Frequently Asked Questions

The Parliament voted yes to the proposal on May 20, 2026 (Report 2025/26:CU31, based on Prop. 2025/26:187). The rules begin to apply on July 1, 2026.

Yes. The requirement for the board's consent (or permission from the rent tribunal) remains unchanged. What changes to your benefit is that the board can no longer automatically deny you simply because you have rented out the apartment before. Previous rental history after July 1, 2026, will only be factored in if it occurred to a significant extent.

No. Although you have more freedom in setting the rent at the start of the contract, the rent must not be significantly higher than for comparable private rentals in the locality. Warning: If the Rent Tribunal determines your rent is unreasonable, they can force you to lower it and retroactively refund the excess rent with interest to your tenant.

Only if you are a tenant. As a tenant, you always have a statutory right to terminate the contract with a 3-month notice period. As a landlord, however, you are bound by the entire agreed contract term and cannot cancel the contract early unless the tenant seriously breaches the agreement.

No. Ongoing agreements signed before July 1, 2026, are governed by the old law (2012:978) for the entire contract term and do not need to be rewritten. The new rules (including the risk of retroactive refund of rent) only apply to agreements entered into or renewed after July 1, 2026.

The new laws are published in the Swedish Code of Statutes (SFS):

• Private Rental Act (SFS 2026:772)
• Act amending the Land Code (SFS 2026:773)
• Act amending the Cooperative Housing Act (SFS 2026:847)
• The Government's preparatory work and proposal can be found in Prop. 2025/26:187 - A more flexible rental market, and the Parliament's decision in the Committee on Civil Affairs report 2025/26:CU31.