Sweden Democrats reject market rents

The Sweden Democrats will oppose market-based rents, party leader Jimmie Åkesson announced during the party’s election kickoff in Upplands Väsby on Saturday, SVT reports.

Åkesson accused the Tenants’ Union and the Social Democrats of spreading a false impression that his party supports market rents. “They want to trick voters into thinking we believe something we don’t,” he said.

He stressed that the party would not introduce market rents, neither for new builds nor existing rental housing. “We say no to market rents. It’s not more complicated than that.”

Marie Linder, chair of the Tenants’ Union, rejected the accusation. “In our election materials, prepared by our national federation, we have been very clear that the Sweden Democrats oppose market rents. I actually don’t understand what Jimmie Åkesson means.”

Åkesson acknowledged a conflict within the Tidö coalition, as the Christian Democrats and Liberals support free rent setting for new builds. “This is a classic left-right issue where we stand more in the middle. We are not prepared to accept such proposals,” he said, calling it a non-negotiable position. “There is no room for compromise—you are either for or against.”

The Social Democrats, Green Party, and Left Party also oppose market rents and support negotiated rents.