Apartment swap: how to swap apartments in Gothenburg and the rest of the country

Who can swap apartments?

Anyone who rents a residential apartment with their own first-hand contract, in exchange for another rental apartment. The right to swap does not apply to someone who is subletting, rents part of someone's home, rents in a two-family house or rents an apartment from a tenant-owner (12 kap. 35 §). Sveriges Domstolar writes that you can only swap a rental apartment for a rental apartment.

Source: Jordabalken, 12 kap. (riksdagen.se), Sveriges Domstolar: Swapping homes.

What are valid reasons for a swap?

Sveriges Domstolar mentions the need for a larger home, lower rent and a shorter commute to work. Familjebostäder in Gothenburg lists changed family circumstances, finances, a new place of study or work, better standard and the need for a lift. The swap must also be possible without significant inconvenience for the landlord (12 kap. 35 §).

Source: Sveriges Domstolar: Swapping homes, Familjebostäder: Direct swap, Jordabalken, 12 kap. (riksdagen.se).

Why does one year matter?

If you or your swap partner have had the apartment for less than a year, hyresnämnden gives permission only if there are exceptional reasons (12 kap. 35 §). Familjebostäder as a rule requires that you have both lived in your apartments for at least a year.

Source: Jordabalken, 12 kap. (riksdagen.se), Familjebostäder: Direct swap.

What applies to triangle swaps and chain swaps?

They count as swaps, and the same conditions apply. If you swap again within a year of an earlier swap you need stronger reasons, according to Sveriges Domstolar.

Source: Sveriges Domstolar: Swapping homes.

What happens if money is involved?

Then permission must not be given (12 kap. 35 §). Anyone who gives, receives or requests compensation for a swap can lose the tenancy (12 kap. 42 § 5), and the landlord can terminate the agreement within six months of learning about it, at the latest five years after the compensation (12 kap. 43 §). Requesting or receiving compensation for transferring a rental apartment is also a crime punishable by up to two years in prison (12 kap. 65 §).

Source: Jordabalken, 12 kap. (riksdagen.se).

If the landlord does not reply

A rental apartment may not be transferred without the landlord's consent. If the landlord says no without a valid reason, or does not respond within three weeks, you can terminate the contract (12 kap. 32 §). The paragraph gives you the right to terminate, not the right to transfer. If you want to make the transfer, it is hyresnämnden who can give permission. If someone living with you is to take over the apartment, it is instead a transfer, see the guide on how to transfer rental contract.

Source: Jordabalken, 12 kap. (riksdagen.se).

Swapping apartments with the municipal landlords in Gothenburg

Bostadsbolaget has Omflyttningsplatsen, where you can apply for another apartment after 12 months with a first-hand contract and population registration, without giving a reason. Vacant apartments at Familjebostäder, Gårdstensbostäder and Poseidon are also listed there. Familjebostäder accepts applications for a direct swap in HemmaHos or on a form, carries out an inspection before the swap and states a processing time of about eight weeks.

Source: Bostadsbolaget: Apartment swaps and Omflyttningsplatsen, Bostadsbolaget: Direct swap, Familjebostäder: Direct swap.

Where can you find apartment exchanges?

Online exchange markets include Apartment exchange.se, Blocket Housing, Hemie, Exchange office, Exchange apartment and Rental exchange. We have not reviewed them and do not rank them. No one pays to be listed. If you rent from a municipal housing company, the company may have its own way to a new apartment, such as the Relocation site in Gothenburg above.

Does it cost anything to exchange an apartment?

The exchange itself should not cost anything between you who are exchanging. Money must not be involved: then no permission is given, and the one who receives or requests compensation risks both the rental apartment and punishment (see above). If you get a no from the landlord, the application to hyresnämnden is free of charge, according to the Swedish Courts.

What may cost is the exchange site. Apartment exchange.se states that it is free to create an ad, but that you need a paid subscription for full access, including to contact other advertisers directly. The site states that it has 20,000 active exchangers. The price is not on the start page, so check it before you upgrade.

Source: Jordabalken, 12 chap. (riksdagen.se), Swedish Courts: How to apply to the Rent and Lease Tribunal, Apartment exchange.se: start page. 12 chap. 35, 42, 43 and 65 §§.

Templates for an apartment swap

An application to the landlord, which you and your swap partner send separately. The guidance shows what an application to hyresnämnden must contain, with a link to the form. All the templates on the site are collected under templates for the move.

The law behind it

The sections summarised, with a link to the legal text on riksdagen.se.