Rental negotiations intensify as Fastighetsägarna seeks significant increases in Sweden

Intense negotiations are currently underway regarding rental prices for the upcoming year. Private landlords represented by Fastighetsägarna are pushing for significant increases to offset a 15% rise in costs, seeking adjustments higher than this year’s 5% rise. “We need a rental adjustment that exceeds what we received this year,” stated Tomas Ernhagen, chief economist at Fastighetsägarna.

On the other hand, the Tenant Union (Hyresgästföreningen) argues that such increases are unreasonable. “What we are seeing is that we are likely to reach an agreement at a lower level. It is still tough for tenants,” remarked Marie Linder, chairwoman of the Tenant Union.

In 2024, the average rental change of 5% this year marks the highest increase since 1993, when rents were raised by 6.8%. Last year, rents rose by an average of 4.1%. Over the past decade, rental agreements have exhibited significant fluctuations, with the lowest increases recorded at 0.8% per year in 2016 and 2017.

Currently, the average monthly rent for a three-room apartment is 8,641 SEK, while a one-room apartment averages 5,119 SEK across the country. Newer apartments are costlier; a newly built three-room apartment had an average rent of 11,125 SEK per month last year, according to statistics from SCB.