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke): Free-time Residence Barometer 2021 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2022-03-25). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3558

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Publications

Voutilainen, O., Korhonen, K., Ovaska, U. & Vihinen, H. 2021. Mökkibarometri 2021. Luonnonvara- ja biotalouden tutkimus 47/2021. Luonnonvarakeskus. Helsinki. 87 s. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-380-237-7

Motiva oy (2023), "Off-grid aurinkosähkö Suomessa", Energiavirastolle tehty selvitys verkon ulkopuolisesta aurinkosähköstä (ei julkinen).

Simonen, Janni (2024). Factors affecting economic impact of second homes. University of Eastern Finland. Master theses.