Landlords
How long does it take to rent out a home in Sweden?
How long it takes to rent out a home in Sweden depends mainly on whether you need permission and how quickly you find the right tenant. Through Samtrygg, the median time over the past two years was 23 days from published listing to signed lease, which means half of all homes had a signed lease within 23 days. If you are subletting (renting second hand, andrahand in Swedish) a tenant-owned apartment (bostadsrätt) or a rental apartment (hyresrätt), you also need to allow time for permission from the housing association or your landlord, while a house or a freehold apartment needs no approval.
Work out a reasonable rent for your home
Which steps take time when you rent out?
The steps that take time when you rent out are the listing, viewings, choosing a tenant, permission and the lease. How long each one takes depends largely on how prepared you are and on whoever needs to approve the rental. This is how it works when you rent out through Samtrygg:
- Listing. You create a free listing and work out a reasonable rent with the rent calculator. Samtrygg contacts you before the home is published and helps you assess the rent. If you are renting out a tenant-owned apartment or a rental apartment, check at the same time with the housing association or your landlord about general permission.
- Viewings. Home seekers book a viewing directly in the listing, and you hold it in person or digitally.
- Tenant. You always choose who gets to rent your home. Home seekers are verified and credit checked before the lease is written.
- Final application and lease. If you need permission, this is when you send in the final application with the tenant’s details. You sign the lease digitally.
- Move-in. You document the condition of the home in an inspection report, and you also get an inventory list and a key receipt.
The rent calculator is based on completed rentals of similar homes through Samtrygg, so you have a good starting point before the listing goes live. It does not guarantee a specific rent.
How long does it take to get permission?
How long it takes to get permission varies a lot between housing associations, so there is no typical time to count on. Most want to know who the tenant is and have that person’s details. That is why you first check about general permission to rent out when you publish your listing, and send in the final application once you have found your tenant.
To rent out a tenant-owned apartment, you need permission from the housing association. If the board says no, the Rent Tribunal (hyresnämnden) can give you permission if you have reasons for the rental and the association has no justified reason to refuse. That is an extra step that adds time.
With a rental apartment, you need your landlord’s permission. If your landlord says no, the Rent Tribunal can give permission if you have considerable reasons, such as studying or working elsewhere, and your landlord has no justified reason to refuse. The permission applies for a set period.
If you want to rent out a house or a freehold apartment, no association or landlord needs to approve the rental. You can start with the listing right away.
How long it takes in different cities and for different homes
In Stockholm and Malmö, the median time from published listing to signed lease is 19 days, and in Gothenburg it is 23 days. Apartments rent out slightly faster than houses, at 22 days compared with 27.
|
City or housing type |
Median time from listing to lease |
|---|---|
|
All homes |
23 days |
|
Stockholm |
19 days |
|
Gothenburg |
23 days |
|
Malmö |
19 days |
|
Apartments |
22 days |
|
Houses |
27 days |
Source: Samtrygg’s statistics for the past two years.
What decides how quickly your home gets rented?
How quickly your home gets rented depends largely on three things you control: the rent, the listing and the move-in date. You can work on all of them before the listing is published.
The rent is often the first thing a home seeker compares, so a rent in line with similar homes gives you a better starting point. When you rent out your own home privately, you and the tenant agree on the rent, but if it is significantly higher than what similar homes normally cost, the tenant can have it reviewed by the Rent Tribunal. If you sublet a rental apartment, the rent must be reasonable.
The listing decides who books a viewing. Clear photos, an image of the floor plan and an honest description give home seekers answers straight away, so you spend less time on questions. Read more about how to write a listing that attracts the right tenant.
The move-in date matters too. If you can be a little flexible, your home suits more people, while a fixed date further ahead means you need to start in good time.
How can you rent out faster?
You can rent out faster by publishing your listing in good time and setting a reasonable rent from the start. Most of it comes down to avoiding waits between the steps:
- Publish your listing 2–3 months before the rental period.
- If you need permission, check about general permission when you publish the listing.
- Have your photos and floor plan ready when you create the listing.
- Offer several viewing times, and hold the viewing digitally if you cannot be there.
- Reply quickly when someone books a viewing or wants to move forward.
- Send in the final application as soon as you have found your tenant.
- Decide early which move-in date and rental period suit you.
Why rent out through Samtrygg?
Through Samtrygg you reach thousands of home seekers with a free listing, so you can spend your time on viewings instead of looking for interested tenants on your own. You get help assessing the rent before the listing is published, and home seekers are verified and credit checked before the lease is written. Then you sign the lease digitally, without having to produce one yourself.
You always choose who gets to rent your home, and the lease is signed directly between you and the tenant. Behind the service is experience from more than 25,000 rentals.
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
Frequently asked questions about how long it takes to rent out a home
How long does it take to rent out an apartment?
Through Samtrygg, the median time for apartments is 22 days from published listing to signed lease. If you have a tenant-owned apartment or a rental apartment, you also need permission, and that must be in place before the rental starts.
How far in advance should I start planning the rental?
The best time to publish your listing is 2–3 months before the rental period. That gives you time to hold viewings and choose a tenant without rushing. If you need permission, you also have time to check with the housing association or your landlord and send in the final application.
Can I rent out while waiting for the board’s decision?
No, you need permission from the board or the Rent Tribunal before you sublet a tenant-owned apartment. If you rent it out without permission, you risk losing your apartment. The same applies to a rental apartment, where you need permission from your landlord or the Rent Tribunal.
When can the tenant move in after the lease is signed?
You and the tenant decide that when you write the lease. The tenant can move in as soon as you have agreed on a date and gone through the home together. At move-in, you document the condition of the home in an inspection report.
What should I do if my home does not get rented?
Start by reviewing the rent and the listing, as that is where you can most easily make a difference. Compare the rent with similar homes, recalculate it with the rent calculator and consider whether your photos and description give a fair picture. When you rent out through Samtrygg, you can also ask your contact person for help.
Can I rent out my home for just a few months?
Yes, when you rent out through Samtrygg the shortest rental period is two months, although the focus is on long-term rentals of six months or more. How long you may rent out depends on your type of housing, and you can read more in the guide on how long you may sublet.
Summary
How long it takes to rent out a home depends on whether you need permission, and on the rent, the listing and the move-in date. Through Samtrygg, the median time is 23 days from published listing to signed lease. Publish your listing 2–3 months before the rental period and set a reasonable rent from the start, and you avoid most of the waiting.
Last updated 5 November 2026
