The housing jungle shouldn't be an obstacle to building a life in Sweden.

As a native Stockholmer, I have seen the housing market from the inside, but it wasn't until I met my wife that I truly understood how incredibly difficult it is for those who haven't "grown up in the Swedish rental housing system" My wife is from Germany, and her path to a home has not been a straight line. She has lived in everything from company apartments and co-living arrangements to uncertain sublets. Despite many years on the Stockholm housing waiting list, she hasn't managed to get an offer in the areas she wanted to live in. She has bought an apartment and sold it again. And together, we have purchased our first home and tried to navigate the complex rental regulations that apply when you want to live together before making a permanent commitment.

But we quickly realized that our experience wasn't unique; it was the rule. When my wife's friends and colleagues, representing many different nationalities, kept coming to us with questions like, "What exactly is a bostadsrätt (co-operative apartment)?", "How does subletting work?", and "My friend's child is going to study in Stockholm, where should they live?", it became clear that there was a need for a guide or a platform to help navigate this housing jungle. No one should have to feel lost just because they didn't grow up in the Swedish rental queuing system.

That is why I built Avain, which means key in Finnish.

My mission is to share my experience and make the available information more accessible, hopefully making it easier for you to navigate the Swedish housing market. My goal is to provide clarity so that you can make your own informed decisions and focus on what matters most: building a life.

JP Founder of Avain