The main difference is that a tenant who sublets their apartment without the landlord’s permission can no longer remedy the situation as was previously the case. To avoid termination of the lease, the tenant must be able to provide a valid excuse, or we must determine that the tenant’s violation is of minor significance. An excuse may be accepted if we, as the landlord, failed to properly inform the tenant that subletting is prohibited, or if we provided incorrect information regarding, for example, the maximum rent that may be charged. This is because it is also not permitted to sublet an apartment and charge a rent higher than the rent you yourself pay for the apartment. The exception is that you may charge up to 15 percent extra if the apartment is fully furnished. Charging a higher rent not only results in the termination of your lease; it is now considered a criminal offense, which may lead to other penalties.
Clearer guidelines
As before, it is not permitted to sublet your apartment without asking us for permission. We will be making some minor adjustments and clarifications to our guidelines for subletting regarding valid reasons. We will also, effective immediately, provide templates for contracts between the primary tenant and the subtenant.
The stricter rules also mean that if we discover that a tenant is registered at an address other than the one specified in the lease agreement, we can terminate the lease without further investigation. However, we intend to continue engaging in dialogue with our tenants to ensure that this is not simply a misunderstanding or that they have forgotten to update their address with the Swedish Tax Agency. But we cannot emphasize enough how important it has now become to follow the proper procedures if you want to sublet your apartment. You must update your address as soon as you move in with us or move out to avoid the risk of losing your lease unnecessarily.
Apartment Swaps
The rules for apartment exchanges have also been tightened, and the basic rule is that those wishing to exchange apartments must have lived at their current address for at least one year. Please note that just because you live with us doesn’t mean you have an easier time finding alternative housing. It’s important to make sure you’re accepting the right type of apartment. That’s why we recommend that everyone view the apartment before accepting it. (Update due to COVID-19: To reduce the spread of the virus, viewings may not always be available.)
