Renting and the Tenancy Act

Notice

A tenancy of a home for an indefinite period can be terminated to end at the turn of the month that comes first after three months, unless a longer notice was agreed (section 4).

Security of tenure

A residential tenant generally has the right to stay when the landlord gives notice – security of tenure. It does not apply in some cases, among them when a flat is sublet and the tenancy ends before it has lasted two years in a row, or when the flat is part of the landlord's own home (section 45).

From the law

«Om hyresvärden och hyresgästen tvistar om hyrans storlek ska hyran fastställas till skäligt belopp. Hyran ska inte anses som skälig om den är påtagligt högre än hyran för lägenheter som med hänsyn till bruksvärdet är likvärdiga.»

Subletting

The tenant may not sublet the flat for independent use without the landlord's consent (section 39). The rent tribunal may allow it if the tenant has considerable reasons – work or studies elsewhere, for example – the landlord has no justified reason to refuse, and the rent is not above a reasonable rent. The permission is limited in time (section 40).

The use value

If landlord and tenant disagree on the rent, it is set at a reasonable amount, and it is not reasonable if it is clearly higher than for flats of equal use value (section 55). The comparison is mainly with rents negotiated under the Rent Negotiation Act.

When a private person lets a home

When a private person lets their own home – a tenant-owned flat, a house, an owner-occupied flat – special rules apply. Parliament has passed a new Private Letting Act (2026:772) replacing the Act (2012:978) on letting one's own home; agreements made under the old act continue to follow it. Parliament's text gives 1 July 2026 as the new act's start and 20 November 2026 as the day the old one ends – check which rules apply to your agreement.

Letting a tenant-owned flat also needs the association's consent – see Tenant-owned flats.