This article provides an overview of the rental regulations and is intended for guidance purposes only. The rules may vary depending on the type of property and the specific circumstances of your rental. Therefore, you should always verify which regulations apply to your specific situation. Qasa does not provide legal advice or individual assessments of specific rentals or rent levels.
Once you have made the decision to sublet your property, it's time to consider getting the necessary permits. You need to apply for these permits either from the landlord (if you live in a rental apartment) or from the housing association (if you live in a condominium).
Content:
- When do I need a subletting permit?
- When am I entitled to a permit?
- When can I be denied a permit?
- How do I apply for a subletting permit?
- Why is a subletting permit so important?
When do I need a subletting permit?
If you intend to sublet out your entire home, you need a permission. This applies whether you live in a tenancy (rental apartment) or a condominium (bostadsrätt). You must have permission for any type of subletting where you do not occupy the apartment independently yourself. With the legal amendments entering into force on July 1, 2026, the boundaries have been tightened to prevent unauthorized subletting. When it comes to condominiums, the rules for applying are outlined in the Cooperative Housing Act (Bostadsrättslagen), but the process is also usually described in your housing association's rules.
Shared space
When you rent out a room in your apartment, you do not as a general rule need to apply for permission. This is because you remain living in the apartment yourself, and your tenant is not considered to be using the home independently.
Note the new rules as of July 1, 2026: For condominiums, a strict legal definition of what constitutes "independent use" is being introduced. If you do not use your condominium as a permanent residence or occupy it to a significant extent, the rental is automatically classified as a sublet that requires permission - even if you are only renting out a part of the home. As a benchmark for the arrangement to qualify as a 'inneboende' setup, you are generally required to spend the night in the property at least 80 - 100 days a year or 2 - 3 days a week.
Your partner moves in
If you and your partner choose to move in together, you do not need to seek permission from the landlord or housing association. In other words, as a tenant or condominium owner, you do not need to contact the landlord or board when your partner moves into your apartment.
A friend stays in the apartment
It does not matter whether your friend stays with you for free or pays rent. If you do not occupy the apartment to a significant extent yourself during that time, it is classified as a sublet and requires permission.
When am I entitled to a permit?
There are many different reasons for subletting your home, but the requirements differ slightly depending on whether you have a tenancy (rental apartment) or a condominium (bostadsrätt).
If you are subletting a condominium
According to the the Cooperative Housing Act, it is sufficient to have "reasons" to obtain permission for subletting. This could include wanting to try living together with a partner, studying or working in another city, or because the property is difficult to sell due to the current market conditions.
A major piece of news after July 1, 2026, is that the housing association or the Rent Tribunal (Hyresnämnden), when making their assessment, may only take into account whether the apartment has been previously rented out if it has occurred to a very significant extent (which generally means a cumulative total of five years or more).
This decision was made because the parliament wanted to grant condominium owners an expanded and more flexible right to sublet for longer periods, as long as the reason (such as a multi-year degree) persists. Your association can therefore no longer routinely deny you an extension after one year simply because "you have already sublet the property".
If you are subletting a rental apartment
According to §40 of the Rent Act, so-called "considerable reasons" are required to obtain permission. In practice, the following reasons can be approved:
- You need to move to another location due to work, studies, caring for a relative, etc.
- You want to try living with a partner ("samboskap").
- You have become ill and cannot live at home as a result.
- You are going on a longer trip and do not want the apartment to remain vacant.
- You want to move back to your parents' place for a while.
- You want to move into a senior citizen home and do not want to deal with the sale immediately.
The list can be much longer and the law is not extremely precise in defining "considerable reasons". Furthermore, the law does not overly complicate the core definition of commending reasons, and each person can have their own unique reason for wanting to sublet their home. As long as you can substantiate your reasons (for example, with an employment contract or a certificate of enrollment from another city), it is generally approved.
When can I be denied a permit?
If the property owner or the cooperative does not accept your reasons for subletting, they can say no. There are reasons for subletting that your landlord/cooperative will rarely accept. Examples of such reasons could be subletting for purely profit purposes or that you never intended to move in yourself, and you consider the property solely as an investment. Another reason that is generally denied is called hotel subletting. It is when you only rent out your property for short periods, often with unreasonably high rent.
It may also be the case that your planned tenant comes with negative references, and your landlord/cooperative does not want to grant you a permit for that reason.
You should not be denied without reason
While the law states that those who want to sublet their property must have valid reasons, it also states that the landlord/cooperative must have a legitimate reason for refusing permission. In other words, the landlord/cooperative also has an obligation to provide an explanation.
For example, if the landlord refuses because they believe your tenant will misbehave, they must have valid reasons for that belief; otherwise, they have no right to deny you a permit.
If you have valid reasons for subletting and the landlord/cooperative says no, you can turn to the Rent Tribunal (Hyresnämnden). The Rent Tribunal can grant you a permit in a situation where the landlord/cooperative has said no. This permit is limited in time and restricted to one person. Once you have submitted your application to the Rent Tribunal, they will contact your landlord/association.
How do I apply for a subletting permit?
When you apply for a permit, your landlord/cooperative will generally want to know three things: (1) The reason why you want to sublet, (2) who you want to sublet to, and (3) for how long you want to sublet. These three points should be included in all types of agreements and permits related to subletting. You can either ask your landlord/cooperative to provide a form or obtain one yourself.
By using Qasa’s lease agreement templates, you can sign the contract with your tenant before you have received the final approval for the sublet, as it contains a clause stating that the validity of the agreement is conditional upon obtaining the necessary permissions.
This allows you to plan the rental and secure a tenant early in the process, while remembering that as the primary landlord, you are responsible for ensuring that all required approvals are in place and that the rental complies with current legal requirements.
Why is a subletting permit so important?
A permission to sublet can be seen as a formal agreement between you and your landlord or housing association. Having an approval proves to your subtenant that everything is on board and ensures a smooth start to the tenancy.
In other words, the permit is essential for a successful rental arrangement. If any issues should arise during the lease term, it is vital to have an official permit showing exactly what was agreed upon. Thus, the permit is also necessary to ensure a smooth conclusion to the rental.
If your landlord or housing association discovers that you are renting out your home without permission, they can issue an official notice to rectify (anmodan om rättelse). You will then have a very short window of time to make your subtenant move out. Please note; if you choose to sublet your property without a valid permit, the legal consequences could be severe:
Rental apartment ("hyresrätt") - If you are renting out your rental apartment without permission, you could risk losing your tenancy/lease.
Condominium owner ("bostadsrätt) - The association’s rules state how a proper subletting should be done. If you rent out without permission, you risk having your owned property forfeited.