The proportion of first-hand and second-hand listings varies considerably between locations, but the supply needs to be interpreted in its local context.
Of the 20,114 vacant homes currently available on Bojakt, 44% are first-hand contracts. The remaining 11,219 listings are second-hand rentals, representing 56% of the supply.
The distribution indicates which routes to finding a home are currently open. However, it does not describe the housing stock as a whole. A listings database shows homes that are available to apply for now, not all rental homes that are already occupied. The linked sources are in Swedish because they concern Swedish law.
There are substantial differences between locations
Bojakt has vacant homes in 1,213 locations. To ensure that the comparison between contract types is based on a broader set of listings, we look more closely at 16 locations with at least 200 listings.
Among these locations, Eskilstuna has the highest proportion of first-hand listings, at 92%. In Uppsala, the corresponding proportion is 9%. Second-hand rentals make up the majority of listings in 7 of the locations compared.
A high proportion of second-hand listings does not automatically mean that a location lacks first-hand homes. It means that second-hand rentals account for a large share of the searchable supply collected at this particular time.
Why the distribution can vary
The differences often result from several local factors acting together. Which landlords advertise vacant homes, how their lettings are organised and how often private individuals let out homes all affect which listings appear.
Local housing companies and private landlords may use their own queues, housing agencies or other selection methods.
In locations with strong demand, first-hand contracts may be difficult to obtain without a long time in the queue, even where there is a large rental housing stock.
Study, temporary employment and other relocations can create both demand for and a supply of fixed-term second-hand homes.
The size, location and rent of homes affect which properties become available and which groups can apply for them.
The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning notes that Sweden has no uniform system for applying for rental housing. Landlords have considerable freedom to decide how homes are allocated and which conditions an applicant must meet. As a result, the route to a first-hand contract can differ even between nearby locations. Read more in the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning’s information on housing allocation, priority access and services.
First-hand contracts without queueing time offer a separate route
The current supply includes 2,130 first-hand homes without queueing time. This means that accumulated time in a queue does not determine who receives the contract. The landlord may still impose conditions concerning matters such as income, references or type of employment and use another method to select among applicants.
Homes without queueing time may therefore also be relevant to people who have only recently begun searching. At the same time, it is important to read the listing’s requirements before applying. The absence of queueing time does not mean the absence of conditions.
The type of contract affects security
With a first-hand contract, you rent the home from the property owner or the landlord acting on their behalf. The agreement is normally intended to continue for as long as its conditions are met, although fixed-term agreements also occur.
When renting second-hand, you rent from someone who either holds a first-hand contract or owns the home. The agreement is often tied to the needs of the person letting the property and may therefore be more temporary. The rules on besittningsskydd (security of tenure) also differ depending on whether the home being let is a rental property or a privately owned home. The Swedish Courts describe the rules on security of tenure and when this protection may apply.
Check that permission has been granted
Anyone letting a rental home second-hand normally needs the landlord’s approval or permission from hyresnämnden (the Rent Tribunal). For a tenant-owned flat, approval from the housing association or permission from hyresnämnden is normally required. You should therefore ask the person letting the property to show that the letting is permitted before you sign anything or make any payment.
Review the rent and conditions
The median rent among Bojakt’s current listings is 9,092 kr across Sweden. This is the midpoint for the advertised supply and should not be used as the sole benchmark for an individual home. The location, size, position, standard and what is included all affect the rent.
When a rental home is let second-hand, the rent paid by the person letting it is usually the starting point for the assessment. Furniture and actual costs for included items or services may affect what constitutes a reasonable rent. Different principles apply to privately owned homes. See the Swedish Courts’ guidance on reasonable rent for second-hand lettings.
How to use the distribution in your housing search
Search for both first-hand and second-hand homes if you need to broaden the range of possible options.
Distinguish between listings that require queueing time and first-hand homes that use other selection methods.
Compare nearby locations. The mix of contract types can change considerably over a short geographical distance.
Always check the agreement, permission to let, rent and notice period for second-hand rentals.
The supply changes as listings are published and removed. The distribution between first-hand and second-hand homes should therefore be read as a current snapshot, not as a permanent measure of a location’s housing market.
