Tenants

How to rent an apartment in Stockholm without the housing queue

You can rent an apartment in Stockholm without queuing by renting a sublet (renting second hand, andrahand in Swedish) or renting directly from a private landlord. These homes are not allocated by queue time. The landlord chooses who gets to rent, so you don’t need any queue points, and what matters is how widely you search, how fast you act and how you present yourself.

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Can you rent an apartment in Stockholm without the housing queue?

Yes. The most common way is to rent a sublet or rent from a private landlord, meaning a private person who rents out their tenant-owned apartment (bostadsrätt), house, rental apartment (hyresrätt) or a room. There is no queue time to build up, so you can start searching today.

Subletting means you rent a home from someone who owns it or holds the lease on it. If you join Stockholm’s municipal housing queue (bostadskö), you will in most cases wait many years for a lease of your own. So if you need housing within a few weeks or months, the sublet market is usually the fastest route.

Can you rent a rental apartment in Stockholm without queuing?

Yes, if you rent it as a sublet. You then rent the apartment from the person who holds the lease, and in most cases they need permission from their landlord or from the Rent Tribunal (hyresnämnden) to rent it out. Always ask whether that permission is in place before you sign.

There are also more types of housing to choose from. Tenant-owned apartments, terraced houses, houses and rooms are rented out by private people all over the Stockholm region, and they are often just as good an option when you want to move soon.

Where can you find apartments for rent in Stockholm without a queue?

Private landlords advertise on marketplaces for home rentals. Choose a marketplace where housing listings are checked and where you sign a written lease directly with the landlord, as that lowers the risk of running into fake listings.

On Samtrygg it is free to search for housing. All available housing in Stockholm is gathered on the page Rent housing in Stockholm, and when you find something that suits you, you book a viewing directly in the listing.

How do you find an apartment for rent in Stockholm fast?

You improve your chances the most by searching widely, staying flexible and replying quickly. Here are five things that make a difference.

Search the whole Stockholm region. The inner city has the most applicants per home. Municipalities and areas along the metro, commuter trains and the cross-city light rail often have more apartments available, and the trip into the city is not always much longer. Start from your commute to work or school rather than the distance on the map.
Be flexible about housing type and move-in date. A room, a terraced house or a house can work just as well as an apartment, and may be a home you want to stay in for a long time. If you can also be flexible about when you move in, you’ll have more homes to choose from.
Rent together with someone. Sharing a larger apartment with a friend, colleague or partner often gets you more space for your money. Just make sure everyone who will live there is named on the lease or approved by the landlord.
Act fast when a home comes up. Apartments in Stockholm often go quickly, so book a viewing as soon as you find something that suits you. New homes are listed every weekday, and with an up-to-date profile you get an email when homes matching your search come up. Have answers ready for what landlords usually ask, such as when you can move in, how long you want to stay and who will live in the home.
Present yourself well. The landlord decides who gets to rent. Briefly tell them who you are, what you work with or study and why the home suits you. The more honest and specific you are, the easier it is for the landlord to choose you.

You’ll find more advice on how to rent an apartment in Sweden in our guide.

How does renting in Stockholm through Samtrygg work?

You search, book a viewing directly in the listing, go to the viewing and sign the lease digitally. Step by step:

Register. Registration is free.
Search available housing in Stockholm and book viewings directly in the listings that suit you.
Go to a viewing. The landlord then chooses who gets to rent.
Sign the lease digitally. You and the landlord sign a standardised lease, written by Samtrygg’s lawyers, directly with each other.
Record the condition of the home together with the landlord in an inspection report when you move in. The same is done when you move out.

How do you avoid rental scams in Stockholm?

Never pay money for a home you haven’t seen, and never before you have signed a lease. The housing shortage in Stockholm means scammers often target people who are in a hurry.

Be extra careful if:

the landlord wants money before a viewing or a signed lease
the landlord says they are abroad and can’t show the home
the rent is much lower than for similar homes in the area
you are pressured to decide right away or to pay in an unusual way

Read more in the guide How to avoid problems when you rent a sublet.

What should you check before a second-hand rental?

Check that the landlord is allowed to rent out the home, that the rent is reasonable and that everything you have agreed on is in the lease.

Permission. If you rent a rental apartment as a sublet, the main tenant in most cases needs permission from their landlord or the Rent Tribunal, under the Swedish Land Code (jordabalken). If you rent a tenant-owned apartment, the owner usually needs consent from the housing cooperative (bostadsrättsförening). Ask about permission before you sign.
Which law applies. Since 1 July 2026, the Private Rental Act (privatuthyrningslagen) applies when you rent a tenant-owned apartment, a house or a room from a private person. If you rent a rental apartment as a sublet, the rules of the Swedish Land Code apply instead. Read more in New Private Rental Act 2026: what it means for home seekers.
The rent. Compare with similar homes in the same area. If the rent is significantly higher, you can turn to the Rent Tribunal. Read more in Am I paying too much rent?
The lease. The rental period, notice period, what is included in the rent and whether the home is furnished should all be in the lease.

Why rent an apartment in Stockholm through Samtrygg?

When competition for housing is tough, it’s easy to take risks you would rather avoid. On Samtrygg, housing listings are checked and you are protected against advance payment fraud, so you can focus on finding the right home instead of worrying about fake listings. Samtrygg focuses on rentals of six months or longer, so this is where you can find a home to stay in. If you need something shorter, there is also housing to rent for a few months. The lease is clear from the start, payments are secure, and you can get personal help if something comes up during your rental. Samtrygg has experience from more than 25,000 rentals.

The Safety Package is included in every rental:

Option to rent without a deposit
Protection against advance payment fraud
Safe and secure payments
Home insurance included for the first 30 days
Checked housing listings
Inspection report at move-in and move-out
Legal advice
Personal service and help throughout the process

Frequently asked questions about renting an apartment in Stockholm

How quickly can you get an apartment in Stockholm without queuing?

It depends on how widely you search and how quickly you act. When you rent a sublet or rent from a private landlord there is no queue time, so you can move in as soon as you and the landlord have agreed and signed a lease. Search the whole region and book a viewing as soon as you find something that suits you to improve your chances.

What does subletting mean?

Subletting means you rent a home from someone who owns it or holds the lease on it. That person becomes your landlord, and the two of you sign your own lease. Which rules apply depends on whether you rent a rental apartment or a home owned by a private person.

Can I find a long-term rental in Stockholm?

Yes. How long you can stay is set in the lease and depends on the landlord’s permission to rent out the home. Samtrygg focuses on rentals of six months or longer, but shorter rental periods are also available, from two months.

Do I have to pay a deposit when I rent through Samtrygg?

Not necessarily. When you rent through Samtrygg, you have the option to rent without a deposit. If you do pay a deposit, Samtrygg holds it for the whole rental period, and it is not paid out to the landlord.

Can I rent an apartment in Stockholm without a Swedish personal identity number?
Yes. When you rent through Samtrygg, you can sign the lease and rent a home even if you do not have a Swedish personal identity number (personnummer). That makes it easier to find housing if you are moving to Stockholm from abroad and have not received one yet.

How can I tell if a housing listing is genuine?

A genuine landlord shows you the home before you pay anything and signs a written lease with you. Be suspicious if the rent is unusually low or if you are asked to pay to see the home. Choosing a marketplace where listings are checked also helps.

Summary

If you want to rent an apartment in Stockholm without the housing queue, the sublet market and private landlords are the fastest route. Search widely across the region, stay flexible and act fast, and never pay for a home you haven’t seen. On Samtrygg you can find available housing in Stockholm, and the Safety Package is included in every rental.

Find your next home in Stockholm

Last updated 26 October 2026