Landlords
The Rent Act in Sweden: when does it apply to you as a landlord?
The Rent Act (hyreslagen) is the set of rules on renting in the Swedish Land Code (jordabalken). As a private person, you follow it when you sublet (rent out second hand, andrahand in Swedish) your rental apartment (hyresrätt) or regularly rent out more than two homes that are not part of your own home. If you rent out your tenant-owned apartment (bostadsrätt), house or freehold apartment (ägarlägenhet), the Private Rental Act (privatuthyrningslagen) has applied instead since 1 July 2026.
Work out a reasonable rent with the rent calculator
What is the Rent Act?
The Rent Act is the set of rules on renting in the Swedish Land Code, but it is not always the law you follow when you rent out as a private person. There are two sets of rules, and they are easy to mix up. The other one is the Private Rental Act, which applies when private people rent out a home they own.
Which law applies depends on the type of home you rent out and how many homes you rent out. So start there, because the answer decides which rules you follow for the rent and the lease.
When does the Rent Act apply when you rent out?
The Rent Act applies when you have your home as a rental apartment and sublet it. The act also applies if you regularly rent out more than two homes that are not part of your own home. Otherwise, as a private person, you usually follow the Private Rental Act.
|
What you rent out |
The law that applies |
|---|---|
|
Your rental apartment, as a sublet |
The Rent Act |
|
Regularly more than two homes that are not part of your own home |
The Rent Act |
|
Your tenant-owned apartment, house or freehold apartment |
The Private Rental Act |
|
Part of your own home |
The Private Rental Act, unless you have the home as a rental apartment yourself |
Renting out for leisure purposes, for example a holiday home let as holiday accommodation, is a separate case. We go through it in the guide renting out a holiday home.
How does the Rent Act differ from the rules for homes you own?
The biggest difference is the rent. If you sublet your rental apartment, the rent must be reasonable, and in practice it is based on what you pay yourself. If you rent out a home you own, you and the tenant agree on the rent, but it must not be significantly higher than what similar homes normally cost.
|
|
Sublet rental apartment (the Rent Act) |
Tenant-owned apartment, house or freehold apartment (the Private Rental Act) |
|---|---|---|
|
Rent |
Must be reasonable and is in practice based on your own rent |
You agree on it, but it must not be significantly higher than for similar homes |
|
Permission |
Your landlord’s consent or permission from the Rent Tribunal (hyresnämnden) |
Tenant-owned apartment: the housing association’s consent or permission from the Rent Tribunal. House and freehold apartment: no permission needed |
|
Notice on a lease that runs until further notice |
Three months, to the turn of a month |
Three months, to the turn of a month |
|
Right to stay |
No security of tenure (besittningsskydd) for the first two years in a row |
No security of tenure |
The Rent Act and the rent for your rental apartment
Under the Rent Act, the rent must be reasonable when you sublet your rental apartment. In practice, the Rent Tribunal, which settles disputes about rent, starts from the rent you pay yourself. You can add a reasonable amount if the home is furnished or if electricity, for example, is included.
For a fully furnished apartment, the Rent Tribunal in many cases accepts a furniture supplement of around 10–15 percent. Electricity, internet, parking and the like can be added at what they actually cost. So keep your paperwork, and you can show how you worked out the rent.
If you charge too much, the tenant can apply to the Rent Tribunal and get the overpaid rent back. The repayment can cover 1–2 years back in time. If the tenant has moved out, the application must be received within three months of moving out. We go through how to work out the rent for different homes in the guide how much rent can I charge?
What does the Rent Act say about giving notice?
Under the Rent Act, a lease that runs until further notice can be terminated with three months’ notice, to the turn of a month. Write it clearly in the lease, so you and the tenant both know what applies when one of you wants to end it.
Your tenant has no security of tenure, meaning the right to stay, for the first two years in a row. If you plan to sublet for longer than that, you can get legal advice before you sign the lease. How long you can sublet also depends on your permission, and you can read about that in the guide how long can you sublet?
Do you need permission under the Rent Act?
Yes, you need your landlord’s consent to sublet your rental apartment. If your landlord says no, you can apply to the Rent Tribunal. The tribunal can grant permission if you have considerable reasons, such as studying or working in another town, and your landlord has no justified reason to refuse.
Permission is valid for a set period, so keep track of when it runs out. If you sublet without consent or permission, you risk losing your rental apartment, so always wait with the lease until it is settled. You will find more advice in the guide renting out an apartment on a sublet.
What applies if you rent out more than two homes?
If you regularly rent out more than two homes that are not part of your own home, the Rent Act applies instead of the Private Rental Act. So you can rent out up to two such homes and still follow the Private Rental Act.
The notice period is then three months for both you and the tenant, and the rent must follow the utility value (bruksvärde), meaning the practical value the home has for the person living there. If you are close to the limit, it is wise to get legal advice before you sign the lease.
Why rent out through Samtrygg?
You should not need to know the Rent Act by heart to rent out safely. When you rent out through Samtrygg, you and the tenant sign a standardised lease, written by Samtrygg’s lawyers, and sign it digitally. If you wonder what the rules mean for your particular rental, legal advice is there to help.
You create a free listing and always choose who gets to rent. Before the listing is published, Samtrygg contacts you and helps you assess the rent. With the rent calculator you can also work out a reasonable rent. It is based on completed rentals of similar homes through Samtrygg, and only those that are relevant to today’s rent levels. You get a suggestion, not a ruling on how a review would turn out.
Home seekers are verified and credit-checked before the lease is signed, so you know who you are signing with. 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 marketplace where you and the tenant meet, and you sign the lease directly with each other. Behind the service is experience from more than 25,000 rentals.
Frequently asked questions about the Rent Act
Does the Rent Act apply when I rent out my tenant-owned apartment?
No, not if you are a private person renting out one or two homes. You then follow the Private Rental Act, which has applied since 1 July 2026. You still need the housing association’s consent, or permission from the Rent Tribunal if the board says no.
Does the Rent Act apply if I rent out my house?
No, if you rent out your house as a private person for someone to live in, the Private Rental Act applies. You do not need approval from any association or landlord either. That changes if you regularly rent out more than two homes that are not part of your own home, because the Rent Act then applies.
Which law applies to leases signed before 1 July 2026?
The date the lease was signed decides which rules you follow. If you rent out a home you own and signed the lease before 1 July 2026, it follows the earlier rules in most cases. If you are unsure, you can check with a lawyer or the Rent Tribunal.
Does the Rent Act apply if I rent out to a company?
It depends on what you rent out, not on who rents it. If you rent out to a company as a private person, for example a home for an employee, the same rules on rent, notice and the lease apply as when you rent out to a private person.
Can the tenant get rent back under the Rent Act?
Yes, your tenant can apply to the Rent Tribunal if the rent for the rental apartment is too high and get the overpaid amount back. The tenant can also apply while still living there. The tribunal first tries to get you to agree, and if that fails, it decides what rent will apply.
Summary
The Rent Act applies when you sublet your rental apartment or regularly rent out more than two homes that are not part of your own home. The rent for a rental apartment must be reasonable and is based on your own rent, and you need your landlord’s consent or permission from the Rent Tribunal. If you rent out a home you own, the Private Rental Act usually applies instead.
See what your home can be rented out for
Last updated 5 November 2026
