Landlords
Renting out your apartment in Sweden: a checklist for a safe rental
Renting out your apartment in Sweden comes down to seven steps: find out whether you need permission, set the right rent, prepare the apartment, check your insurance, create a listing and choose a tenant, sign a lease and think about tax. Take them in that order and you will have the essentials covered before your tenant moves in.
Work out the rent for your apartment with the rent calculator
How do you rent out your apartment?
You rent out your apartment by first sorting out permission and rent, then preparing the home, finding a tenant and signing a lease. It is easier than it sounds, but the order matters. Here is the checklist:
- Find out whether you need permission.
- Set the right rent from the start.
- Prepare the apartment and take photos.
- Check your home insurance and other contracts.
- Create the listing and choose a tenant.
- Sign a lease and document the condition.
- Think about tax.
Which rules apply depends on whether you own the apartment or rent it yourself. If you rent out your tenant-owned apartment (bostadsrätt), the Private Rental Act (privatuthyrningslagen) applies, which has been in force since 1 July 2026. If you have a rental apartment (hyresrätt), subletting (renting second hand, andrahand in Swedish) is covered by the tenancy rules in the Swedish Land Code (jordabalken) instead, and you can read more about subletting your apartment.
Find out whether you need permission
Yes, if you have a tenant-owned apartment or a rental apartment, you need permission before you rent it out. For a tenant-owned apartment you need the housing association’s consent, and for a rental apartment your landlord’s. If you own a freehold apartment (ägarlägenhet), nobody needs to approve the rental.
If the answer is no, you can turn to the Rent Tribunal (hyresnämnden). For a rental apartment, the tribunal can grant permission if you have good reasons, such as studies or work in another town, and the landlord has no justified reason to refuse. The permission then applies for a set period. For a tenant-owned apartment, the tribunal can grant permission if there are reasons for it and the association has no justified reason to refuse.
Do not skip this step, because if you sublet without consent or permission you risk losing your tenant-owned apartment or rental apartment. If its statutes allow it, the association may charge an annual subletting fee, which in 2026 is at most SEK 5,920 per year.
Set the right rent from the start
The right rent is in line with what similar homes normally cost. That makes it easier to find a tenant and lowers the risk of the rent being challenged later.
If you rent out your tenant-owned apartment, you and the tenant agree on the rent. But if it is significantly higher than what similar homes normally cost, the tenant can apply to the Rent Tribunal for a review, and the tribunal can lower the rent from the date of the application. If you sublet your rental apartment, the rent must be reasonable, and in practice the tribunal starts from your own rent, with a reasonable addition if the apartment is furnished or if electricity, for example, is included.
With the rent calculator you can work out a reasonable rent based on completed rentals of similar homes through Samtrygg. To understand the rules better, read more about reasonable rent.
Prepare the apartment and take photos
Start by clearing out, fixing what needs fixing and deciding whether the apartment will be furnished. A radiator that needs bleeding, a dripping tap or a squeaky door is easier to fix now than when someone lives there.
Pack away personal belongings and valuables, so your tenant has room for their things and you do not have to worry about yours. Furnished or unfurnished is up to you. When you sign the lease through Samtrygg, you get an inventory list where you note the furniture that stays. Read more about renting out a furnished apartment.
Then take the photos for your listing. Clean first, shoot in daylight and take at least one photo of every room, so home seekers can see right away what they are getting.
Check your home insurance and other contracts
Contact your insurance company before the rental starts and tell them you are going to rent out. Ask what your home insurance covers when someone else lives in the apartment and whether you need to change anything.
Also go through the contracts linked to the apartment, such as electricity, internet and other subscriptions. Decide what is included in the rent and what the tenant signs up for themselves, and write it into the lease. When you rent out through Samtrygg, you get rental insurance that covers damage a standard home insurance does not cover. Through Samtrygg you can also get one month free with the insurance company Hedvig.
Create the listing and choose a tenant
Your listing is what gets the right tenant to get in touch, so describe the apartment in detail and honestly. Include the rent, the rental period, the size, what is included and when the apartment is available.
When you create a free listing on Samtrygg, we contact you before your home is published and help you assess the rent. Home seekers are verified and credit checked, and you always choose who gets to rent.
Meet the people who are interested at a viewing before you decide. For more tips, read how to write a good housing listing, how to find the right tenant and which warning signs to look out for.
Sign a lease and document the condition
Always sign a written lease, so you both know what applies to rent, rental period and notice. Read more about what a lease should include. When you rent out through Samtrygg, you and your tenant sign a standardised lease, written by Samtrygg’s lawyers, digitally.
Then go through the apartment together at move-in and record its condition in an inspection report. Note damage, discolouration and anything else out of the ordinary, so it is easy to compare when you do the same walkthrough at move-out. With the inventory list and the key receipt, you also keep track of furniture and keys.
Think about tax
Rental income can be taxable, but you are allowed to make deductions. How much tax you pay depends on your situation, so use the Swedish Tax Agency’s (Skatteverket) calculation tool and read more in our tax guide.
Why rent out your apartment through Samtrygg
When you rent out through Samtrygg, you get help with the whole checklist, from the rent to the lease and the inspection. You get a rent guarantee for up to 12 months, and the lease and reports are ready to use, so you can spend your time choosing the right tenant.
The Safety Package is included free of charge for landlords:
- Rent guarantee for up to 12 months
- Rental insurance that covers damage a standard home insurance does not cover
- Verified home seekers and credit checks of tenants
- Standardised lease, written by Samtrygg’s lawyers
- Inspection report at move-in and move-out
- Legal advice
- Free marketing
- Personal service and help throughout the process
Samtrygg is the trusted marketplace for home rentals, where you and your tenant sign the lease directly with each other, built on experience from more than 25,000 rentals. To read more, visit our guide for landlords, our complete guide to subletting or read about how to rent out your home through Samtrygg.
Frequently asked questions about renting out your apartment
What is the shortest time I can rent out my apartment for?
You and the tenant decide that in the lease. When you rent out through Samtrygg, the shortest rental period is two months, and the focus is on rentals of six months or longer. If you have a rental apartment, the permission applies for a set period, so the rental needs to fit within it.
Can I give my tenant notice if I want to move back?
Yes. A lease that runs until further notice has a three-month notice period, ending at the turn of a month, both when you rent out a tenant-owned apartment and a rental apartment. Under the Private Rental Act, a fixed-term lease ends when the rental period is over, without notice, and notice must be given in writing.
What happens if I rent out without permission?
You risk losing your tenant-owned apartment or rental apartment. So ask for the association’s or landlord’s consent before you sign a lease. If the answer is no, you can apply for permission from the Rent Tribunal.
Do I need to empty the apartment before I rent it out?
No, you can rent out the apartment furnished and leave some things in place. Pack away personal belongings and valuables, and list the furniture in the inventory list so you both know what should still be there when the tenant moves out.
Does it cost anything to rent out through Samtrygg?
No. It is free for you as a landlord to list and rent out through Samtrygg, and the Safety Package is included free of charge for landlords.
Summary
Renting out your apartment comes down to seven steps: permission, rent, preparation, insurance, the listing, the lease and tax. Take them one at a time and you will have the essentials covered before your tenant moves in. Through Samtrygg you get help all the way, and the Safety Package is included free of charge.
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Last updated 26 October 2026
