Landlords

Sublet contract in Sweden: how it works and what to include

A sublet contract is the lease you and your tenant sign when you rent out your home on a sublet basis. It should set out who you both are, which home it covers, the rent, the rental period and how notice is given. If you rent out a tenant-owned apartment (bostadsrätt) or a rental apartment (hyresrätt), you also need consent from the housing cooperative or your landlord before you sign.

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What is a sublet contract?

A sublet contract is a lease where you rent out a home that you own or rent yourself to someone else. Subletting (renting second hand, andrahand in Swedish) means the tenant does not rent directly from the building owner or the housing cooperative, but from you. The contract is what applies between the two of you, so it is where you write down everything you have agreed.

In Sweden the word is mostly used for tenant-owned apartments and rental apartments, but many people also use it when they rent out a house or an owner-occupied apartment (ägarlägenhet). The contract itself looks much the same. What differs is which law applies and whether you need anyone’s consent first.

Which law applies to a sublet contract?

The law your sublet contract follows depends on the type of home you rent out. If you rent out your tenant-owned apartment, house or owner-occupied apartment as a private individual, the Private Rental Act (privatuthyrningslagen) applies to contracts signed from 1 July 2026. Contracts signed before then follow the earlier rules in most cases.

If you sublet your rental apartment, the Tenancy Act in the Swedish Land Code (jordabalken) applies instead. It also applies if you regularly rent out more than two homes that are not part of your own home. You can read more about what changed in the guide to the new Private Rental Act.

What to include in a sublet contract

A sublet contract should include everything you and your tenant agree on, so you can go back to it if anything becomes unclear. Go through these points before you sign:

• The parties: names and contact details for you and the tenant.
• The home: address, type of home, number of rooms and whether it is furnished.
• The rent: amount per month, what is included (for example electricity, broadband or parking) and when rent is due.
• The rental period: start date and whether the contract runs until further notice or to a set date.
• Notice: the notice period and how notice must be given.
• Consent: that the housing cooperative or your landlord has approved the sublet, where needed.
• Deposit or guarantor, if you use either.
• House rules: for example pets, smoking and who is responsible for what.
• Documents: inspection report, inventory list and key receipt.

If you rent out furnished, the inventory list is especially useful because it shows which furniture and items are included. The inspection report shows what the home looked like at move-in, which makes it easier to compare when the tenant moves out. For more on leases in general, see the guide What should a rental contract include?

Consent before you sign the sublet contract

If you have a tenant-owned apartment or a rental apartment, you need consent before you sign the sublet contract. For a tenant-owned apartment, the housing cooperative (bostadsrättsförening) must approve the sublet. If the board says no, the Rent Tribunal (hyresnämnden) can give permission if there are reasons for it and the cooperative has no justified reason to refuse. Since 1 July 2026, earlier subletting only counts against you if it has been extensive, so you can rent out for longer periods than before.

For a rental apartment, your landlord has to say yes. If the landlord refuses, the Rent Tribunal can give permission if you have valid reasons, for example studies or work in another town, and the landlord has no justified reason to refuse. The permission applies for a set period, so make sure the rental period in the contract matches it.

If you own a house or an owner-occupied apartment, no cooperative or landlord needs to approve the rental. But if you sublet without consent or permission when it is required, you risk losing your tenant-owned apartment or rental apartment. Read more in the guide to subletting your apartment.

Rent in a sublet contract

The rent should be stated as a fixed amount in the sublet contract. Under private rental, you and the tenant agree on the rent, but electricity and heating may be charged by actual use and the rent may be index-linked if you have agreed to it. The rent is still not entirely free. If it is significantly higher than what similar homes normally cost, the tenant can apply to the Rent Tribunal for a review, and the rent can then be lowered from the date of the application.

For a sublet rental apartment, the rent must be reasonable. In practice the Rent Tribunal starts from the rent you pay yourself, with a reasonable addition if the home is furnished or if, for example, electricity is included. With the rent calculator you can work out a reasonable rent based on completed rentals of similar homes through Samtrygg, and there are more examples in the guide How much rent can I charge?

What notice period applies to a sublet contract?

A sublet contract that runs until further notice has a three-month notice period, ending at the turn of a month. This applies both to private rental and when you sublet a rental apartment. Under private rental, notice must be given in writing, but the tenant may give notice verbally if you confirm it in writing.

A fixed-term contract under private rental ends when the rental period runs out, without notice. The tenant can still always end it with three months’ notice. As the landlord, you can end the contract early in the event of a serious breach, for example if rent is more than two weeks late, if the tenant sublets further without permission or if there is serious disturbance.

Under private rental the tenant has no security of tenure, meaning no right to stay once the contract has ended correctly. If you sublet a rental apartment, the subtenant has no security of tenure for the first two consecutive years. Read more about how long you can sublet and about security of tenure when you rent out your home.

Sublet contract template or a ready-made contract?

Many people look for a sublet contract template when they are about to rent out, but a template has to fit both your home and the right law to work. A contract written for a rental apartment does not fit when you rent out a tenant-owned apartment under the Private Rental Act, for example, because the rules on rent and security of tenure differ.

When you rent out through Samtrygg you do not need your own template. You and your tenant sign a standardised lease, written by Samtrygg’s lawyers, directly with each other, and the contract is included in the service. There are different contracts depending on the type of home and type of rental, so the contract fits what you are actually renting out. You sign digitally and also get an inspection report, an inventory list and a key receipt.

What the tenant should check in a sublet contract

As a tenant, check that the sublet contract matches what you have agreed before you sign. Make sure the rent and what it includes are stated, that the rental period and notice period are clear, and that the housing cooperative or landlord has approved the sublet where needed. If you think the rent is too high, you can apply to the Rent Tribunal for a review. There are more tips in the guide How to avoid problems when you sublet.

Why sign your sublet contract through Samtrygg

When you rent out through Samtrygg you do not have to write the contract yourself, and you get help throughout the rental, from listing to move-out. You create a free listing, and before your home is published we help you assess the rent. Home seekers are verified and credit checked before the contract is signed, so you know who you are signing with, and you always choose who gets to rent.

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

Behind the service is experience from more than 25,000 rentals. Read more about what is included in the Safety Package.

Frequently asked questions about sublet contracts

Can the tenant end a fixed-term sublet contract?

Yes. Under private rental, the tenant can always end a fixed-term contract with three months’ notice. As the landlord, you can only end it early in the event of a serious breach, otherwise it ends when the rental period runs out.

Is there a maximum rental period for a sublet contract?

Under private rental the law sets no maximum rental period, so you and your tenant decide how long the contract should run. If you sublet a rental apartment, the permission applies for a set period and the contract should follow it. Samtrygg focuses on long-term rentals of six months or more, but the shortest possible rental period is two months.

What happens if I sublet without consent?

If you sublet a tenant-owned apartment or rental apartment without consent or permission, you risk losing your home. So make sure consent is in place before you sign. If the cooperative or landlord says no, you can apply for permission from the Rent Tribunal.

Can I rent out to a company with a sublet contract?

Yes. If you rent out as a private individual to a company, for example a home for an employee, the same rules on rent, notice and contracts apply as when you rent out to a private individual. Read more in the guide to renting out an apartment to a company.

Do the new rules apply to my old sublet contract?

In most cases, no. A contract signed before 1 July 2026 usually follows the earlier rules, not the Private Rental Act. If you are unsure what applies to your contract, you can turn to legal advice or the Rent Tribunal.

Does a sublet contract have to be in writing?

No, a verbal agreement is also valid. But if something goes wrong, it is hard to prove what you agreed, so always put your sublet contract in writing. At Samtrygg the contract is signed digitally, which makes it easy to get everything down on paper.

Summary

A sublet contract is the agreement between you and your tenant when you sublet your home. Make sure consent is in place if you have a tenant-owned apartment or rental apartment, and include the parties, the home, the rent, the rental period, notice and how the condition of the home is documented. Which law applies depends on the home, and that affects both the rent and the notice rules. When you rent out through Samtrygg a standardised lease is included, so you do not need to hunt for a template.

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Last updated 2 November 2026