Housing in Sweden

(Boende i Sverige)

The population in the Stockholm region is constantly growing. Because the population is growing, it is getting harder to find housing in Stockholm. Especially young people, students and the recently arrived are particularly affected.

You can put your name in the municipalities’ housing queues to get a place to live. However, the queues are long. On average, it usually takes at least eight years to get a place to live in the Stockholm area.

Housing agencies

(Bostadsförmedlingar)

Some municipalities have their own local housing authority where you can apply to be on the waiting list for a flat lease. There are also accommodation agencies that have waiting lists for flat leases. You usually have to pay a fee to be on the waiting list at a housing agency.

You may have to be on the waiting list for several years to get a lease for a flat in Stockholm and other large cities. To get a lease of your own, you must often have a certain yearly income. Housing companies have different requirements for how much your yearly income must be. If a couple apply for a lease together, they can add their yearly incomes together.

On your municipality’s website there are links to local housing authorities, and sometimes you can also find links to accommodation agencies. Search for “bostadsförmdling” on your municipality’s website to find more information.

Queuing system for first-hand contracts

(Kösystem för förstahandskontrakt)

The Housing Service in Stockholm offers leases in the municipality of Stockholm and in many of the municipalities in the county of Stockholm. Their website has information about how to get on the waiting list for a lease, how much it costs, and how long you have to wait.

Most housing agencies will let you be on the waiting list even if you live in a different municipality. You can be on the waiting list in Stockholm or Umeå even if you live in Upplands Väsby or Botkyrka for example.

Subleasing

(Hyra bostad i andra hand)

Renting a place from someone who already has a lease is referred to as subleasing.

You and the person you are subleasing from must both sign a sublease. The sublease should state the rent, for how long you sublease the flat, and how far in advance you must give notice to end the sublease. You should both save a copy of the sublease.

The person who has the lease on the flat must have permission from the landlord or housing company to sublet the flat.

Advertisements for available rooms or apartments can also be found in newspapers, on social media and sometimes posted on notice boards in, for example, grocery stores.

Renting a room

(Bo inneboende)

You can rent a room or rooms in a flat or a single-family house.

You sign a contract with the person you rent the room or rooms from. The contract gives security both to you and the person you rent from. The contract should state the rent, for how long a time you rent the room, and how far in advance you must give notice when you want to move. You and the person subletting the room should both save a copy of the contract.

Estate agents

(Fastighetssmäklare)

Flats and houses are often sold through an estate agent. The agent takes a fee from the seller and makes sure everything about the sale is correct. The agent can answer questions about the state of the flat or house as well as legal and financial questions.

Special accommodations

For certain groups there are special accommodations. For example, there are different types of nursing homes for older people and special housing for people with disabilities.