Housing in Sweden
In Sweden, housing contracts and types can vary depending on the type of accommodation and the rental market. Here are some common housing contract types and housing options in Sweden:
1. Rental Apartments (Hyresrätt):
- Rental apartments are one of the most common types of housing in Sweden.
- Tenants sign a rental contract (hyresavtal) with a landlord or a housing company.
- The contract outlines the terms of the rental, including rent amount, notice periods, and rules for the tenancy.
- Majority of times you need to be registered in queues to apply for first hand housing contracts, the earlier one registers the more points one collects. Below are some queues one can register even without a personal number to collect those points.
- Boplats
- HomeQ
2. Cooperative Apartments (Bostadsrätt):
- Cooperative apartments are also prevalent in Sweden, where residents own shares in a housing cooperative rather than owning the apartment itself, you can buy and sell as you please.
- One pays a monthly fee (avgift) to cover maintenance, utilities, and other shared expenses.
- The housing cooperative usually has rules and regulations that residents must follow.
3. Subletting (Andrahandsuthyrning):
- Subletting is when a tenant rents out their rental apartment or part of it to another person (subtenant) with the landlord’s permission.
- The primary tenant remains responsible for the original lease and the relationship with the landlord.
4. Student Housing (Studentbostäder):
- Student housing is offered to university and college students and is typically managed by student unions or housing companies.
- Student housing may include dormitories or shared apartments.
5. Temporary Housing (Tidsbegränsad Hyresrätt):
- Some rental contracts in Sweden are time-limited, meaning they have a fixed duration. These are known as temporary rental contracts.
- Temporary contracts can have a set end date, often used for short-term rentals.
6. Second-Hand Leasing (Överlåtelse):
- In cooperative apartments, residents may lease their apartments to others temporarily.
- The leaseholder becomes responsible for the monthly fee during the sublease period.
7. Rent-Controlled Apartments (Reglerade Hyror):
- Some rental apartments in Sweden have rent control, meaning the rent is set by regulations to prevent excessive increases.
- Rent-controlled apartments are subject to certain criteria, such as the date of construction and location.
It’s important to note that the rental housing market in Sweden can be competitive, especially in larger cities like Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. Rental prices and availability may vary significantly depending on the location and type of housing. It’s advisable a) thoroughly review the terms of the contract, b) avoid third party contracts when renting second hand, c) understand your rights because in cases you think of being overcharged, the Swedish law supports you “orimlig hyra”, and undrstand your responsibilities as a tenant.
For further information contact us on SwedishLiv
