Why do you pay double rent when moving?
Because the new home is often ready before the old one can be left. A rental agreement for a rental apartment that applies indefinitely can be terminated to the month change that comes closest after three months. Familjebostäder in Gothenburg state that the notice must be received by the last working day of the month. The Hyresgästföreningen example: if you terminate the apartment on 15 January, it is terminated on 30 April. You then leave it by 12 o'clock the day after the agreement has expired, and if that day falls on a weekend or public holiday, it becomes the next working day. How you can move, clean and hand over the keys in one day is described in the post about moving out and in on the same day.
If you and the landlord have agreed on a shorter notice period, it applies. A longer agreed period only applies when the landlord terminates, as you as a tenant can always terminate with three months' notice. Even a fixed-term agreement of more than three months has a three-month notice period unless otherwise stated. The calculator for your date is in the guide to terminating the rental apartment. terminating the rental apartment
Source: Jordabalken, 12 kap. (riksdagen.se), Hyresgästföreningen: Cancel rental agreement, how to do it?, Hyresgästföreningen: How does the notice period work on rental contracts?, Familjebostäder: Notice of termination. 12 kap. 4, 5 and 7 §§ jordabalken
How do you avoid double rent?
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Step 1: Read the rental agreement. If it states a shorter notice period than three months, it applies in your favour.
12 kap. 4 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026
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Step 2: Terminate the apartment as soon as the new contract is ready, and make sure the termination arrives no later than the last weekday of the month.
12 kap. 8 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026
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Step 3: Ask the new landlord if the access can be placed as close to the end date of the old apartment as possible. our tip
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Step 4: Ask the old landlord if the agreement can be terminated earlier if a new tenant is found, and offer viewings at times that suit. our advice
Email: Asking about an earlier end date To: The landlordour advice
The template is in Swedish because it goes to a Swedish recipient.
Ämne: Fråga om tidigare avflyttning, [gamla adressen], lägenhet [lägenhetsnummer] Hej. Jag har sagt upp hyresavtalet för [gamla adressen], lägenhet [lägenhetsnummer], och det upphör [dagen avtalet upphör]. Jag flyttar [flyttdatum]. Går det att komma överens om att avtalet upphör tidigare, till exempel om ni hittar en ny hyresgäst? Jag kan visa lägenheten på tider som passar. Vänliga hälsningar [ditt namn] [telefon]- The law gives no right to a shorter notice period. Count on the old date until you have a written answer.
- Once the apartment is available to let, you must let it be shown at a reasonable time (12 kap. 26 § jordabalken).
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Step 5: Try if a swap, an assignment to a cohabitant or a subletting is better than a notice. All three require the landlord's consent or the rental tribunal's permission.
12 kap. 35 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026
12 chapter 34 § first paragraph jordabalken (1970:994), checked 5 October 2026
12 kap. 39 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026
Source: Jordabalken, 12 kap. (riksdagen.se), Hyresgästföreningen: How does the notice period work on rental contracts?, Hyresgästföreningen: Cancel a rental agreement, how to do it?. The steps marked our advice are the editor's own.
Can the landlord release you earlier if a new tenant is found?
The law gives you no right to leave the agreement before the end of the notice period, but you can ask the landlord for an earlier end date. Ask in writing and count on the old date until you have a written response. That's our advice.
The rental often starts directly. At Familjebostäder in Gothenburg, the inspection must be done within ten days of the notice, among other things to start the rental, and the apartment is shown to housing seekers during the notice period. You are required to let it be shown at a suitable time when it is available for rental. That the next tenant moves in before your contract has expired, Familjebostäder says no to. What you must agree to during the viewing is stated in the post about viewing of the terminated apartment.
Fill in the template, download it as Word or PDF and send it to the landlord. Save the response.
Email: Asking about an earlier end date To: The landlordour advice
The template is in Swedish because it goes to a Swedish recipient.
- The law gives no right to a shorter notice period. Count on the old date until you have a written answer.
- Once the apartment is available to let, you must let it be shown at a reasonable time (12 kap. 26 § jordabalken).
Source: Familjebostäder: Move out, Jordabalken, 12 chap. (riksdagen.se). 12 chap. 26 § jordabalken.
Can you sublet the apartment during the notice period?
Only with the landlord's consent or the rental board's permission. Hyresnämnden (the Regional Rent Tribunal) grants permission if you have valid reasons, as the law describes as special family circumstances, age, illness, temporary work or studies in another location, longer stay abroad or comparable circumstances. Additionally, the landlord must not have a valid reason to say no, and the rent must not be higher than reasonable. The permission is limited to a certain period. How it works is stated in the guide to subletting.
Source: Jordabalken, 12 kap. (riksdagen.se). 12 kap. 39 and 40 §§ jordabalken.
Can an exchange or transfer replace the notice?
Yes, then you have no notice period to pay for. When exchanging, someone else takes over your rental apartment and you take over theirs. Hyresnämnden gives permission if you have reasonable grounds and the exchange does not cause significant inconvenience to the landlord. If either of you has lived for less than a year, special reasons are required. An exchange takes time, so start in good time before you have a new home. That's our advice. Read more in the guide to exchanging rental apartments.
If you live with a cohabiting partner or another close relative who stays, you can transfer the rental apartment to that person, if hyresnämnden gives permission and the landlord can reasonably accept the change. Hyresgästföreningen writes that you should have lived together for a longer period, up to three years. More about it in the post about moving in together.
Source: Jordabalken, 12 kap. (riksdagen.se), Hyresgästföreningen: What does the cohabitation law mean when moving in together or separating?. 12 kap. 34 and 35 §§ jordabalken.
Common questions
Can I move out earlier and stop paying rent?
Not on your own. The agreement and rent apply until the end date even if you have moved out, unless the landlord agrees to an earlier end date. Ask for the notification in writing, it is our advice.
When should the notice be received to take effect from next month?
At the latest on the last weekday of the month. If you terminate on 15 January, the apartment is terminated on 30 April, according to the Tenants' Association's example. If you send a recommended letter, the date on the receipt applies.
Can the next tenant move in before my contract has expired?
Not at Familjebostäder in Gothenburg, since the person on the contract is responsible for the apartment for the entire contract period. Ask your own landlord what applies there, that's our advice.
The law behind it
12 kap. 4 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026
A tenancy agreement of indefinite duration for a residential apartment can, unless a longer notice period has been agreed, be terminated for the end of the month that falls nearest after three months from the notice.
12 kap. 5 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026
If the tenancy agreement concerns a residential apartment, the tenant may always terminate the agreement to end at the end of a month that falls at least three months after notice is given.
12 kap. 7 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 5 October 2026
After the lease period has expired, the tenant must leave the apartment at the latest the following day and at the latest at 12 o'clock on that day keep it available to the person to enter. If the day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, other public holiday, mid-summer evening, Christmas evening or New Year's Eve, the next weekday will take place.
12 kap. 8 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026
Notice must be in writing if the tenancy has lasted longer than three months; the tenant may give notice orally if the landlord provides a written acknowledgement. If it is sent by registered letter, notice is deemed given when the letter is handed in for postal delivery to the recipient's usual address.
12 kap. 26 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026
When the apartment is vacant for letting, the tenant is obliged to allow it to be shown at a suitable time.
12 chapter 34 § first paragraph jordabalken (1970:994), checked 5 October 2026
A tenant who is not going to use their home may transfer the rental apartment to a close relative who has permanently lived with the tenant, if hyresnämnden gives permission. Permission is given if the landlord can reasonably accept the change.
12 kap. 35 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026
A tenant may swap their residential apartment if hyresnämnden gives permission: valid reasons, no significant inconvenience for the landlord, no prohibited compensation, and exceptional reasons if either party has lived there for less than a year. Does not apply to, among others, subletting, part of the lessor's home, two-family houses and apartments let by tenant-owners.
12 kap. 39 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026
The tenant may not sublet the apartment for independent use without the landlord's consent. If the tenant does not use the home to a noteworthy extent, each letting counts as independent use.
12 kap. 40 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026
Hyresnämnden grants permission for subletting if the tenant has noteworthy reasons (family circumstances, age, illness, temporary work or studies in another place, a longer stay abroad or comparable), the landlord has no justified ground for refusing, and the rent does not exceed a reasonable rent under section 55 fourth paragraph. The permission must be limited to a set period and can come with conditions.