Landlords
Renting out a house in Sweden: rules and tips for a safe rental
You do not need a permit to rent out a house you own in Sweden, and the rental follows the Private Rental Act (privatuthyrningslagen), so you and the tenant agree on the rent, the tenant has no security of tenure and you both have three months’ notice. The rental itself takes five steps: set a reasonable rent, create a listing, choose a tenant after a viewing, sign a written lease and document the condition of the house. If you rent out through Samtrygg, the listing is free and the Safety Package is included free of charge for landlords.
Calculate a reasonable rent and create a free listing
How do you rent out your house in Sweden?
You rent out your house in five steps, from setting the rent to handing over the keys. This is how it works:
- Set a reasonable rent. Start from what similar houses rent for and work out a suggestion with the rent calculator.
- Create a listing. Describe the house, the area and what the rent includes, and add photos that show what it looks like.
- Choose a tenant. Meet at a viewing in the house, so you both get a feel for whether it is a good fit.
- Sign the lease. Write down the rent, the rental period, the notice period and who takes care of the garden and snow clearing.
- Document the condition and hand over the keys. Walk through the house together and record its condition in an inspection report.
When you rent out through Samtrygg, you do all of this in one place. The listing is free, home seekers book a viewing directly in the listing and you sign a standardised lease digitally, so you do not have to keep track of everything yourself.
Can you rent out your house privately?
Yes. If you own the house, you can rent it out privately without asking anyone for permission, whether it is a detached house, a terraced house or an owner-occupied apartment (ägarlägenhet). The exception is if your terraced or semi-detached house is a tenant-owned home (bostadsrätt), because then you need consent from the housing cooperative, just as when you rent out a tenant-owned apartment.
Since 1 July 2026, you can also rent out up to two homes at the same time under the Private Rental Act, for example your house and a tenant-owned apartment, with the same rules for both. If a child or another relative is going to rent the house, it is worth reading up on what applies when you rent out to a family member.
Which rules apply when you rent out a house?
When you rent out a house privately, the Private Rental Act applies. It replaced the previous act on renting out your own home on 1 July 2026, and since it is written for private individuals, it gives you as a landlord more freedom than the tenancy rules in the Swedish Land Code (jordabalken). The act does not apply, however, when you rent out a holiday home as holiday accommodation. You can read about all the changes in our overview of the new Private Rental Act, but these are the main things to know:
- Notice period: Both you and the tenant can terminate a lease that runs until further notice. It ends at the turn of the month that comes at the earliest three months after the notice.
- Security of tenure: Security of tenure (besittningsskydd) is the tenant’s right to stay when the landlord terminates the lease. The tenant has no security of tenure, so when the notice period has ended, the tenant has to move out.
- Rent: You decide the rent together, but if it is significantly higher than for similar homes, the tenant can have it reduced by the Rent Tribunal (hyresnämnden).
- Older leases: For leases signed before 1 July 2026, the previous rules apply in most cases.
How much rent can you charge for your house?
You and the tenant agree on the rent, and you can set it based on market demand. The limit is a rent that is significantly higher than what is generally charged for similar homes, because then the tenant can turn to the Rent Tribunal and have it reduced to a fair level.
Also decide what is included. In a house, electricity, heating, water, waste collection and internet can cost different amounts over the year, so state clearly in the lease what the rent covers and what the tenant pays separately. The rent must be a fixed amount, but electricity and heating can be charged based on actual consumption. Before you create your listing, you can calculate a reasonable rent for your house with the rent calculator.
Renting out a house long term or for a shorter period?
You choose whether the lease should run for a fixed period or until further notice. A fixed-term lease suits you if you know when you want to move back, for example after a job in another town. It ends when the rental period is over, but the tenant can still terminate it with three months’ notice. A lease that runs until further notice continues instead until one of you terminates it.
Many people rent out their house when they are working in another town, travelling for a longer period or trying out living with a partner. Renting out your house long term means fewer tenant changes and a steadier income. Samtrygg focuses on long-term rentals of six months and longer, but you can also rent out for a shorter period.
The act sets no maximum rental period when you rent out your house privately. If you sublet (rent out second hand, andrahand in Swedish) a tenant-owned apartment or a rental apartment (hyresrätt), other rules apply, so read how long you can sublet your home.
Can you rent out your house to a company?
Yes. You can rent out your house to a company that needs housing for an employee, for example someone moving to Sweden for a new job. Companies and relocation firms look for housing on Samtrygg for their staff, and a house often suits a family planning to stay for a longer time. In most cases, the same rules apply to rent, notice and the lease as when you rent out to a private individual, and you can read more in the guide to renting out to a company.
What should the lease say when you rent out a house?
The lease should state who is renting out and who is renting, which house it concerns, the rent and what it includes, the rental period and the notice period. For a house, it is also a good idea to write down who takes care of the garden, snow clearing and waste, what applies to pets and smoking, and which furniture is included if you rent out furnished. When you rent out through Samtrygg, you and the tenant sign a standardised lease, written by Samtrygg’s lawyers, directly with each other, and you sign it digitally.
How do you document the condition of the house?
Walk through the house together with the tenant at move-in and at move-out, and record its condition in an inspection report. Take photos of floors, walls, appliances and the facade and note any existing damage. If you rent out furnished, also make an inventory list of the furniture and items you leave behind, and write a key receipt when you hand over the keys. If something is damaged during the rental, it is then easy to show what the house looked like from the start. At Samtrygg, the inspection report at move-in and move-out is part of the Safety Package.
Which insurance do you need when you rent out your house?
Keep your house insurance and tell your insurance company that the house is being rented out. A standard home insurance is not always adapted for rentals, so ask what applies when someone else lives in the house. The tenant in turn needs their own home insurance for their belongings. Through Samtrygg, you also get rental insurance that covers damage a standard home insurance does not cover.
How do you find a reliable tenant?
Check the tenant’s identity and finances before you sign the lease, and meet at a viewing in the house if you can, so you both get a feel for whether it is a good fit. On Samtrygg, home seekers are verified and credit checked before the lease is signed. They book a viewing directly in your listing, and you always choose for yourself who gets to rent. You will find more advice in our tips for finding the right tenant.
Do you have to pay tax when you rent out your house?
Rental income from your house can be taxable, and if so, you need to include it in your tax return. You can make deductions, so how much tax you pay depends on things like how much you charge and how long you rent out. The Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) has a calculation tool where you can work out the figures for your own rental, and it is also the Swedish Tax Agency that answers questions about how the rules apply to you. You will find an overview in our tax guide for rentals.
Why rent out your house through Samtrygg
Renting out your house is a big decision, and you want to feel safe about the tenant, the payments and the house. On Samtrygg, you meet verified home seekers and choose for yourself who gets to rent. The listing is free, and with the rent calculator you set a reasonable rent from the start.
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 a marketplace, so you and the tenant sign the lease directly with each other. Behind the service is experience from more than 25,000 rentals, and you have a contact person who helps you if you have questions during the rental.
Frequently asked questions about renting out a house
Do I need a permit to rent out my house?
No, not if you own the house yourself. You can rent out a detached house, a terraced house or an owner-occupied apartment without a permit, but if the house is a tenant-owned home, you need consent from the housing cooperative.
How much rent can I charge for my house?
You and the tenant decide the rent, as long as it is not significantly higher than what similar homes are rented out for. If it is, the Rent Tribunal can reduce it. This applies to leases signed from 1 July 2026.
Does the tenant have security of tenure when I rent out my house?
No, not when the rental follows the Private Rental Act. The tenant then has to move out when the notice period has ended.
How long is the notice period when I rent out a house?
For leases signed from 1 July 2026, the notice period is three months for both you and the tenant, counted to the turn of a month. For older leases, the previous rules apply in most cases.
Who should mow the lawn and clear snow when I rent out my house?
There is no fixed rule, so you decide it in the lease. Write down clearly who takes care of the garden, snow clearing and waste, so you both know what applies.
Does it cost anything to rent out a house through Samtrygg?
No. It is free for you as a landlord to list and rent out your house through Samtrygg, and the Safety Package is included free of charge for landlords.
Summary
You can rent out your house without a permit, and the Private Rental Act gives you more freedom to set the rent and three months’ notice in both directions. Write a clear lease, document the condition in an inspection report, check your insurance and ask the Swedish Tax Agency what applies to your tax return. Through Samtrygg, you find a tenant with the Safety Package behind you.
Create a free listing for your house
Last updated 26 October 2026
