How much can you charge for subletting?

Renting out a home on a secondary basis can provide extra income, but it is important to know how much you are actually allowed to charge. Under Swedish law, the rent must be reasonable and reflect the home’s value and standard. In this article, we go through the most important rules and what you should consider when setting the rent.

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"Including actual costs such as electricity and broadband in the rent is allowed, but it is important to follow the rules that apply."

According to Swedish law, second-hand rent must not exceed what is considered reasonable for the home. For rental apartments, this means the rent should not be higher than the primary rent, with possible additions for furnishings or other services. The purpose of these rules is to protect tenants from overpricing and ensure a fair rental market.

If you rent out your home furnished, you may add a furnishing surcharge to the rent. This surcharge is intended to cover wear and tear on the furniture and compensate you for allowing the tenant to use your belongings. The maximum permitted surcharge is 15 percent of the rent. It is important that the surcharge is reasonable based on the furniture’s value and condition. New or high-end furniture can justify a higher surcharge than older or well-used items.

The furnishing surcharge should cover all types of furniture in the home, such as sofas, beds, tables, chairs and wardrobes, as well as appliances like fridges, freezers, stoves and washing machines. You should include the surcharge in the rental agreement so both you and the tenant clearly understand the terms. It can also be helpful to specify which furniture is included and its condition.

If you as the landlord cover additional costs such as electricity, broadband or parking, these may be included in the rent. However, these additions must reflect actual costs and must not exceed them. This ensures that the rent remains fair, transparent and proportional to the housing market.

The rules for subletting differ depending on whether you are renting out a condominium or a rental apartment. For condominiums, the rent may be based on the home’s capital cost and running costs, which often allows more flexibility in pricing. For rental apartments, the rules are stricter, and the second-hand rent must not exceed the primary rent.

If you charge an unreasonably high rent, the tenant can turn to the Rent Tribunal and request a rent reduction. In some cases, you may also be required to repay the excess rent, up to two years retroactively. It is therefore important to set a rent that follows the legal guidelines to avoid disputes.

By using our rental management service, you can feel confident that the subletting process is handled correctly and smoothly. We set prices using advanced algorithms that adjust the rent while following current regulations and taking the home’s value and standard into account. Guestit simplifies the entire rental process, from matching you with the right tenant to managing payments and ensuring everything is handled properly.