Transfer the rental contract to someone else

Transfer the contract in six steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Check that the person taking over is a close relative and has lived with you permanently, in a shared household.

   § 12 chapter 34 § first paragraph jordabalken (1970:994), checked 5 October 2026

2. 2

   Step 2: Write to the landlord and ask for consent to the transfer. State who will take over, how long you have lived together and that you yourself are moving. our advice

   § 12 kap. 32 § jordabalken (1970:994), checked 3 October 2026

3. 3

   Step 3: If the landlord says no: apply to hyresnämnden on form HN1 or in the e-service.

4. 4

   Step 4: Describe in the application the relationship, how long and how you have lived together, and the relative's work and income.

5. 5

   Step 5: Do not move and do not hand over the apartment until you have consent or permission. Otherwise, you both risk the apartment. our advice

6. 6

   Step 6: When the transfer is complete: make flyttanmälan (notification of change of address) to Skatteverket (the Swedish Tax Agency) within a week

   § 25 § folkbokföringslag (1991:481), checked 3 October 2026

When is the landlord's consent needed?

Always, unless the law provides an exception. If the landlord says no without reasonable grounds, or does not respond within three weeks, you can terminate the contract. The paragraph gives you the right to move away from the contract, not the right to transfer it. To carry out the transfer against the landlord's will, the consent of the rental board is required.

Transfer to a close relative

If you no longer want to use the apartment, you can transfer it to a close relative who has permanently lived with you, if hyresnämnden gives permission. Permission is granted if the landlord can reasonably accept the change of tenant, and the board may set conditions.

The Swedish Courts describe what the board looks at. You must have had a shared household and used the apartment together. How long you must have lived together is not stated in the law, but in normal cases it is usually around three years. Close relatives are primarily parents, children, siblings and spouses, sometimes grandchildren and nieces and nephews, and only in exceptional cases someone who is not a relative. The person taking over must be an acceptable tenant, i.e. responsible and able to pay the rent. Population registration does not decide in itself, but can be used as evidence that you have lived together.

Source: Swedish Courts: Transfer of residence, Hyresgästföreningen (the Swedish Union of Tenants): Take over rental apartment after deceased person.

Spouse or partner after separation or death

If the apartment was the shared home of the spouses or partners, and the rental apartment has been transferred to one of them in a division of property or inheritance, that person can take over without the landlord's consent. The same applies to a surviving spouse who is the sole heir. When the landlord has been informed, the previous tenant, or the estate of a deceased person, is no longer responsible for the agreement.

If one cohabiting partner rents the home alone, the other can take over the rental apartment when the cohabitation ends, if they need it most and it is reasonable. If you have no joint children, special reasons are required. The request must be made no later than one year after you separated, or no later than three months after the cohabiting partner moved out. More about the home in the event of a separation in the guide to moving apart.

Source: Jordabalk (1970:994) (riksdagen.se), Sambolag (2003:376) (riksdagen.se).

When the tenant has died

If the tenant has died, the estate of a deceased person is the tenant. The estate of a deceased person can transfer the rental apartment to a heir or another close relative who lived permanently with the deceased, if hyresnämnden gives permission, and it is the estate of a deceased person that applies. If no one is to stay, the estate of a deceased person can terminate the rental apartment with a shorter notice period, see the guide to clearing the estate of a deceased person.

Source: Sveriges Domstolar: Apply to transfer home, Hyresgästföreningen: Take over rental apartment after deceased person.

Application to hyresnämnden

You apply when the landlord has said no. State who you want to transfer to, your relationship, how long and how you have lived together, the close relative's work and income, and your contact details. Attach what shows why the landlord refuses. The application is made on form HN1 or in Sveriges Domstolars e-service, and which board applies is determined by the postcode. It costs nothing to apply, but each party pays their own costs.

Source: Sveriges Domstolar: Apply to transfer home, Sveriges Domstolar: What does it cost? (rent and lease tribunal), Form HN1: Application to rent and lease tribunal (pdf).

Money for the contract is a crime

Anyone who requests, agrees on or receives payment for transferring a rental apartment can be sentenced to imprisonment for up to two years. Even the person who pays to get a rental contract can be sentenced, to a fine or imprisonment for up to two years. A serious offence carries a sentence of imprisonment for at least six months and up to four years. A condition of such payment is invalid, and the money must be paid back. If you transfer without permission, you also risk losing the rental apartment.

Source: Jordabalk (1970:994) (riksdagen.se), Sveriges Domstolar: Transfer of home.

Exchange or transfer?

In the case of a transfer, you leave the rental apartment to someone who already lives there. In the case of an exchange, you move to the exchange partner's rental apartment and they to yours. The rules for exchange, with a decision guide, are in the guide to exchanging rental apartments.

The law behind it

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