Guides on rental apartments
- How long is the notice period for an apartment? Three months to the nearest end of a month. The calculator shows the day your contract ends.
- What happens at the move-out inspection? The pre-inspection, the final inspection and the keys, and when you pay for damage.
- How do I find a rental apartment? Housing queues city by city, private landlords, rent a house or row house and the difference from tenant-owned apartment.
- What says hyreslagen (the Swedish Tenancy Act)? The paragraphs in chapter 12 jordabalken (the Swedish Land Code) in the order you meet them, the protection of possession and hyresnämnden.
- Can the landlord take a deposit? Yes, if you agree. The law has no rule about the amount, the guarantee can be terminated after two years and the municipality can provide a rental guarantee.
- How do I apply to hyresnämnden? In writing and free of charge to one of the eight boards, the one where the residence is located. With contact information and template.
- Can I assign my rental contract? Only with the landlord's yes, or the Rental Tribunal's permission to a close relative who has lived with you. Husband or partner after division of property can take over directly.
- How does Stockholms bostadsskö work? $200 per year from 18 years old. The average lease period for a regular rental right was $9,0 in 2025.
Sublet or swap instead of moving out?
If you will only be away for a while, you can sublet, and if you want a different rental apartment, you can swap. Both need your landlord's consent or permission from the hyresnämnden.
- Can I sublet my rental apartment? With your landlord's consent, or permission from the hyresnämnden if you have a valid reason.
- Can I sublet my tenant-owned apartment? With the board's consent or permission from the hyresnämnden. The rules changed on 1 July 2026.
- How do I swap rental apartments? Both landlords' consent, or permission from the hyresnämnden, and usually one year of residence.
- What rules apply to a lodger? Jordabalken for a rental apartment, the Private Letting Act for a home you own. With a contract template.
- Which rental contract should I use? Jordabalken or the Private Rental Act, with templates for villa, residential right, second hand and property.
- What applies when I rent out my house? Private Rental Law from 1 July 2026: agreed rent, three months' notice, no protection against eviction and 40,000 kr in standard deduction.
What happens between giving notice and moving out?
Several landlords in Gothenburg carry out a pre-inspection shortly after you give notice. Familjebostäder writes that it is done within ten days of notice, Poseidon that it is normally done within ten days, and Stena Fastigheter that it is done shortly afterwards. Then come viewings for the next tenant, the move-out cleaning, a final inspection and the handover of the keys. Each landlord decides the details, so read your landlord's page on moving out.
Source: Familjebostäder: Moving out, Poseidon: Moving-out guide, Stena Fastigheter: What do I need to think about when I have given notice on my tenancy agreement.
Renting from a private individual?
The Private Letting Act (2026:772) applies to agreements with a private individual made from 1 July 2026. You can always give notice to the end of a month at least three months after the notice, which is the same period as for a rental apartment. Agreements made before 1 July 2026 follow the older Act (2012:978) on letting your own home.
Source: Private Letting Act (2026:772) (riksdagen.se). 6 kap. 1 and 2 §§.
The law behind it
The sections summarised, with a link to the legal text on riksdagen.se.
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. 5 § second paragraph jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026
If the tenant has died, the estate may, within one month of the death, terminate the agreement to end at the end of a month that falls at least one month after notice is given. Where spouses or cohabitants rented jointly, the estate and the surviving partner hold this right together. If notice is given later, the first paragraph applies: at the earliest at the end of a month after three months.
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. 1 d § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026
Contract terms that conflict with a provision of the chapter have no effect against the tenant, unless otherwise stated.
12 kap. 24 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026
The tenant must look after the apartment well and compensate for damage caused through their fault or through the negligence of someone in the household, guests or anyone doing work for them.
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.
6 kap. 1 och 2 §§ privatuthyrningslag (2026:772), checked 3 October 2026
When a private individual lets, the tenant may always give notice on a fixed-term agreement, and an agreement that runs until further notice can be terminated, for the end of a month at least three months from the notice. The law applies from 1 July 2026; older agreements follow lagen (2012:978) om uthyrning av egen bostad.
6 kap. 7 § privatuthyrningslag (2026:772), checked 3 October 2026
Notice must be in writing, but the tenant may give notice orally if the landlord gives a written acknowledgement. Notice has been given when the recipient has received it.
6 kap. 8 § privatuthyrningslag (2026:772), checked 3 October 2026
If the recipient has given an electronic address for messages about the agreement, notice is deemed given when it was sent there; registered mail to the recipient's usual address counts from the time of posting.