Landlords

Subletting in Sweden: how to rent out your tenant-owned apartment

Subletting in Sweden (renting out second hand, andrahand in Swedish) means renting out your home while you live somewhere else, and you almost always need permission first. If you own a tenant-owned apartment (bostadsrätt), you need consent from your housing association, and if it says no you can apply to the Rent Tribunal (hyresnämnden). You and the tenant agree on the rent, but it must not be significantly higher than for similar homes. If you sublet a rental apartment (hyresrätt), you need your landlord’s approval and the rent should stay close to what you pay yourself.

Work out a reasonable rent and create a free listing.

Can you sublet your tenant-owned apartment? 

Yes, if you have a reason and the housing association gives its consent. Under the Tenant-Owner Act (bostadsrättslagen), you need the board’s approval before someone else lives in the apartment on their own. That is what subletting means: you rent out your home and live somewhere else in the meantime. If the board says no, you can turn to the Rent Tribunal. It grants permission if you have a reason and the association has no valid grounds to refuse. For a tenant-owned apartment, a “reason” is enough, which is a lower bar than for a rental apartment.

If you sublet without consent, you risk losing the right to your apartment, so always apply before the tenant moves in. Many landlords publish their listing while the application is processed, since the association often wants to know who will live there. Our permit guide explains how to apply.

Which reasons are accepted for subletting? 

The most common reasons that are accepted are:

• work or studies in another town
• trying out living with a partner
• a longer stay abroad
• caring for a relative
• difficulty selling your home
• renting out to your child or another close relative

Other changes in your life can also be enough. Each application is assessed on its own merits, and the association or the Rent Tribunal can attach conditions to the permission.

Permission is always limited in time, often up to one year. How long you get depends on your reason. If you need to rent out for longer, apply for an extension before the permission expires. Read more about the time limits in the guide to how long you can sublet.

Can you sublet your apartment again? 

Yes. Since 1 July 2026, earlier sublets only count in the assessment if they have been extensive. So having rented out once before should not stop a new application when your life changes.

How much rent can you charge? 

You and the tenant agree on the rent. Renting out a tenant-owned apartment you own falls under the Private Rental Act (privatuthyrningslagen), which replaced the previous law on renting out your own home on 1 July 2026. The act gives you wide freedom to set the rent based on demand.

The tenant is still protected. If the rent is significantly higher than what is usually charged for similar homes, the tenant can apply to the Rent Tribunal, which can then lower it. Rent mainly depends on location, size, standard, furnishing and what is included, such as electricity and broadband.

The Private Rental Act applies when you rent out up to two homes. It does not apply if you regularly rent out more than two. You will find all the changes from 1 July 2026 in our overview of the new Private Rental Act.

The easiest way to find the right level is the rent calculator, which works out a reasonable rent for your home. We go through how the rent is worked out step by step in the guide to how much rent you can charge.

Can you sublet a rental apartment? 

Yes, if your landlord approves. If the landlord says no, you can apply to the Rent Tribunal, but you then need “considerable reasons” (beaktansvärda skäl). That is a higher bar than for a tenant-owned apartment. Common reasons are work or studies in another town, trying out living together, a longer stay abroad or illness.

Rent for a sublet rental apartment follows the rules on reasonable rent in the Swedish Land Code (jordabalken). In practice that usually means the same rent you pay yourself. If the apartment is furnished, or electricity and broadband are included, you can add a reasonable supplement. If you sublet without permission, you risk losing your own lease.

Is it a lodger or a sublet? 

If you stay in the apartment and rent out a room, you have a lodger. If you move out, it is a sublet. So check with the association before you take in a lodger, and read more in the guide to renting out a room to a lodger.

What notice period applies? 

For leases signed from 1 July 2026, the notice period is three months, ending at the end of a calendar month, for both you and the tenant when you rent out a tenant-owned apartment until further notice. Leases signed before 1 July 2026 still follow the earlier rules. When you sublet a rental apartment until further notice, the Swedish Land Code gives three months in both directions.

How do you find a reliable tenant? 

Start by knowing who you are renting to and that they can pay. On Samtrygg, home seekers are verified and credit checked before the lease is signed, and then you choose who gets to rent. Next, write a clear lease. It should cover the rent and what is included, the rental period, the notice period, furnishing and any special terms. Also document the condition of the home in an inspection report at move-in and move-out, so you avoid disagreements about what was there before.

What are the risks of subletting your home?

The biggest risks are that the tenant does not pay, that the home is damaged and that the sublet lacks permission. If you sublet without consent or permission, you risk losing the right to your apartment. Unclear agreements can also lead to disputes about rent, condition and notice. You reduce the risks with the right permission, a tenant you know who they are, a written lease and an inspection report at move-in and move-out.

Why rent out safely with Samtrygg 

What worries most landlords is not the listing, but what happens next. Will the tenant pay? Who covers damage? With Samtrygg you get a rent guarantee for up to 12 months and rental insurance, so you can rent out with peace of mind. Your listing is free and you always choose who moves in.

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

You sign the lease directly with the tenant, digitally. Samtrygg focuses on long-term rentals of six months or longer, which suits you if you will be away for a while. Samtrygg is the trusted marketplace for home rentals, with experience from more than 25,000 rentals.

Frequently asked questions about subletting in Sweden

Do I need the board’s approval to sublet my tenant-owned apartment?

Yes. You need the board’s consent to sublet, and if the board says no you can apply to the Rent Tribunal. If you sublet without consent or permission, you risk losing the right to your apartment, so apply before the tenant moves in.

Can the housing association refuse to let me sublet? 

Yes, but you can then apply to the Rent Tribunal. It grants permission if you have a reason and the association has no valid grounds to refuse. Common reasons are work or studies in another town and trying out living together.

What happens if the tenant does not pay the rent?

If the rent is more than two weeks late, you can terminate the lease early under the Private Rental Act. But terminating the lease does not get back the rent that has already been missed. When you rent out through Samtrygg, a rent guarantee for up to 12 months is included.

What insurance do I need when I rent out my apartment?

Ask your insurance company what your home insurance covers when you rent out, since terms differ between companies. The tenant needs their own home insurance for their belongings. When you rent out through Samtrygg, rental insurance that covers damage a standard home insurance does not cover is included.

How do I rent out my apartment when I move abroad?

Apply for the association’s consent in good time, giving your stay abroad as the reason and how long you will be away. It is easiest if you find a tenant and sign the lease before you leave. When you rent out through Samtrygg, you sign the lease digitally and get personal service and help throughout the process.

Is it safe to rent out your apartment to someone you don’t know?

It can be, if you know who you are renting to, write a clear lease and document the condition of the home. Meet the tenant at the viewing and feel free to ask for references. When you rent out through Samtrygg, home seekers are verified and credit checked before the lease is signed, and you always choose who gets to rent.

Summary 

Subletting in Sweden is a good way to keep your home when life takes you somewhere else. Get consent from your association, set a reasonable rent and write a clear lease with three months’ notice. If you sublet a rental apartment, stricter rules apply to both permission and rent.

See what your home can be rented out for and create a free listing.

Last updated 26 October 2026